How to Rank Your Trade Website on Google (SEO Basics)

If you’re a tradesperson trying to grow your business, having a professional website is only half the battle. To win more customers online, your website needs to appear when people search for services like yours on Google. That’s where SEO – search engine optimisation – comes in.

This guide will walk you through the essential SEO basics every tradesperson should know, including setting up your Google presence, submitting your sitemap, and making sure your site is easy for search engines to crawl and index.

1. Set Up Google Search Console (GSC)

Google Search Console is a free tool that helps you monitor how your site performs in search results.

Why it matters:

• Tells you which keywords your site is ranking for
• Shows any issues Google finds when crawling your site
• Helps you improve visibility and fix errors

How to set it up:

1. Visit Google Search Console.
2. Log in with your Google account.
3. Select ‘Domain’ property and enter your domain (e.g., yoursite.co.uk).
4. Verify ownership – usually via your domain provider (or DNS records).

Once verified, you’ll gain access to data on your website’s performance in Google search.

2. Submit Your Sitemap to Google

A sitemap is a file that lists all the important pages on your website. Submitting this helps Google understand your site’s structure.

How to do it:

1. Make sure your sitemap exists (usually at yoursite.co.uk/sitemap.xml).
2. In Google Search Console, go to ‘Sitemaps’ under the ‘Indexing’ section.
3. Enter the sitemap URL (e.g., sitemap.xml) and click Submit.

This makes it easier for Google to find and index your pages quickly.

3. Set Up a Google Business Profile (GBP)

For local trades, a Google Business Profile is vital. It helps your business appear in local map searches, especially for terms like “plumber near me” or “electrician in [town]”.

Steps to set up:

1. Go to Google Business Profile.
2. Click ‘Manage now’ and follow the prompts to create your listing.
3. Add accurate contact info, opening hours, service areas, and photos.
4. Verify your business via postcard, email, or phone.

Make sure your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) are consistent across your website and listings. This builds trust with Google.

4. Check for a sitemap on your site

If you’re using a website provider like Trade Blocks, your site should already include a sitemap. You can check it by visiting:

yoursite.co.uk/sitemap.xml

If it’s missing, ask your provider to create one or install a plugin (like Rank Math or Yoast if using WordPress).

5. Make Sure robots.txt is Accessible

The robots.txt file tells search engines which parts of your site to crawl or ignore.

How to check it:

Visit:

yoursite.co.uk/robots.txt

This should show a simple file allowing search engine access. For example:

User-agent: *
Disallow:

If this file is missing or blocking key pages, it could harm your rankings.

6. Improve Page Speed

Google favours fast-loading websites. Tools like Google PageSpeed Insights let you test and improve your site speed.

Quick fixes:

• Compress images
• Minimise unused scripts or plugins
• Use fast, reliable hosting

7. Make Your Website Mobile-Friendly

More than 60% of searches come from mobile. Use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test to check how your site performs on smartphones.

Ensure:

• Text is readable without zooming
• Buttons are easy to tap
• Pages don’t require horizontal scrolling

8. Write Local Content for Your Trade

Optimise your pages with keywords customers actually use. Include:

• Your trade + location (e.g. “Bristol plumber”)
• Clear service descriptions
• Customer reviews and testimonials
• Case studies or before/after photos

A simple blog answering questions like “how to fix a leaking tap” or “what’s the best boiler for a small flat” helps build authority and bring in organic traffic.

Final Thoughts

Ranking your trade website on Google doesn’t require being a tech expert – just a bit of time, consistency, and following best practices. Start with setting up your Google tools, ensure your site is indexable, and focus on creating useful, local content that helps your customers.

If you’re with Trade Blocks, we take care of the technical setup for you – including sitemaps, hosting, mobile optimisation, and even local SEO support – so you can focus on your trade.

Want to get started? Explore our trade websites and let us help you get found online.