FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS.

Our service covers the full SEO lifecycle: keyword research, on-page optimization, Google Business Profile management, citation and link building, content development, competitor outreach, press releases, ongoing audits, and detailed monthly reporting. Everything is custom-built for your specific business and local market.

No ethical SEO company can guarantee specific rankings — search algorithms change constantly. What we guarantee is a proven, white-hat strategy executed with full transparency and consistent effort. Our track record of improving rankings for home service businesses demonstrates what consistent, expert SEO achieves over time.

Local SEO focuses specifically on geographically-targeted searches — ‘near me’ queries, city + service keywords, and Google Map Pack results. It also includes Google Business Profile optimization, local citation building, and review management. For home service businesses, local SEO is far more valuable because your customers are always looking for someone nearby.

We track keyword rankings, organic traffic volume, local Map Pack visibility, Google Business Profile engagement, and most importantly — the number of leads (calls and form submissions) generated from organic search. Monthly reports connect all of these data points so you always have a clear picture of your return on investment.

Your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is the listing that appears when someone searches for your business on Google or Google Maps. It’s one of the most powerful local SEO assets — it influences your Map Pack rankings, shows your reviews, hours, and photos, and allows customers to call you or get directions directly from search results.

We don’t artificially limit keyword targeting. We research and identify all high-value, high-intent keywords relevant to your services and location — this typically includes dozens of target keywords across multiple service pages and local area variations. Our goal is comprehensive local visibility, not just ranking for one or two terms.

Absolutely. We specialize in competitive local markets and use advanced strategies — competitor link gap analysis, targeted content development, and aggressive citation building — to systematically close the gap and climb the rankings over time. Competitive markets take longer but the rewards are greater.

The most expensive part of running any business is finding new clients and customers. SEO is a long-term investment in continuously growing your client base. Pay-per-click and per-impression marketing are one-time, instant gratification methods. SEO has no “per click” fees — and once your results are achieved, it’s proven to deliver a better ROI for years. Think of it this way: if you had to drive to work every day, would you rent a car every morning or buy one? It makes more sense — financially and practically — to own your space in the search engines than to keep renting ad space one click at a time.

No — there is “good” SEO and “bad” SEO. Good SEO is what TrueSMB offers: ethical methods that improve your site ranking by building quality links and improving your content and technical foundation. Bad SEO is what many competitors offer — blasting your website with links from low-quality sites or using automated link-building software that can actually lower your rankings and even get your website banned from search results entirely.

That’s like asking how much a car costs. A basic car is relatively inexpensive, and so is ranking for a long-tail keyword like “how to fix my refrigerator.” A luxury car is more expensive, and so is ranking for a highly competitive keyword like “Appliance Repair.” Every campaign is priced based on your specific market, competition level, and goals. Contact us for a custom quote and free SEO assessment.

No. Every client and every website presents unique challenges. Each program TrueSMB puts forward is fully customized to meet those challenges. Only after gaining a complete understanding of your needs, goals, and competitive landscape do we begin building a custom suite of services. This individualized approach is what has allowed us to build many satisfied, long-term client relationships.

When TrueSMB optimizes a website for search engines, we strive to make it look and read no differently to regular visitors — except that it performs dramatically better in search results. Our consultants seamlessly work relevant keywords and phrases into page titles, headlines, copy, links, and meta-tags. Your website will still be yours. It will just be significantly more visible on search engines and attract far more customers.

Yes and no — it really depends on your situation and goals. For most companies over a period of 12 months or more, it ends up being more effective, efficient, and cost-friendly to invest in SEO than to rely solely on pay-per-click advertising. Ads stop the moment you stop paying. Strong SEO rankings continue delivering leads long after the initial investment is made. The best strategy is often a combination of both — ads for immediate leads, SEO for long-term growth.

Yes — absolutely. In the event that you sell your business, websites that are SEO-optimized and ranking for keywords have real monetary value. There are entire companies that buy and sell domains specifically because they rank for valuable keywords and have strong incoming link profiles. A well-ranked website is a tangible business asset that increases the overall value of your company.

Request a Free SEO Analysis to allow us to evaluate your website and your online marketing objectives. We will develop a program proposal tailored specifically for you. Upon agreeing to what TrueSMB proposes to implement — as well as the fees — TrueSMB sends a straightforward proposal. Upon receipt of the proposal and set-up down payment, TrueSMB begins work immediately.

The Google Guarantee badge is awarded to businesses that pass Google’s background check and license verification process. It signals to customers that Google has screened your business — significantly increasing trust and call rates. If a customer is unsatisfied with your service, Google may reimburse them up to a set amount, which is why the badge carries so much weight.

Regular Google Ads charge per click — whether or not the visitor becomes a customer. LSAs charge per qualified lead (an actual call or message from a prospect). LSAs also appear above traditional search ads and have the Google Guaranteed badge, which drives significantly higher trust and conversion rates.

The Google verification process typically takes 2–4 weeks, depending on how quickly background checks and license verifications are completed through Google’s partner. We guide you through every step of the process and handle all the paperwork and submissions on your behalf.

Google allows you to dispute leads that don’t match your services — for example, a call outside your service area or for a service you don’t offer. We handle the dispute process on your behalf to ensure you’re not charged for irrelevant contacts, protecting your budget.

Lead costs vary by industry and local market. Appliance repair leads typically range from $25–$60 per lead, while plumbing and HVAC leads can range from $30–$90 per lead. We help you set a weekly budget that delivers a positive ROI based on your average job value and close rate.

Absolutely — we often recommend running both simultaneously. LSAs capture high-intent searches at the very top of results, while traditional Google Ads provide broader coverage. Together they maximize your Google search visibility and generate more leads than either campaign would alone.

While there’s no strict minimum number of reviews required by Google, having reviews significantly improves your LSA performance and visibility. Google displays your star rating directly in the ad — more reviews and a higher rating means more clicks and more leads.

Underperformance triggers immediate action — we analyze search term reports, adjust bids, revise ad copy, test new landing pages, and consult with you on any offline factors that might be affecting conversion rates. We provide recommendations and make changes proactively rather than waiting for monthly check-ins.