Breaking Down the Cost: How Much Should a Cleaning Services Business Spend on SEO?
Breaking Down the Cost: How Much Should a Cleaning Services Business Spend on SEO?
Having a strong online presence is crucial for any business, especially for cleaning services businesses.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a crucial factor that helps your website become more visible and rank higher in search engine results. This means that when people search for something related to your business, your website will appear higher in the search results. By improving your website's SEO, you can attract more visitors and potential customers, which can greatly benefit your business.
The importance of SEO for cleaning services businesses
SEO is especially important for cleaning services businesses as it helps you reach your target audience in your local area. When people need cleaning services, they often turn to search engines to find the best options available.
Why do cleaning businesses need local SEO?
Cleaning businesses need local SEO because it helps them target potential clients in their service areas more effectively. Local SEO allows businesses to appear prominently in search engine results when users search for cleaning services in their specific locations.
By optimizing your website for relevant keywords and local search terms, you can ensure that your cleaning business appears at the top of search results, increasing your chances of attracting new customers.
What local search challenges will cleaning businesses have over other industries?
One challenge is the high competition in the cleaning industry, as many businesses are offering similar services.
Another challenge is the need to optimize for location-specific keywords, such as "cleaning services near me" or "janitorial services in XYZ city". Additionally, cleaning businesses often rely on local customers, so it's crucial to attract and engage with the right audience.
What do "cleaning services near me" searches look like today?
"Cleaning services near me" searches today typically involve users looking for cleaning companies in their local area. These searches are location-specific and are often performed on search engines or online directories.
Common search queries include "house cleaning services near me," "home cleaning services near me," and other variations. To rank well in these searches, cleaning businesses should focus on optimizing their online presence and targeting relevant keywords.
By optimizing your website for relevant keywords and local search terms, you can ensure that your cleaning business appears at the top of search results, increasing your chances of attracting new customers.
Factors that determine the cost of SEO
The cost of SEO for cleaning services businesses can vary depending on several factors.
Firstly, the competitiveness of your local market will play a role in determining the cost. If there are many other cleaning services businesses in your area also investing in SEO, it may require more effort and resources to outrank them.
Additionally, the size and complexity of your website, as well as the number of keywords you want to target, will impact the cost. Finally, the experience and reputation of the Sacramento-based SEO agency you work with can also affect the price.
How much should a cleaning services business spend on SEO?
Determining how much to spend on SEO can be challenging, but it is essential to allocate a budget that aligns with your business goals.
Based on how much you make now
Many experts recommended that cleaning services businesses allocate between 5% to 10% of their total revenue towards marketing, with a significant portion dedicated to SEO.
For example, if you generate $25,000 a month in cleaning service sales, you might want to set aside $1,250-2,500 a month for local SEO.
Based on how much you want to make in the near future
At the end of the day, you should anticipate reaching your sales goals when devoting your time and attention to good local SEO. And it's about the ROI you hope to achieve.
Thankfully, SEO returns are significantly higher than other digital marketing strategies, though it often takes 3-9 months to see full results.
When investing in SEO, you need to think about your current ability to service more clients. If you're growing your workforce or have several cleaning crews not working, then imagine what your sales would look like if all your crews were busy.
However, every business is unique, so it is crucial to evaluate your specific needs and goals when setting your SEO budget.
Based on how much you spend on ads and leads
The average cost per lead for cleaning service leads from Google Ads campaigns is between $15-$30. It is important to note that the average cost per click on a Google Ad for a commercial cleaning business can be around $15. These costs will look different if you're paying for ads on social media or hiring an agency to place ads programmatically.
Keep in mind that with digital ads, you pay every time someone views or clicks on your ad. While you're paying, your ads remain on, hopefully converting views and clicks into new customers. Similarly, you might be paying for leads through a third party like Thumbtack, Angi, or Nextdoor.
With local SEO, the gains you achieve remain whether or not you continue paying someone to manage your SEO. Furthermore, you don't have to pay per view, click, or new customer.
In most cases, great local SEO reduces - or even eliminates - your need to run digital ads or pay for leads. If you're already paying a lot of money toward these options, consider investing half that amount into local SEO. Within a few months, you shouldn't need to spend much on digital ads or leads because your online presence is naturally showing up in search results and generating leads organically.
Understanding the ROI of SEO for cleaning services businesses
Investing in SEO for your cleaning services business can yield a high return on investment (ROI) when done correctly. By improving your website's visibility and attracting more targeted traffic, you have a higher chance of converting visitors into paying customers.
Additionally, SEO provides long-term benefits as it helps establish your brand as a trusted authority in the cleaning services industry. Calculating the exact ROI of SEO can be challenging, but tracking key metrics such as website traffic, leads generated, and customer conversions can give you valuable insights into the effectiveness of your SEO efforts.
Tips for maximizing the effectiveness of your SEO budget
To ensure that you get the most out of your SEO budget, here are some tips to consider:
- Set clear goals: Define what you want to achieve with your SEO efforts, whether it's increasing website traffic, generating leads, or improving conversion rates. This will help you prioritize your budget and focus on the most important aspects of SEO.
- Invest in quality content: Creating high-quality, informative content not only improves your website's search engine rankings but also establishes your expertise and builds trust with potential customers.
- Optimize for local search: As a cleaning services business, your target market is likely to be local. Make sure your website is optimized for local search terms, such as "cleaning services in [your city]," to attract customers in your area.
- Monitor and analyze your SEO efforts: Regularly track and analyze key metrics to measure the effectiveness of your SEO campaigns. This will help you identify areas for improvement and make data-driven decisions to optimize your budget allocation.
Alternative strategies for growing your cleaning business
While SEO is an effective strategy for growing your cleaning services business, it is not the only option. Here are some alternative strategies you can consider:
- Social media marketing: Utilize popular social media platforms to connect with your target audience, share valuable content, and promote your cleaning services.
- Online advertising: Invest in online advertising platforms such as Google Ads or social media ads to increase your brand visibility and reach a wider audience.
- Referral programs: Encourage your satisfied customers to refer your cleaning services to their friends and family by offering incentives or discounts.
- Email marketing: Build an email list of interested prospects and send regular newsletters or promotions to stay top of mind with potential customers.
Even if you already invest time and money into local SEO, the tactics above are great for enhancing your online presence efforts.
Hiring an SEO agency vs. DIY SEO: Pros and cons
Deciding whether to hire an SEO agency or handle SEO in-house is an important consideration for cleaning services businesses. Here are the pros and cons of each option:
Hiring an SEO agency
- Pros: Access to expertise and experience, saves time and resources, comprehensive SEO strategies tailored to your business, ongoing monitoring and optimization.
- Cons: Higher cost compared to DIY SEO, reliance on external agency, the potential for miscommunication or misalignment of goals.
DIY SEO
- Pros: Lower cost, more control over the process, flexibility to make immediate changes, increased knowledge and understanding of SEO.
- Cons: Steep learning curve, time-consuming, lack of expertise and experience, potential for mistakes that can harm your website's rankings.
Conclusion and key takeaways
Investing in SEO is a crucial step for cleaning services businesses to improve their online presence and attract more customers. When determining how much to spend on SEO, consider factors such as market competitiveness, website complexity, and your business goals. Remember to continuously monitor and analyze your SEO efforts to ensure maximum effectiveness.
Additionally, explore alternative strategies such as social media marketing and online advertising to complement your SEO efforts. Ultimately, whether you choose to hire an SEO agency or handle SEO in-house, the key is to be proactive and strategic in your approach to achieve long-term success.
Get a free online assessment of your cleaning services business's SEO needs today to kickstart your journey towards online success.
