Electrician SEO: 8 Local Search Tactics That Actually Work
Most electricians I talk to have the same complaint: "I paid for SEO and nothing happened." They're not wrong. Most local SEO services are borderline scams that accomplish nothing.
Here's what actually works for electrical contractors, based on what I've seen move the needle in competitive markets.
1. Own Your Google Business Profile (Really Own It)
You probably have a Google Business Profile. But are you actually using it?
The Google Business Profile (GBP) is the most important SEO asset you have. For local searches like "electrician near me," the map pack (the 3 businesses shown with a map) often captures 50-60% of clicks.
The basics you probably already did: - Claimed and verified your listing - Added your phone number and address - Chose primary category (Electrician)
What actually moves rankings: - Post weekly updates (not ads, useful content) - Add photos regularly (at least 5-10 per month) - Respond to EVERY review within 48 hours - Add secondary categories (Emergency Electrician, Electrical Installation Service, etc.) - Use Google's Q&A feature proactively - Enable messaging and actually respond
Weekly GBP post ideas: - A photo of a completed job with a brief description - Seasonal tips ("Summer electrical safety: extension cord dos and don'ts") - Team updates ("Welcome to our newest licensed electrician, Mike") - Before/after of a panel upgrade
The algorithm rewards active profiles. A GBP with 52 posts and 50 photos will outrank one that was set up and abandoned.
2. Build Location-Specific Pages That Aren't Garbage
I see two extremes in electrician websites: 1. One generic "Service Area" page listing 20 cities 2. 50 auto-generated pages that say the same thing with different city names
Both are wrong.
What Google (and customers) actually want:
Unique, useful content about your services in specific areas.
Good location page structure:
"Electrician Services in Scottsdale, AZ"
- H1: Electrician in Scottsdale, AZ
- Introduction paragraph specific to Scottsdale (mention neighborhoods, local references)
- Your services in this area
- Why you serve Scottsdale (proximity, experience, etc.)
- Local statistics if relevant (average home age, common electrical issues)
- Testimonials from Scottsdale customers specifically
- Embedded map showing your route to Scottsdale
- Contact info
Terrible location page that will get you penalized:
Same 300-word template with "[CITY]" swapped out across 50 pages. Google recognizes this and may flag your entire site.
The test: Would a resident of that city find this page useful? If the answer is "no, it's just SEO filler," don't publish it.
Create fewer, better pages. 5 excellent location pages beat 50 garbage ones.
3. Get Real Reviews Mentioning Services and Locations
Reviews affect rankings. Google has confirmed this multiple times.
But not all reviews are equal. Reviews that mention specific services and locations carry more weight.
Examples of weak reviews: - "Great service!" (no details) - "5 stars" (just a rating) - "Would recommend" (generic)
Examples of powerful reviews: - "Called them for an emergency panel replacement in Gilbert. They arrived within 2 hours and had it done same-day." - "Best electrician in Tempe for ceiling fan installation. Third one I've used. Finally got it right." - "Whole-house surge protection installation in Scottsdale. They explained everything and the price was fair."
How to get these reviews:
Don't just ask "can you leave us a review?" Ask specifically: "Would you mind mentioning the type of work we did and your area? It really helps other homeowners find us."
You can't script reviews (against Google's terms), but you can encourage detail.
Timing matters: Ask for reviews within 24 hours of completing work. Same-day follow-up texts get 3x the response rate of next-week emails.
4. Earn Local Citations That Actually Matter
Citations are mentions of your business name, address, and phone number on other websites. They used to matter a lot for SEO. Now they matter less, but they still matter some.
Citations worth getting (high quality): - BBB - Your state's contractor licensing board - Chamber of Commerce (local) - Industry associations (NECA, IEC) - Home services platforms (Angi, HomeAdvisor, Thumbtack) - Local news/magazine "best of" lists
Citations that barely matter (low quality): - Random business directories nobody uses - Spammy "local business" sites - Thousands of auto-submitted directories
The citation audit: Search your business name in quotes. Look for inconsistencies. If one site says "123 Main St" and another says "123 Main Street Suite 100," fix it.
Consistency matters more than quantity. 20 accurate citations beat 200 inconsistent ones.
5. Create Content for Real Search Queries
What electricians usually have on their website: - Home page - About page - Services page - Contact page
What potential customers are actually searching: - "How much does it cost to upgrade to 200 amp service" - "Signs of bad wiring in old house" - "Can I install an EV charger at home" - "Why does my breaker keep tripping" - "Ceiling fan installation cost Phoenix"
Every one of those searches is a potential customer. If your website doesn't answer those questions, someone else's will.
Content to create:
"200 Amp Panel Upgrade Cost: Phoenix Price Guide (2025)" - Why you might need an upgrade - Typical cost ranges - Factors that affect price - Permit requirements in Arizona - What to expect during installation
"Signs of Electrical Problems in Older Homes" - Flickering lights - Burning smells - Discolored outlets - Frequent breaker trips - Two-prong outlets - When to call a professional vs. DIY
"EV Charger Installation Guide for Arizona Homeowners" - Level 1 vs Level 2 chargers - Electrical requirements - Cost to install - Rebates and incentives (APS, SRP) - Why you need a licensed electrician
This content captures search traffic AND positions you as the expert. When someone reads your article and then needs an electrician, guess who they're calling?
6. Optimize for "Near Me" Without Being Spammy
"Electrician near me" searches have exploded. Google interprets these based on the searcher's location, but your website can help.
Don't do this: - Stuff "near me" into your page titles ("Electrician Near Me | Phoenix Electrician Near Me") - Create pages targeting "electrician near me" as a keyword - Add hidden text with location keywords
Google understands "near me" is based on proximity, not your keyword usage.
Do this instead: - Ensure your GBP address is accurate and verified - Include your address on your website consistently - Add LocalBusiness schema markup with your coordinates - Create content about specific service areas - Build local links and citations
Your website tells Google where you're located. Your GBP confirms it. Your reviews reinforce it. That's how you rank for "near me" searches.
7. Build Links From Local Sources
Backlinks still matter for SEO. For local businesses, local links matter most.
Local link opportunities for electricians:
- Suppliers: Ask your electrical supply house if they have a "preferred contractors" page
- Builder partnerships: If you work with general contractors, get on their subcontractor pages
- Community involvement: Sponsor a little league team, get a link from their website
- Local news: Did you do an interesting project? Commercial installation? Volunteer work? Local publications are always looking for stories
- Chamber of Commerce: Membership includes a directory link
- Better Business Bureau: Accreditation includes a profile link
- Trade associations: NECA, IEC, local chapters all have member directories
What NOT to do: - Buy links (Google penalizes this) - Use private blog networks (Google really penalizes this) - Exchange links with random sites - Pay for directory submissions to hundreds of sites
One link from your local newspaper is worth more than 100 links from random directories.
8. Track What Actually Matters
Most electricians I work with don't know if their SEO is working because they're tracking the wrong things, or nothing at all.
Vanity metrics (don't obsess over these): - Overall website traffic - Domain authority scores - Number of keywords ranked
Metrics that matter: - Phone calls from Google Business Profile: GBP shows this directly - Website calls from organic search: Use call tracking - Direction requests: Another GBP metric - Form submissions from organic visitors: Track in Google Analytics - Ranking for your top 10 keywords: Track these specifically
Simple tracking setup: 1. Connect Google Analytics 4 to your website 2. Set up call tracking (CallRail, CallTrackingMetrics, or similar) 3. Check GBP insights monthly 4. Track form submissions as conversions
If your SEO company can't show you more calls and form submissions over time, they're not helping you.
The SEO Reality Check
SEO is slow. Real results take 6-12 months. Anyone promising first-page rankings in 30 days is lying.
But SEO is also cumulative. The content you create today keeps working for years. The reviews you earn build authority forever. The local links you build compound over time.
Most of your competitors are doing SEO badly or not at all. Just doing the basics (keeping your GBP active, creating useful content, earning reviews) puts you ahead of 80% of the market.
Want help with your electrical company's SEO? [Let's talk strategy](/contact).