Step-by-Step SEO for Landscaping Businesses

Search engine optimization (SEO) is one of the pillars of a digital marketing strategy. It helps brands rank higher on Google and attract more customers. Seventy-two percent of consumers search online for local services within three miles of their location.

A good SEO strategy generates more leads and brand visibility, builds trust, drives sales, and converts browsers into customers. This guide will show you how to transform your landscaping business online.

With Aspire’s landscaping business software, you can streamline operations, improve customer interactions, and align workflows to turn SEO-generated leads into lasting business growth.

What is landscaping search engine optimization?

Landscaping SEO involves getting your landscaping business to appear higher on search engine results pages (SERPs) and increasing the volume of online searches for queries related to your website. 

When potential customers search for landscaping services in your area, like “lawn care services near me” or “landscape design in [your city],” your website should appear in the search results.

Landscaping SEO can improve the overall business performance of landscaping companies by getting more visibility and more customers.

Why landscaping SEO matters

Your business's visibility will increase by showing up in search results when local customers search for landscaping services.

• Outrank competitors and get customers actively searching for your services.

• Unlike paid ads, organic SEO is cost-effective, delivering results over time without ongoing costs.

• Target local customers in your service area with local SEO.

Now that you know the basics of landscaping SEO, let’s get into why it’s a game changer for your business.

Why invest in landscaping SEO?

Investing in landscaping SEO is the best way to get more visibility online and generate leads from local customers. Ninety-three percent of online experiences start with a search engine, so outranking your competition on Google is key to growing your landscaping business.

A good SEO strategy helps business owners understand and target the right keywords (the ones customers are searching for) to improve their online visibility, generate qualified leads, and increase sales and brand presence in the landscaping industry.

Benefits of Landscaping SEO

Boost your local visibility

Showing up in local search results for “landscaping company near me” or “lawn care services in [your city]” generates leads who are searching for landscaping services.

Consistent online mentions and a solid strategy involving Google Maps listings and customer reviews are key to ranking higher in local searches and gaining more customer access.

Drive more website traffic

Target keywords like “landscaping patio design” or “garden maintenance services” to get customers to your landing pages or service-area content. 

Website pages specific to service areas, such as cities, towns, or neighborhoods, allow the site to rank in cities and regions where you’re expanding and may not have brick-and-mortar offices.

Generate high-quality leads

SEO gets local customers who are ready to buy landscaping services. Optimized content gets inquiries from serious buyers, not browsers.

Build trust and credibility

In the landscaping industry, customer reviews are essential for boosting your authority and brand trust.

Blog posts on topics like “top landscape design trends” or “how to properly mulch your garden” get readers to your site and demonstrate your credibility.

Improve ROI

SEO is a cheaper marketing strategy that delivers long-term results when compared to paid ads.

Targeting long-tail keywords (multi-word topics such as “how to get lawns greener”) generate a high conversion rate from organic traffic.

By investing in SEO, your landscaping business can appear at the top of search results, drive website traffic from your target audience, and generate more leads.

Now, learn how to do landscaping SEO to get the most out of it.

What types of SEO should landscaping companies know about?

Knowing the different types of SEO is key for landscaping companies to increase their online presence. Each type targets a specific area of optimization to help businesses rank higher in search engine results and attract more local customers. From optimizing your website to building trust through external links, these strategies work together to create a solid SEO strategy.

On-Page SEO

On-page SEO optimizes individual web pages to rank higher for keywords like “lawn care services” or “landscape design.”

Use keywords in:

• Headings

• Meta descriptions

• Content

It’s critical not to overload website content with keywords (known as keyword stuffing). For example, use “landscaping business” naturally on service pages. Use a keyword research tool like SEMrush, Ahrefs, or Google Ad’s Keyword Planner.

Write compelling, keyword-rich titles, such as “Expert Landscaping in [Your City],” to increase click-through rates.

And finally, create detailed, engaging, and skimmable blog posts on topics like “How to Maintain a Healthy Lawn.”

Off-Page SEO

Off-page SEO builds credibility and authority through external signals like backlinks.

Work with high-authority sites in the industry to share links to your website. Link building on local directories like Yelp or Yellow Pages can help, but it is also considered spammy. Finding industry sites with higher-ranking domain authority is better—quality matters over quantity here.

Drive traffic and engagement by sharing content on social media, such as:

• Blog posts

• Case studies 

• Updates 

Positive reviews on Google My Business also gain consumer trust and improve local SEO rankings.

Local SEO

Local SEO targets customers in your service area who are searching for landscaping services.

Make sure business listings are accurate and include updated addresses, phone numbers, special hours (e.g., Christmas hours, Independence Day hours), and hours of operation.

Target terms like “lawn care in [Your City]” to increase local traffic. Optimizing for local search is key to increasing visibility and ensuring your business appears in local search results, including the Google 3-Pack.

Then, business details can be added to directories like Yellow Pages and LandscapingNetwork to get search engine trust.

Technical SEO

Technical SEO ensures your landscaping website runs smoothly and meets Google’s technical standards. However, technical SEO can be tricky, so if it is too difficult, find an SEO services agency to help.

The speed at which your site loads can make a substantial impact on whether or not people click back to the search results. It’s critical to optimize load time; 83% of users expect websites to load in under 3 seconds.

→ Use a responsive design so the site works on mobile devices where most searches happen.

Using HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure, the padlock on the browser search bar) ensures a secure browsing experience for organic traffic and builds trust with users and Google.

Content SEO

Content SEO is about creating and optimizing quality content to engage users and rank for keywords.

Create blog posts for your website in the form of helpful articles like “Top 10 Landscaping Trends for [Year]” to get organic traffic and build authority.

Then, optimize pages for each service, such as “Lawn Care Services” or “Landscape Design.” Think of service pages as your core service offerings. SEO experts call these “pillar pages.”

Use long-term keywords like “affordable landscaping services in [Your City]” to get niche traffic.

Master these types of SEO, and you have a solid SEO strategy that gets visibility and converts customers. SEO can be hard to understand, so don’t hesitate to ask an SEO services agency to help you if this is too difficult. Now, learn how to execute it for maximum results.

How can you do SEO for your landscaping business?

SEO is key to getting customers and growing online visibility. 

Follow this step-by-step approach for the landscaping industry, and you’ll increase your rankings on search engine results pages (SERPs) and generate more leads. 

Step 1. Optimize your website for search engines

Your landscaping website should be fast, mobile-friendly, and easy to use.

Use Google PageSpeed Insights to get pages to load in under 3 seconds and a responsive design so your site works on mobile devices.

Add meta descriptions, alt tags for images, H1/H2/H3 title and section subheadings, and clear title tags like "Professional Lawn Care Services."

Step 2. Conduct keyword research

Get the right keywords to show up in web searches.

Use tools like Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, or Ahrefs to get high-traffic keywords such as “lawn care services” or “local landscaping companies.”

Target phrases like “affordable landscaping in [your city]” for easier rankings and more leads, and see what keywords competitors rank for to refine your strategy.

Step 3. Local SEO Essentials

Local SEO gets you in front of customers looking for landscaping services.

Verify and optimize your Google Business Profile with business details, images, and hours of operation. Then, ensure your name, address, and phone number (NAP) are the same across all directories.

Use local keywords on your website and core service pages, such as “landscaping company in [your city].”

Step 4. Create high-quality, relevant content

Content builds trust, demonstrates authority in your sector, and engages customers.

Post articles on your website blog page like “Top 5 Landscaping Projects for Small Yards” to get readers and improve page rankings.

Then, optimize for keywords like “landscape design” to get users searching for specific services.

Include high-quality images and videos of completed projects to enhance user experience and with clear call-to-actions.

Step 5. Build backlinks and online authority

Backlinks increase your site’s credibility and rankings.

Collaborate with local home improvement or gardening blogs to get quality backlinks and boost your SEO.

Add your landscaping business to reputable directories like Yelp and LandscapingNetwork.

Ask satisfied customers to leave reviews on Google to grow brand trust and rankings.

Doing these will increase your search engine visibility and website traffic and reach more local customers.

What are some common SEO mistakes to avoid?

Even with the best intentions, landscaping businesses can make mistakes that hurt their SEO. Avoid these mistakes to get more online visibility and local customers to your website. 

1. Ignoring Mobile Optimization

If you don’t ensure that your landscaping website works on mobile, you could lose a majority of potential traffic. Mobile users account for over 60% of internet traffic, and Google prioritizes mobile-friendly sites.

→ Use responsive design and test your site using a tool like Lighthouse.

2. Keyword Stuffing

Using too many keywords, even if they’re relevant, sounds unnatural in content. The search algorithm that ranks sites recognizes keyword stuffing, so it’s a fast way to knock your website out of the top results.

→ Use keywords naturally and focus on providing high-quality content.

3. Ignoring Local SEO

Not following local SEO practices like optimizing your Google Business Profile listing can cause you to miss out on local traffic by not ranking in the local search pack.

→ Keep your business listing updated and add local keywords like “landscaping in [your city].”

4. Slow Website Load Time

Not optimizing your site’s speed will cause most users to leave if pages load in more than three seconds, increasing bounce rates.

→ Use Google PageSpeed Insights to improve your website’s load time.

5. Skipping Regular Updates

Not updating old content or keeping up with Google’s algorithm changes, also known as Google Core Updates, can cause outdated content and poor rankings, which results in lost traffic.

→ Review content and analytics regularly to find opportunities to improve.

By avoiding these mistakes, your SEO will work for you 24/7. The higher a landscaping business ranks on the SERP, the more organic traffic, leads, and, eventually, customers they can get. Learn how Aspire’s landscaping business software can help you streamline your SEO even more.

How can Aspire enhance landscaping SEO efforts?

Aspire’s landscaping business software delivers operational efficiency. It helps your sales team convert leads from organic traffic into estimates and close contracts.

The end-to-end, cloud-based processes include a robust, property-centric CRM that tracks every touch with potential customers, so no lead is ever dropped.

The customizable dashboards feature real-time data visualizers, allowing you to track the month's pipeline and view KPIs following new marketing efforts and SEO implementation.

How Aspire helps landscaping SEO

1. Better customer data management

   • Consolidate client details like addresses, preferences, and project history into a cloud-based CRM.

   • Identify potential service areas for expansion based on recently won contracts and add new local keywords to your site.

2. Enhances your team's productivity

   • Automate time-consuming processes in your daily operations, like scheduling, invoicing, and payroll. 

   • Give your teams time to focus on customer service and building customer relationships.

3. Boost online reputation

   • Encourage happy customers to leave reviews on Yelp and Google.

   • Build trust with potential clients as SERP visibility increases.

Aspire helps landscaping businesses operate with greater efficiency and visibility—critical tools to scale in the green industry. Learn how the right business management software can help you grow your landscaping business.

It’s your turn now

A good SEO strategy is crucial for landscaping businesses to get online. From optimizing your website and local SEO to creating content and building backlinks, these steps can help you attract more local customers, increase visibility, and drive conversions.

By following these steps, your landscaping business will rank higher and get more website traffic and leads. 

SEO isn’t just about being found; it’s about building trust and turning visitors into customers.

Schedule a free demo with Aspire today and see how we can transform your landscaping business.