Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) can feel confusing, especially for tradesmen. There are loads of myths floating around that make it sound harder or less useful than it really is. This blog will clear up the most common SEO myths that tradespeople hear. We’ll explain everything in simple terms, with no jargon.
We work with roofers, landscapers, electricians, builders and more, so we know the things that put people off SEO. If you’ve been avoiding it because of something you heard online (or from a mate), read on. Here are the most common myths and the real truth behind them.
Myth 1: “SEO takes years to work”
This is one of the most common beliefs we hear.
Truth: Local SEO for tradesmen often shows results within weeks or months.
In fact, some of our clients have seen new enquiries come in within the first 2–3 weeks of going live. One client in Surrey got to position 2 on Google for “Reigate builders” just a few weeks after launch.
Another had 3 jobs booked from SEO in a single week – paying for the entire year of marketing.
Local trades keywords often have low competition. If your site is well built and properly optimised from the start, it doesn’t take years.
SEO is a long-term game, yes. But it’s not a slow one.
Myth 2: “Facebook ads are better than SEO”
We hear this a lot from tradesmen who’ve tried Meta ads (Facebook and Instagram).
Truth: SEO and Meta ads work in very different ways.
Meta ads are good at creating attention. But that audience isn’t actively searching for a tradesman. They’re scrolling past cat videos, holiday snaps and people moaning on the local community page. Your ad appears in between all that. It can work, but you’re interrupting someone rather than answering their need.
With SEO, you’re showing up when someone is already searching. Someone googling “plumber in Stockport” is a high-intent lead. That’s why leads from Google tend to convert better.
Meta ads also stop the moment you stop paying. SEO keeps working 24/7. Your rankings don’t vanish when your budget pauses.
Myth 3: “Lead apps are easier than SEO”
Many tradesmen say things like, “I get my work from MyBuilder, Checkatrade or Rated People. Why bother with SEO?”
Truth: These platforms can work. But they come with problems.
First, the leads are shared. You might be bidding against 5 or 10 other tradesmen for the same job. That usually means dropping your price to compete.
Second, many of the leads are time-wasters. People often ask for multiple quotes, then go silent.
Third, you’re building their platform, not yours. The lead thinks they found you “on Checkatrade.” They don’t remember your company name. You don’t build brand loyalty that way.
Unlike lead apps, SEO builds your own brand. When someone finds you on Google and visits your website, they remember your name. It’s your photos, your reviews, and your business that they see. And the lead is exclusive to you.
Plus, you’re not paying per quote. Once your site ranks, the traffic is free.
Myth 4: “Word of mouth is enough”
This is one we hear a lot from established tradesmen who get regular referrals.
Truth: Word of mouth is great. But it’s not enough on its own.
Even when someone recommends you, they often Google you before calling. If they can’t find your site, or it looks poor, they might go elsewhere.
Also, word of mouth isn’t consistent. Some weeks your phone rings off the hook. Other weeks it goes quiet.
SEO gives you a steady stream of leads. And when someone does hear about you from a mate, your website helps convert that referral into a paying customer.
SEO and word of mouth work best together.
Myth 5: “SEO is too technical for me”
Many tradesmen assume SEO is all coding, algorithms, or weird tricks.
Truth: Good SEO is mostly common sense.
Google wants to show relevant and trustworthy businesses. So the job of SEO is to:
- Explain clearly what you do and where
- Use the same keywords/phrases that customers search for
- Add trust signals like reviews and photos
Yes, there are technical parts. But you don’t need to do those yourself. That’s what we do. The important thing is to understand that SEO is not some secret tech. It’s about showing up when someone types in something like “electrician Birmingham.”
And if you want to learn, we even have a beginner-friendly Step-by-Step SEO Guide for Tradesmen that breaks it down in plain English.
Final thoughts
Most of the fears about SEO come from bad experiences or misinformation. In reality, SEO is one of the best marketing tools available to tradesmen. It gets you in front of the right people at the right time.
SEO builds trust. It builds your own brand. And it keeps working in the background to bring in leads while you get on with the job.
If you’ve been put off by the myths above, hopefully this clears things up. We’ve helped over 100 trades businesses across the UK grow through proper SEO, and we’d be happy to help you too.
