The 5 Biggest SEO Mistakes Service Businesses Make (and How to Fix Them)

Lots of service businesses know SEO is important, but most don’t know where to start. They blog a bit, they tweak a few words on their website, then wonder why they are still buried on page three of Google.

Here are the five biggest mistakes I see service businesses make with SEO, and what to do instead.

1. Chasing Keywords Instead of Customers

Too many businesses obsess over a single “dream keyword” like plumber London or accountant Birmingham. The problem? Everyone else is chasing the same phrase. The fix is to focus on what your customers actually search for, longer phrases, local queries, and problems they need solved.

2. Writing for Google, Not People

Stuffing keywords into a page makes it unreadable. Google has moved on, and so have your customers. Your content should answer questions, solve problems, and make people want to pick up the phone. If it feels clunky, it is not working.

3. Ignoring Local SEO

If you are a service business, your customers are probably nearby. But so many businesses skip the basics like setting up a Google Business Profile, collecting reviews, and optimising for “near me” searches. These small steps can put you ahead of local competitors.

4. Neglecting the Website Experience

Even if you rank, a slow, messy, or confusing website will kill enquiries. People don’t wait around anymore. If your site takes longer than a few seconds to load, they are gone. A clean design, clear calls to action, and mobile-friendly pages are non negotiable.

5. Giving Up Too Soon

SEO takes time. Many business owners publish a few blogs, wait a month, then decide SEO “doesn’t work.” In reality, it can take three to six months to see progress. Consistency is what separates businesses that rank from those that never get off the ground.

How to Get It Right

SEO is not about quick wins, it is about steady, compounding growth. Avoid these mistakes, stay consistent, and you will see results.

👉 At KWMA, we help service businesses cut through the noise and get found online. No gimmicks, no jargon, just strategies that bring the right customers to your site.