Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to 21 questions UK tradespeople ask me about websites, local SEO, Google and what it all costs. If yours isn't here, see where you rank and I'll answer it when I send your grid.
Working With Local Ladder
What does Local Ladder do?
Local Ladder is a UK web design and local SEO agency for tradespeople and home service businesses. I build custom websites that you own outright, then run the local marketing behind them: Google Business Profile management, local SEO, review generation and link building. All of it is done for you, so you can stay on the tools.
Which trades do you work with?
All home service trades across the UK, including plumbers, electricians, builders, roofers, carpenters, cleaners, gardeners, painters and decorators, handymen and window cleaners.
Where is Local Ladder based, and do you cover my area?
Local Ladder is UK-based and works with trades across the whole of the United Kingdom. Everything runs remotely (calls, updates and reporting), so where you are in the country makes no difference to the service.
Who will I actually be working with?
Directly with Elliot Blackler, the founder. There are no account managers and no outsourcing. If I can help you I will tell you exactly how, and if I cannot I will tell you that too.
How much does a website from Local Ladder cost?
One price, published in full on the pricing page: £199 a month plus VAT. That covers the website build, local SEO, Google Business Profile management, review generation, monthly content, citations, link building and the hosting and care. There is a three month minimum and it rolls monthly after that.
Is there a setup fee?
No. The website is built as part of the £199 a month, so there is nothing to pay upfront. That is why there is a three month minimum: I would rather carry the build cost myself than ask you for a grand before you have seen a single enquiry.
Are there long-term contracts?
Three months, then it rolls monthly and you can stop with 30 days notice. The three months are there because the build sits inside the price rather than being charged upfront. There is no 12-month tie-in either way.
What happens if I cancel?
You keep the website. You own the site, the domain and the content from the day it goes live, so stopping the monthly plan takes nothing away from you. I hand over everything needed to move it wherever you want.
Do you fix my current website or build a new one?
I build a brand new website from the ground up, drawn around your trade rather than dropped onto a template. It loads fast, it works properly on a phone, and it is built from day one to rank on Google and turn visitors into enquiries.
How long until I see results?
Your optimised Google Business Profile and your QR review cards start earning from the day you go live. For organic search rankings, expect meaningful movement within 3 to 6 months, and the gains keep compounding after that.
What's included in the monthly fee?
Everything. Hosting, SSL, backups, monitoring, updates and small changes are £39 of the £199 and already included. On top of that you get Google Business Profile management, review generation, new content and pages, citation building, link building and monthly reporting. All plus VAT.
Websites & Leads
Do I really need a website if I already use Checkatrade?
A directory listing rents you visibility; a website builds your own. Directory leads are shared with competitors (Checkatrade enquiries reportedly reach 10 to 20+ members, Bark leads can be bought by up to 5 professionals), while a visitor on your own website is talking only to you. Most established trades use directories to fill gaps, not as the foundation. My UK Trade Lead Cost Tracker collects what each platform really costs.
How much do trade directories like Checkatrade cost?
Checkatrade officially starts at £30/month (+VAT) with lead-generating plans from £59/month, and members report real bills of £80 to £500 a month on 12-month contracts. MyBuilder charges from £7 per shortlist, Bark credits cost £1.80 each (roughly £9 to £36+ per lead), and Rated People and TrustATrader publish no prices at all. I track every published figure, with sources, in the UK Trade Lead Cost Tracker.
What makes a trade website actually generate leads?
Five things done properly: a clickable phone number in a sticky header, fast loading on mobile (where most trade searches happen), visible trust signals like reviews and accreditations, a dedicated page for each service you offer, and clear calls-to-action on every page. A website missing these is a brochure, not a salesperson.
Do I actually own my website?
With me, yes. You own the site, the domain and the content from the day it goes live, and none of it is rented back to you. Plenty of agencies build on a platform you cannot take with you, so the site stops being yours the moment you stop paying. Ask any agency you are talking to what happens to the website if you cancel, and see how straight the answer is.
How do I get more Google reviews?
Ask every customer, every time, with as little friction as possible. The reliable way is an automated follow-up after each completed job with a direct link to your Google review form. A steady flow of recent reviews matters more to both Google and customers than a big number gathered years ago.
Local SEO & Google
Why isn't my business showing up on Google Maps?
Usually one of three things: your Google Business Profile is incomplete or unverified, your business details are inconsistent across the web, or competitors simply have stronger profiles: more reviews, better categories, more complete information. Google ranks map results on relevance, distance and prominence, and you can influence two of the three.
What is a Google Business Profile and why does it matter?
It is the free listing that appears in Google Maps and the local results when someone searches for your trade nearby. For local trades it is often the single biggest source of enquiries, because the map pack sits above the normal search results. An optimised profile (right categories, services, photos, reviews and regular updates) is the foundation of local visibility.
How long does local SEO take to work?
On-page fixes often show movement within 2 to 8 weeks once Google recrawls your site. Competitive gains (outranking established firms in your area) typically take 3 to 6 months of consistent work. Smaller towns move faster than big cities. Be wary of anyone promising page 1 in a fortnight.
Do I need a separate page for every town I cover?
If you want to rank there, yes. Google matches searches like "roofer in Guildford" to pages about roofing in Guildford, not to a generic homepage. A dedicated, genuinely useful page for each main service area (local jobs, local reviews, local detail) is one of the most effective local SEO tactics for trades.
Should I pay for Google Ads or invest in SEO?
Ads fill the gap while organic rankings build, especially for emergency trades where customers need someone immediately. But every lead keeps costing you money. SEO compounds: once you rank, the enquiries do not carry a per-click fee. Many trades run ads at the start and scale back as organic leads grow. The mistake is treating ads as a permanent substitute for ranking.
Still Got Questions?
The free rank check answers most of them for your own business: a grid of where you rank across your area, who's above you, and the three changes worth making first. Sent the same working day.
Show Me Where I Rank