They Said My Keywords Were Wrong—They Were Right

You did everything right—website?

Google Business Profile? ...Check

Content? ...Check

So why aren’t the calls coming in?

Here’s a hard truth: if your SEO keywords don’t match what your customers are actually searching, your site could be ranking for… nothing useful.

And this happens to small businesses all the time.

What Most People Get Wrong About Keywords

Let’s say you’re a local plumber. You use “plumbing professional” all over your website.

Sounds official, right?

Problem is—no one types that into Google. They’re searching:

• “toilet repair near me”
• “emergency plumber Augusta GA”
• “fix leaky pipe”

SEO isn’t about sounding fancy—it’s about matching real-world search intent.

And the same goes for every service:

• Roofers who rank for “roofing systems” when people search “leak repair”
• Inspectors who use “residential environmental testing” instead of “radon test Columbia County”
• Landscapers using “outdoor transformation” instead of “yard cleanup near me”

What Are the Right Keywords?

The right keywords for a service-based business are:

• Location-based: “in [city]”, “near me”, ZIP code mentions
• Problem-focused: “roof leak fix”, “tree removal help”, “crawlspace mold”
• Service + intent: “affordable gutter cleaning”, “radon inspection cost”
• Natural phrases: Use what your customers say, not what you’d say to another pro

Long-tail keywords win because they match specific searches and are easier to rank for.

How to Find the Right Keywords

You don’t need to guess. There are free (and paid) tools to guide you:

• Google Search Console (what you’re already ranking for)
• Ubersuggest, Answer the Public
• Google autocomplete (“how to hire a roofer in...”)
• Ask customers: “What did you type to find us?”

Even better? Let someone else do it for you.

Managed Nerds Fixes the Keyword Confusion

At Managed Nerds, we specialize in making sure your content matches what people are actually searching for—right now, in your service area.

We’ll:

• Audit your current rankings
• Research the best local keyword opportunities
• Generate targeted SEO content to help your business rank
• Optimize your site and GBP to match intent

We don’t chase keywords that look good—we chase the ones that bring leads.

Still Wondering Why No One’s Clicking?

Let Managed Nerds fix your keyword strategy—for real this time.
We’ll help you show up in front of the right customers—with the right words.