Search engine optimization (SEO) is vital to success with auto repair business marketing. Strategic keyword selection improves your chances of scoring a top spot on search engine results pages (SERPs) and driving traffic to your website. Keyword research can also help you determine what potential customers want to know and how you can deliver the insight they demand.
Choosing the right keywords for automotive industry marketing can be tricky — and selection is only the beginning. You’ll also need to use carefully chosen keywords in the right locations without sounding awkward or unnatural. However, the effort will prove more than worthwhile if you can attract new customers and get them to convert on the spot.
Keep reading to learn which automotive keywords are the most effective for car repair SEO. We’ll also highlight a few alternate keywords you might not have considered, as well as top opportunities for integrating them naturally into your content.
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What are the top keywords for the automotive industry?
As you select the right keywords, consider the terminology you typically use for your auto repair shop, as well as which keywords might be selected by top competitors. Remember that while search volume makes a difference, targeted keywords may be better. Targeted keywords are better for landing a solid SERP spot and also for attracting specific types of customers.
Check out these automotive keyword examples, which should give you an idea of how customers search:
- Auto repair shop services
- Automotive repair shop
- Auto repairs near me
- Best car repairs near me
- Reliable auto repair shop
- Car repair plans
- Out of warranty car repair
Feel free to add geographic designations to narrow searches to specific cities, states, or regions. This will help you attract attention from local drivers, who are far more likely to convert.
Niche terms
Depending on the type of auto repair business you run or which customers you want to attract, you may benefit from narrowing the focus of your keywords to reflect specific makes, models, or vehicle categories. Examples include:
- Jeep repair shop
- Honda Civic repairs
- Motorcycle repair shop
- SUV repair shop
- Hybrid vehicle repairs
- Repairs for sports cars
- Repairs for Ford Explorer
Question-based keywords
Given the current prevalence of voice and local searches, it can be helpful to optimize for question-based keywords. These take a more conversational style and may appeal to customers searching for immediate repairs in their vicinity.
Add these keywords for the automotive industry to your homepage, in a blog, or, best of all, in an FAQ:
- Where can I find auto repairs?
- How long do auto repairs take?
- How much do brake repairs cost?
- Are cars expensive to repair?
- What is certified auto repair?
- Why is my check engine light on?
What are some alternative terms for auto repair shops?
Accurate terminology is important, of course, but it won’t always get prospective customers to your webpage. Like it or not, many customers use alternate keywords when searching for repair shops online. Be mindful of this phrasing — and, when necessary, be prepared to integrate terms you might not normally use into your page.
If you’re worried about harming your credibility by using the wrong terms, consider trying alternate phrasing for blog posts or FAQ entries that distinguish the various types of automotive businesses. For example, your blog might highlight differences between auto body shops and mechanics — or mechanics versus auto technicians.
Alternate terms worth incorporating include:
- Auto mechanic
- Car mechanic
- Car mechanics near me
- Auto body shop
- Auto body mechanic
- Auto bodywork mechanic
- Auto body collision repair
Additionally, consider using terms such as “fix,” “care,” or “maintenance” in place of the standard “repair.”
How can you choose the best keywords for your business?
Strategic keyword selection is crucial as you seek new visitors for your auto repair site. Keywords reflect your target customers’ intentions and your ability to meet their needs with digital content and in-person repair services.
As you hunt for the best terms, make the most of Google’s Keyword Planner. This tool provides powerful insight into the words and phrases that attract the most attention from search engine users.
Remember that your keywords should reflect not only the location of your business and the types of services you provide but also your overarching philosophy and company culture.
For example: While terms such as “cheap auto repairs” or “cheap car parts” boast high search volume, they aren’t necessarily right for your business if you specialize in high-end services for luxury vehicles.
Where can you use keywords for the automotive industry?
You’ve researched and selected automotive industry keywords that appeal to your core consumer, but your quest to improve auto repair SEO isn’t complete just yet.
Now, you need to craft content that fits the search intent behind chosen keywords — and you need to integrate top terms in a way that feels natural. This can be tricky, especially when using long-tail keywords that consist of four or more words.
Question-based phrasing and location terms add further challenges to keyword integration. Still, with a little effort, you can find several places to highlight top keywords for auto repair marketing.
Auto repair website
At a minimum, relevant keywords should be integrated into the text on your auto repair website. Strategic keywords can help you drive traffic from search engines to your site. Keywords can also help you determine which types of pages are most needed.
Look for natural ways to incorporate top keywords on your Homepage, About page, and other frequently visited areas of your website. Headers and subheaders provide excellent opportunities for adding keywords, although these should also be woven into the text when possible.
Blog posts
Blogs provide numerous chances to use keywords while showing off your status as an automotive authority. Be careful, however, as Google’s algorithms actively punish pages that use keyword stuffing methods without providing genuine value to the reader.
When in doubt, your blog’s chief goal should always be to assist prospective customers who are currently dealing with automotive issues. The right keywords should support this mission — not overtake it.
Google My Business
An optimized website is essential, of course, but this isn’t the only web location prospective customers will visit as they search for auto repair services. These days, Google My Business (GMB) is just as important. This tool could be a huge source of business among those in your immediate vicinity who need quick information on the best auto repair shops in the area.
To begin, claim your GMB page. Take care when selecting your company’s category, as this could influence which customers visit your GMB listing and whether they ultimately convert.
Next, update information such as your location, hours, and contact details to ensure that everything is consistent across all platforms and webpages connected to your business.
As you develop a description, add relevant keywords that reflect the research you’ve already conducted for improving website SEO. Official advice from Google highlights the need for “complete and detailed business information,” which helps the search engine link your listing with “relevant searches from customers.”
How can you get your auto repair website on track with Constant Contact?
Are you looking for other ways to bring traffic to your auto repair page? Look no further than getting a free copy of Constant Contact’s The Download, which will clue you in on all things SEO. You’ll also discover several other secrets to effective automotive industry marketing, including help with social media, email, and more.
