.jpg)
Why Your Home Service Business Needs SEO and AEO in 2025.
- Alberto Colin Huet
- Oct 1
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 1
Let’s imagine two business owners right here in Orange County, California:
Miguel, who runs a plumbing company, took the time to invest in his online presence. He has a modern website, a fully optimized Google Business Profile, and he regularly publishes helpful content about plumbing issues homeowners face. Recently, he’s even started adapting his content for Answer Engine Optimization (AEO)—so AI platforms and search engines showcase his business as the go-to local authority.
On the other side, Robert, who owns a handyman service, still depends almost entirely on word-of-mouth referrals, flyers at hardware stores, and the occasional post on Facebook. His Google Business Profile is incomplete, and he doesn’t put much effort into his digital strategy.
Let’s see how their choices impact their visibility, customers, and growth in 2025.
1. Digital Visibility is the New Front Door- The SEO and AEO new game.
Today, homeowners don’t flip through phone books or wait for a neighbor’s recommendation. They search online—usually on Google.
Over 53% of all website traffic comes from organic search, which means if your business doesn’t show up, you’re missing out on more than half of the pie (Digital Silk).
46% of all Google searches have local intent—things like “plumber near me” or “handyman Orange County” (PageOptimizer).
About 78% of local mobile searches lead to an offline purchase, and 72% of consumers visit a store within five miles of their search (99firms).
Because Miguel invested in SEO, his plumbing company shows up for searches like “emergency plumber Orange County.” Robert’s handyman service, however, is buried pages deep—if it shows up at all.
2. Google Business Profile: A Local Trust Factor you must combine with SEO and AEO.
For local service providers, a Google Business Profile (GBP) is often the first impression.
Businesses with complete profiles are 70% more likely to attract visits and 2.7× more likely to be considered reputable (SearchAtlas).
Listings with photos get up to 520% more calls and over 1,000% more website clicks compared to those without (WordStream).
Reviews remain critical—making up about 15% of local pack ranking signals (99firms).
Miguel frequently updates his profile, uploads before-and-after plumbing job photos, and responds to every customer review. Robert hasn’t updated his listing in months, has no photos, and has unanswered reviews. Which one looks more trustworthy to a homeowner searching online?
3. SEO: The Pillars of Online Growth.
Miguel’s website works for him 24/7:
He has pages optimized with terms like “Orange County water heater installation” and “24-hour drain cleaning Newport Beach.”
He writes blog posts with headlines such as “5 Signs Your Pipes Need Replacement Before Winter.”
He makes sure his website loads quickly, is mobile-friendly, and is secured with HTTPS.
The payoff:
The #1 Google result captures 27.6% of all clicks, and almost nobody—just 0.63% of users—goes to the second page (Digital Silk).
Robert’s site hasn’t been touched in years. It’s slow, unoptimized, and not mobile-friendly. Even if someone manages to find it, they usually leave within seconds.
4. AEO: Competing in the Age of AI.
Here’s where things get even more interesting. Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) is about preparing your content for AI platforms like ChatGPT, Bing Copilot, and Google’s AI Overviews.
AI search is growing fast. Reports suggest brands relying only on traditional SEO may lose 20–40% of organic traffic by 2026 if they don’t adapt to AEO (Wikipedia).
63% of marketers already report better visibility thanks to AI Overviews (AIOSEO).
Miguel publishes FAQ pages like “How much does it cost to replace pipes in Westminster California?” with structured answers. He uses schema markup so AI engines can easily parse his content. When a homeowner asks their AI assistant, “Who is the best plumber near Westminster for emergency leaks?”, Miguel’s company often appears in the cited results.
Robert’s business never gets mentioned—because his online presence isn’t structured for AI to recognize or recommend.
5. SEO + AEO + Paid Ads = The Winning Formula.
Miguel didn’t stop at SEO and AEO. When business is slower, he runs Google Ads targeting the keyword "Orange County Drain Cleaning” to appear above organic results. With the combination of SEO for long-term visibility, AEO for AI-driven discovery, and paid ads for immediate exposure, his business stays in front of homeowners consistently.
Robert depends on referrals. When those dry up, so do his calls.
6. Realistic Expectations, Real Rewards.
Miguel knows this didn’t happen overnight:
SEO and AEO typically take weeks or months to produce measurable results.
But with steady effort—posting content, optimizing his GBP, and running occasional ads—he’s built a system that keeps producing leads.
Robert continues to spend hours handing out flyers and waiting for the phone to ring.
Final Thoughts for Orange County Business Owners.
If you own a home service business in Orange County and Los Angeles—plumbing, HVAC, roofing, electrical—the lesson is clear:
Offline marketing isn’t enough anymore. Flyers and word-of-mouth should complement, not replace, your digital presence.
SEO is your foundation. Make sure your website is optimized, your GBP is complete, and you’re visible in search results.
AEO is the next step. Structure your content for AI search so your business becomes the trusted answer.
Paid ads amplify growth. Use them strategically to boost visibility when you need immediate results.
Investing in digital visibility may take patience, but the long-term rewards—consistent leads, higher revenue, and stronger reputation—are well worth it.
Our Services related to SEO and AEO.
To know more about our SEO (Search Engine Optimization) services, click here to check our SEO Services page: C2Thrive Local Marketing SEO Services
If you need a Website with SEO work, check here our Website Design Services page: C2Thrive Local Marketing Website Design Services
Our sources for this blog post study:
Digital Silk - Top SEO Statistics.
Page Optimizer.
99 Firms - Local SEO Statistics.
Search Atlas.
Wordstream - Google My Business Optimization.
Digitalsilk.
Wikipedia.
AIOSEO.
Comments