Every body shop owner wants the same thing: to show up first when someone in their city searches for collision repair. Here's what actually matters for getting your body shop to rank on Google.
## First, Some Honest Expectations
Before we dive in, let's be real: **SEO takes time.**
Anyone promising page 1 rankings in 30 days is either lying or using tactics that will get you penalized.
Realistic timeline:
- **Month 1-2:** Foundation work, Google sees your changes
- **Month 3-4:** Start ranking for longer, easier keywords
- **Month 5-6:** Movement on competitive terms
- **Month 6+:** Consistent rankings and traffic
## The Two Places You Need to Rank
When someone searches "auto body shop near me," Google shows two types of results:
- **The Map Pack** - The top 3 businesses shown with a map
- **Organic Results** - The regular blue links below
You need a strategy for both, and they work differently.
## The Keywords That Matter
### High-Intent Keywords (Most Valuable)
- "auto body shop near me"
- "collision repair [city]"
- "body shop [city]"
- "car accident repair near me"
### Service-Specific Keywords
- "bumper repair [city]"
- "dent removal [city]"
- "auto paint shop near me"
- "frame repair [city]"
## Your Website Content Strategy
Here's the content you need to rank:
- **Homepage:** Clearly state who you are, where you are, and what you do
- **Service Pages:** Individual pages for collision repair, dent repair, paint services, etc.
- **Location Pages:** Pages for each city/neighborhood you serve
- **About Page:** Your story, certifications, team bios
## Technical SEO Basics
- **Speed:** Google uses page speed as a ranking factor. Aim for mobile score above 50.
- **Mobile-Friendly:** 70%+ of local searches happen on phones
- **SSL Certificate:** Your URL should start with "https://"
## The Long Game
Here's the truth about SEO: it compounds. Month 1, you might see nothing. Month 3, a few keywords start moving. Month 6, you're getting consistent traffic. Month 12, you're getting leads without paying for ads.
The shops that win at SEO are the ones that commit to it consistently.
