Case Study: Boosting Gecko Power Wash’s Online Presence:
Gecko Power Wash Company is a small, family-owned pressure washing business based in Yucaipa, California. They specialize in pressure washing driveways, decks, fences, and home exteriors. Despite offering great services, their online presence was weak, and they struggled to attract new customers. They had a basic website, but it wasn’t drawing traffic, and their social media accounts were barely active. They also weren’t showing up in local searches when people looked for local pressure washing services. To grow their business, Gecko Power Wash needed a solid online marketing strategy focusing on Google Places, Google Local Service Ads (LSA), and social media marketing. Here’s how we helped them improve their visibility and connect with more customers.
Step 1: Optimizing Google Places (Google Business Profile)
The first thing we tackled was Gecko Power Wash’s Google Business Profile, now called Google Places. This free tool helps businesses appear in Google searches and on Google Maps when people look for local services. Their profile was incomplete, with outdated hours, no photos, and missing details about their services. We started by claiming and verifying their profile to ensure they controlled it. Then, we filled out every section:
- Business Name and Category: We made sure their name was clear (“Gecko Power Wash”) and chose “Pressure Washing Service” as the category to match what customers search for.
- Contact Info: We added their phone number, website, and service area (within a 20-mile radius).
- Description: We wrote a short, engaging description highlighting their experience, eco-friendly cleaning solutions, and free estimates.
- Photos: We uploaded high-quality before-and-after photos of their work, like sparkling clean driveways and fences, to grab attention.
- Reviews: We encouraged happy customers to leave reviews on Google. To make it easy, we sent follow-up texts with a direct link to their review page. Within two months, they went from 3 reviews to 15, with an average rating of 4.8 stars.
This optimization helped Gecko Power Wash rank higher in local searches like “roof cleaning near me.” They started appearing in the “Local Pack” (the top three businesses shown on Google Maps), which drove more calls and website visits.
Step 2: Launching Google Local Service Ads (LSA)
Next, we set up Google Local Service Ads, which are pay-per-lead ads designed for service-based businesses like pressure washing. These ads appear at the very top of Google search results, even above regular ads, and only charge when someone calls or messages directly from the ad. To get started, we helped Gecko Power Wash get verified for LSAs, which required proof of licensing, insurance, and background checks for their team. Once approved, we created their ad with:
- Clear Services: We listed specific services like “driveway cleaning,” “deck washing,” and “house exterior cleaning.”
- Budget: We set a weekly budget of $100 to test the waters, focusing on their busiest season (spring and summer).
- Targeting: We targeted their ads to their service area to avoid wasting money on leads too far away.
Within the first month, LSAs generated 10 quality leads, with 6 turning into booked jobs. The cost per lead was about $15, which was affordable for their business. Customers loved seeing the “Google Guaranteed” badge, which boosted trust and made them more likely to choose Gecko Power Wash over competitors.
Step 3: Building a Social Media Presence
Gecko Power Wash had an Instagram account and a Facebook page, but they hadn’t posted in months. Social media is a great way to show off their work and connect with local customers, so we created a simple strategy to keep things manageable.
- Content Plan: We posted twice a week on both platforms. Posts included before-and-after photos, quick tips (like “Why pressure washing your deck extends its life”), and customer testimonials. We also shared short videos of their team in action, which got a lot of engagement.
- Local Focus: We used hashtags like #LocalPowerWashing and #[TownName] to reach nearby customers. We also joined local community groups on Facebook to share promotions, like a 10% discount for first-time clients.
- Engagement: We responded to comments and messages within 24 hours to build trust and show they cared about customers.
- We also created a Gecko Power Wash TikTok account to help with their social media marketing efforts.
To save time, we used a free scheduling tool to plan posts in advance. After three months, their Facebook followers grew from 150 to 400, and Instagram went from 50 to 250. More importantly, they got 5 direct bookings from social media inquiries, proving it was worth the effort.Results
After six months of these efforts, Gecko Power Wash saw big improvements:
- Google Business Profile: They ranked in the top three for local searches, with a 40% increase in website visits and 25 phone calls per month.
- Google LSAs: They averaged 8-12 leads per month, with about 50% converting to jobs, adding $2,000 in monthly revenue.
- Social Media: Their posts reached 1,000+ local people weekly, leading to 10-15 inquiries and several bookings.
Conclusion
By focusing on Google Places, Google LSAs, and social media marketing, Gecko Power Wash transformed their online presence from nearly invisible to a go-to choice for local customers. These tools were affordable, easy to manage, and brought in steady leads. For any small business like Gecko Power Wash, combining local SEO, targeted ads, and engaging social media is a winning strategy to grow and compete in their community.
