If you're running a moving company, chances are most of your jobs come from your local service area not across the country. That means your online visibility in your local city or region is one of the most important drivers of growth.
But here's the problem: competition in local search is getting fierce. You're not just trying to outrank other movers you're also competing with lead brokers, national franchises, and paid ads sitting above the organic results.
The solution? Local SEO.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to use local SEO for movers to show up in Google Maps, rank higher in local search, and turn visibility into booked jobs.
Local SEO is the process of optimizing your online presence so that your business appears in search results when people in your area search for services you offer — like "movers near me" or "moving company [your city]."
For movers, that means showing up when someone searches for:
Local SEO helps you rank in two key places:
These are prime real estate — especially because many users skip over paid ads and go straight to maps or top results with reviews.
If your moving company isn’t showing up there, you’re losing out on high-intent leads.
Here’s how to dominate your city’s search results and get more calls, more leads, and more booked jobs:
Your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is the foundation of local SEO. This listing is what appears in Google Maps and the Local Pack.
To optimize your profile:
Make sure your category is set to “Moving Company.”
If your profile isn’t optimized, you’re unlikely to show up in the top 3 map results. Need help? Learn more about our Google Business Profile Optimization service for movers.
Positive reviews are one of the biggest ranking factors for local SEO. They also help build trust with potential customers.
Here’s how to get more:
Aim for at least 10–15 new reviews per month to stay competitive. Also, try to include keywords in your responses (e.g. “Thanks for choosing us for your long-distance move in Miami!”).
Your website should make it clear:
Include your target city in:
Also, build dedicated city pages for each area you serve. For example:
These local landing pages help Google understand your service area and rank you for “movers in [city]” searches.
Want a full site review? Check out our SEO for Moving Companies service.
Citations are online mentions of your business name, address, and phone number (NAP). They help build your local authority and improve visibility.
Start with:
Make sure your NAP info is exactly the same across all listings. Even small inconsistencies can hurt rankings.
Google loves fresh, localized content that helps users in your area.
Some content ideas:
Not only does this help your SEO, but it also positions you as a local expert.
Looking for help with content? Explore our moving company marketing blog strategies.
Backlinks (links from other websites to yours) are one of the top-ranking factors for both organic and local SEO.
Local backlinks are even more powerful.
Ways to earn them:
Each link signals to Google that your business is trusted and locally relevant.
Schema is a type of code you add to your website to help Google better understand your business.
Use LocalBusiness schema to tell search engines:
This can help improve your visibility in both the map pack and local search.
Need technical help? Our team handles full schema implementation as part of our SEO plans.
Local SEO is not an overnight fix but it is one of the most sustainable ways to generate long-term leads for your moving business.
Here’s a general timeline:
The best part? Unlike paid ads, once you rank the leads don’t stop when your budget does.
Local SEO works best as part of a multi-channel marketing system.
That includes:
Together, these create a full-funnel system that drives consistent growth — both now and in the future.
If your business depends on local customers — and almost every moving company does — then investing in local SEO is one of the smartest moves you can make.
It builds your visibility, attracts higher-quality leads, and supports all your other marketing efforts. More importantly, it helps your ideal customers find you first — not your competitors.
At Moving Engine, we specialize in SEO for moving companies. From setting up your Google Business Profile to building local content and earning backlinks, we handle everything you need to rank higher and get more calls.
Book your free strategy call to get started.
Let’s help your moving company own the map.
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