If you're a pressure washer, landscaper, HVAC tech, plumber, or any other service-based business owner who takes a truck to a job site, does the work, and gets paid—this blog is for you. I'm Aaron Parker from Lean and Mean Academy, and I recently sat down with my buddy Chris Lergen from Footbridge Media to discuss a topic that's crushing many small businesses online: SEO sabotage.
Whether you’re building your own site, hiring a freelancer, or using an agency, avoiding these mistakes could be the difference between ranking on Google… or being invisible.
Let’s break down the five proven ways to ruin your Google SEO—and how to avoid them.
1. Buying Backlinks and Fake Reviews
Back in the late '90s and early 2000s, people used to boost their rankings by buying hundreds of backlinks and fake Google reviews. But those days are long gone.
Today, Google’s algorithm is smarter than ever—and trying to game the system with shady backlinks or purchased reviews is a fast track to getting penalized, or worse, losing your Google Business Profile altogether.
If you’re serious about long-term growth and lead generation, don’t cut corners. It’s like using water from a mud puddle in your softwash mix—it’s going to mess everything up.
2. Keyword Stuffing and Overusing AI-Generated Content
Another outdated tactic? Keyword stuffing and using AI to pump out thousands of low-value pages.
Yes, AI can be a powerful tool when used correctly—but mass-producing duplicate pages for every zip code and service combination? Google sees right through that.
Chris explained it best: AI content should be high-quality, human-edited, and intentional. The goal is to actually help the person searching, not just to game the algorithm.
Want to learn how to write content the right way? The SESW Softwash 101 class is a great place to start. It covers the business basics, including how to position your company online and start bringing in leads without shady tricks.
3. Poor Site Structure
Your website needs to function like a well-oiled machine—clean navigation, logical layout, and smart interlinking.
Think of your site like a house. Google sends its bots (or “spiders”) to crawl through your content, and if there are no clear doors, hallways, or rooms, they get confused and bounce.
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Include a clear call to action (CTA) at the top and bottom of every page.
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Link your service pages to your homepage and vice versa.
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Use breadcrumbs to help Google understand your site’s hierarchy.
Google is watching how your site is structured—so make it easy to understand.
4. Ignoring Redirects During Site Redesigns
This one’s a killer, especially for businesses that redesign their site or switch domains without setting up redirects.
Chris compares redirects to mail forwarding. If someone sends a letter to your old address, you want the post office to know where to forward it. Same goes for your web traffic. If someone clicks on an old link that doesn’t exist anymore and it leads nowhere, you lose ranking and traffic.
Footbridge Media has seen it happen too often: a business leaves, gets a new site built elsewhere, forgets to redirect pages, and loses all their Google juice overnight.
5. Letting Your Website or Domain Expire
This one’s self-explanatory: if Google thinks your website is dead—it’s dead.
Even if it’s down for a couple of months and you bring it back up, you’ll be starting from scratch in Google’s eyes. You’ll lose all momentum, rankings, and organic traffic you built over time.
In other words, keep your website alive—always.
Final Thoughts: Don’t DIY Your Digital Presence
SEO is like softwashing: when done right, it looks easy—but there’s real technique behind it.
If you’re a service pro who wants to dominate your local market, don’t mess around with your online presence. Let the pros handle it. I personally trust Footbridge Media with all my websites, and I recommend them without hesitation. They:
✅ Build contractor-specific websites
✅ Handle all your content
✅ Manage your Google Business Profile
✅ Do it with no contracts
✅ Save you $600 a year if you mention Lean and Mean Academy
📞 Call them at 888-818-7215 and ask for Aaron or one of the team members.
Want to Learn Softwashing and Get Leads? Start With SESW Softwash 101
If you’re just starting out—or want to understand the foundation of running a softwash business the right way—get in the SESW Softwash 101 Class.
This course is the perfect first step for beginners who want to:
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Learn how to softwash professionally
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Understand equipment and chemical ratios
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Price jobs profitably
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Set up a strong brand online and offline
You’ll also get insights on how to market your business correctly from the start—so you don’t fall into any of the SEO traps we talked about today.
👉 Start here: Check Out Softwash 101 Now (insert your affiliate or product link)
Closing Words
As Chris said—if Google thinks you’re dead, you’re dead. So stop relying on outdated tactics and get the help you need. Let Footbridge Media handle your SEO, and let Softwash 101 help you master your trade.
Thanks for tuning in, and I’ll see you in the next blog.
