Hire a Locksmith Using Google – Locksmith costs
To hire a locksmith or any other tradesperson is a jungle, this article will hopefully give you the knowledge to reduce your locksmith costs. Even hundreds of pounds.
Hopefully we will help you have a short journey to an affordable locksmith from the hundreds of thousands, even millions listed.
If you go to Google and type in ‘Locksmith’ a variety of information is offered to you. Firstly, you have as many ads at the top as Google can cram in, usually 4 or 5 of the top results (depending on device type).
Locksmith in London
Above is an example. There are 4.5 million results to choose from, which is difficult to traverse if you are just wanting to hire a locksmith in london.
People tend to click the top listed ones. It is easier, you are stressed out, you are in a fix, you do not care how much it costs, you want to feel secure inside your own home, Google knows this.
What appears first on the page are Google ads, the top locksmith companies in London on there pay to be there. It does not mean they are the best around or even the most popular. They pay Google to be there. It is not cheap to be at the top of this list, the competition is huge and the renumeration is even larger. Cost per click for the locksmith industry can be £30 or more .
£30 or more is cost per click, if one in five people follow up that click, that ad has already cost the locksmith £150+. This means the locksmith who comes out to you needs to recoup that amount before he even puts the key in his ignition to get to you.
We are not telling you to avoid these listings to hire a locksmith, for the reason above it might be wise to read on past them. Also as mentioned above we understand what it feels like to be in desperate need of help.
Please do not click the ads if you intend to scroll by as it will cost someone for you to do that. Google will not lose out, the next customer will or the locksmith company will have to charge more the next day.
Google Locksmith 2nd level search results
On the next level you get advertising level 2. These ads are mostly from directories. Directories have evolved but they still need to get paid to advertise certain companies on their listings. Yell, Checkatrade, trustatrader and Thomson etc. If that sounds complicated, it probably is.
Directories are the middle men who offer a service to tradespeople for a cut of the cost that the tradesperson is going to charge you. That may be by monthly or yearly subscription or a one off fee for each job.
Although this is nowhere near the same amount of cost per click as the ads listed above it is still a proportion of the price, up to £65*, you will pay these companies to hire a locksmith to get them to come to your home / business.
Sometimes directories do offer free listings, but it is rather unlikely to reach the top of these sections on a free listing with this type of competition. Also, the directories tend to favour the ‘National’ companies because obviously their subscription rate is higher.
Google Maps Locksmith / Locksmiths listings
The third level of the discovery to hire a tadesperson and we are onto the part which Google offers free to all businesses. The Google My Business section.
This level is designed to operate using Googles algorithms to give you the user, the best experience to pick the most suited to your local needs. The businesses that appear here are defined by their proximity to the request you have made and the best branded of the businesses, according to their SERP / SEO abilities, reviews and longevity of their listing.
It is recommended by us that you do start your search here to hire a locksmith, although proceed with a sense of caution.
Note: Google has started using advertising within this section too. Companies can buck the trend and pay to advertise and get to the top this list.
Google A Local Locksmith
This is the final level which is closest to the old way hire a locksmith through a directory. The best and most established (according to another Google algorithm) will appear at the top and the least Google ranked, maybe 4.5 million results lower.
A general piece of advice at this level is try to define your search. If you need the services of a certain type of locksmith try and make your search a bit more descriptive. If you require a ‘car / auto’ or ‘safe’ locksmith for example, go back and search again as being more specific will possibly save you money. There are different types of locksmith available, most will be able to help you. However, some will be able to help you but sub contract the work out to another company. Which will mean they will also take a cut of the price you are paying.
Hiring a locksmith – Do not Trust locksmith reviews
Many organisations do offer blanket prices, this is a good idea to use as a yard stick. It is often difficult to give an exact price based on a 45-180 second telephone conversation, most calls are for an emergency. Bear this in mind, but also do not be lied to. Some companies will be fleeting in details. They will divert you away from the question of how much. This is a proven marketing strategy to get a person on the doorstep and doing the job before giving you a final bill of more than you was expecting to pay.
Reviews can also be brought. Google does not vet reviews as well as it possibly should. They are act counter actively rather than pro actively on review abuse.
Rule of thumb is say ‘how much are we looking at’ and do not let them deflect from it. If they do then they are doing it for a reason.
Call another locksmith to make sure you was offered a fair price from the first person you called, they were not necessarily the best value for money just because you picked them first. Finally. Do not trust locksmith reviews completely
Locksmith Andover
Locksmith Reviews and customer feedback
People tend to follow locksmith reviews and recommendations as much as they believe the information on Google search.
A person who has been charged £650 for a particular job is as likely to leave a positive review as another who paid £75 for the same job. Reviewer number one was unaware they were completely ripped off as they had no idea of cost.
Another reviewer thought a tradesperson was quick to arrive because they eventually turned up the next day, that is possibly not what you want if you are locked outside, its -3 degrees and you have a 10 month old baby with you.
Ultimately, only you can decide who treated you well. Good luck with your own search or try us.
Hire a locksmith
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