Exterior Cleaning SEO vs Checkatrade
Which Actually Generates More Enquiries?
If you run an exterior cleaning business, you’ve probably used, or considered using, Checkatrade.
It can generate leads.
But it also comes with:
- Shared competition
- Lead fees
- Price comparison pressure
- Limited control
Local SEO works differently.
Let’s compare both properly.
How Checkatrade Works for Exterior Cleaning Companies
Checkatrade typically:
- Sends leads to multiple businesses
- Charges monthly membership or per lead
- Ranks businesses inside their platform
- Controls visibility within their directory
You don’t own the platform.
You rent visibility.
If you stop paying, enquiries stop.
How SEO Works for Exterior Cleaning Companies
Local SEO focuses on:
- Ranking your website in Google Search
- Appearing in Google Maps
- Building long-term visibility
- Owning your digital presence
Instead of competing inside a directory, you:
- Compete directly in your town
- Build structured service pages
- Strengthen authority signals
- Improve Maps visibility
- You own the asset.
- Not the platform.
Learn more about our structured
SEO for exterior cleaning companies approach.
The Key Differences
🟡 1️⃣ Lead Control
Checkatrade:
- Leads are shared
- Customers compare prices
- Often price-driven
SEO:
- Customers contact you directly
- No shared lead competition
- Higher trust perception
🟡 2️⃣ Long-Term Growth
Checkatrade:
- Pay monthly
- Visibility resets if you cancel
- Platform controls exposure
SEO:
- Builds authority over time
- Compounds monthly
- Strengthens Maps visibility
- Reduces dependency on third parties
🟡 3️⃣ Brand Authority
On Checkatrade:
You’re one of many.
On Google:
You are the business being recommended.
Ranking in:
- Google Maps
- Organic results
- AI-driven search summaries
Positions you as the authority in your town.
🟡 4️⃣ Cost Over Time
Checkatrade:
- Ongoing fees
- Potential pay-per-lead
- No asset ownership
SEO:
- Monthly investment
- Builds long-term digital equity
- Continues delivering visibility
If SEO generates just one additional roof cleaning or driveway cleaning project per month, the return often outweighs directory spend.
See realistic pricing breakdowns on our
Exterior Cleaning SEO Cost page.
When Checkatrade Makes Sense
Checkatrade can work well:
- For brand-new businesses
- When immediate leads are needed
- As a short-term supplement
- In low-competition towns
It can be part of a strategy.
But relying on it exclusively creates dependency.
When SEO Is the Smarter Long-Term Move
SEO becomes powerful when:
- You want consistent, direct enquiries
- You want to reduce lead fees
- You want control over your visibility
- You want to dominate your primary town
- You want long-term growth, not rented traffic
Exterior cleaning is highly local.
Structured SEO allows you to:
- Rank for roof cleaning [town]
- Rank for driveway cleaning near me
- Appear consistently in Google Maps
That builds stability.
Can You Use Both?
Yes.
Some exterior cleaning companies use:
- Checkatrade for short-term volume
- SEO for long-term growth
But over time, most businesses prefer owning their enquiries rather than sharing them.
The Real Question
The question isn’t:
“Is Checkatrade bad?”
The question is:
Do you want to rent enquiries, or build them?
Directories provide temporary visibility.
SEO builds long-term control.
Want to See What You’re Missing on Google?
If competitors are appearing in Maps and Search above you, there’s a structural reason.
We offer a free SEO, Google Maps & AI visibility audit for exterior cleaning companies.
You’ll see:
- How your visibility compares
- Whether Maps is underperforming
- What competitors are doing differently
- What would move enquiries fastest
No pressure.
No obligation.
Just clarity.
