The Onboarding Form Explained
After the first conversation, the next step in the MapClimb process is a short form. It looks simple, and it is. But the answers you give shape almost everything that follows, from the pages on your website to the way your Google Business Profile is set up.
This guide explains each part of the form, why the team asks, and how to answer so you get a plan that fits. It comes from MapClimb Marketing and its onboarding form, a Local SEO and review removal agency that serves home service businesses and law firms across the US and Canada.
What the form is for
Think of onboarding as a handoff. During the intro call you talked. Now you put the key facts in writing so the team can build from them. Nobody has to guess, and nobody has to call you five times to ask which town you meant.
The form covers five areas: locations, services, keywords, travel range and website style. It is short on purpose. The team would rather have clear, honest answers than a long document you rushed through.
Locations: where you work and where you are listed
The first section asks about locations. This usually means your business address, any other offices, and the cities you want to win. Be careful here, because a Google Business Profile ties your ranking to a real place.
Use your real business name, address and phone number exactly as they appear on your invoices and your listings. Consistency matters because Google and directories compare these details. If your name is written three different ways across the web, it creates doubt. This is often called NAP consistency, and it is a basic part of local SEO.
If you work from home or visit customers without a storefront, say so. A service area business has different rules, and the team will set the profile up accordingly. Do not list an address you do not actually use. That can get a profile suspended.
Services: the jobs you want to sell
Next, list your services. Do not just write "roofing" or "plumbing." Break it down. A roofer might list storm damage repair, full replacement, leak repair and gutter work. An HVAC company might list no-heat calls, no-AC calls, installs and maintenance plans. A law firm lists its practice areas. For an independent explanation, see the city of Knoxville.
Put the jobs you want most at the top. Those become service pages and profile services, and roofing SEO they guide the categories on your listing. This is why the google business profile details collected in onboarding matter so much. A profile that matches your real work is easier for Google to understand and easier for a homeowner to trust.
Say what you do not want
Tell the team about jobs you turn down. If you do not do mobile homes, small repairs under a certain size, or work outside a certain budget, write it down. Ranking for jobs you cannot take wastes your time.
Keywords: how customers search
The keyword section asks what phrases you think customers use. You do not need to be an expert. Write what you hear on the phone. "Roof leak repair near me." "Furnace not working." "Water heater replacement." These are the same words a homeowner types into Google.
The team then compares your list against real search patterns and adds what is missing. The local seo keywords chosen during onboarding end up in your page titles, headings and profile content. They also help the team decide which city and service combinations deserve their own pages.
Travel range: how far you will drive
This one is easy to underestimate. Travel range tells the team how far a crew will go for a job, and it affects the cities that get pages. If you will drive forty miles for a roof replacement but only fifteen for a small repair, mention both.
Google's local ranking leans heavily on distance. A business far from the searcher has a harder time showing up in the map pack, no matter how good the site is. Honest travel numbers let the team set fair goals, and they keep the plan from promising rankings in places that make no sense for you.
Website style: what you want your site to feel like
Every Local SEO plan from MapClimb includes website design, with the site listing plans from $999 per month and the website included. The form asks what style you like. Think about colors, logos, tone and any sites you admire.
If you already have branding, send it. If you do not, say whether you want something bold and busy or clean and simple. The website style preferences you share in onboarding guide the layout, which is built around the jobs you sell, the areas you cover and clear calls to action such as a click-to-call button.
Photos help a lot. Real shots of your crew, trucks and finished work beat stock images every time. If you can gather a folder of them, do it before you submit.
Tips for filling out the form well
- Use the exact business name that appears on your paperwork.
- Name specific cities instead of broad regions.
- Rank your services by profit, not by how often they are called.
- Add notes about anything unusual, such as seasonal work or a recent move.
If you are unsure about a question, say so in the form. A note that reads "not sure, please advise" is more useful than a guess. The team can sort it out in follow-up.
Trade-specific details to prepare
Different trades need different extras. Roofers should think about storm seasons, insurance work and which materials they install. See roofing seo details to prepare for onboarding for what that looks like. Plumbers and electricians might note emergency hours, while remodelers should name project types and typical sizes.
Law firms have a special note. List practice areas and the states where attorneys are licensed. law firm seo onboarding details for practice areas cover this in more depth. Advertising rules vary by state bar, so any wording on your site should be checked against your own state's rules. MapClimb does not provide legal advice.
Not sure your trade fits? Check which trades fill out the onboarding form to see the full list MapClimb works with.
What happens after you submit
Once the form is in, the team moves to the third step, build and launch. The website is built, your Google Business Profile is set up, and everything goes live. After that comes monthly on-page and off-page SEO and monthly reporting.
You do not have to do anything else for the build, though the team may reach out with a question. Answer quickly if they do, since small delays at this stage slow the launch.
Review the plan costs first if you have not already. pricing that applies once onboarding is complete lays out what the site lists. When you are ready to begin, start onboarding by booking a free strategy call, or call or text (865) 333-0353.