Start with the free tools: Google Business Profile, Google Search Console, Google Analytics 4 and Google Keyword Planner. Add Bing Places for Business so you show up in Bing and Microsoft Copilot. Most tradies never need more than these.
Search Console shows which searches bring people to your site and flags technical problems. Analytics shows which pages turn visitors into calls and form fills. Keyword Planner shows how often people search for your trade in your area.
To check where you rank in the map pack across your suburbs, our free Local Pack Check Chrome extension shows your position on any Google search. Paid tools such as Semrush, Ahrefs or BrightLocal add competitor research and rank tracking, and are usually only worth it once SEO is a serious channel.
Tools only tell you what is happening. The rankings come from the work. If you would rather have it set up properly once, our Google and tracking setup is a A$650 one-off.
This is one part of a bigger picture. SEO for tradies: the full guide covers costs, timelines, Google Maps, websites, agencies and AI search in one place.