Google SEO

designeditdesignedit

Our business has been trading a year and we are now looking to grow - its a plumbing sole trader business and I would like to get more interest from google. Spoke to a couple of tradies (electricians and roofers) who obtain almost all there work via getting a decent rank on google searches. I am aware of what SEO is but Id like to utilise a company to handle it. We currently have a self built website with WIX... its okay but I am confused about SEO with this as I have keyworded it as much as possible without getting too close that Im 'stuffing'... I have read somewhere that regualr website updates can help with SEO but its just a website, not a daily update page such as facebook.
Anyway, my question is how do i source a reputable seo agency? I have asked on a few fb groups and the only response I get is someone tagging someone else and saying I need to contact them for the best results...I have no idea how to wrk out if an SEO company really is as good as they all claim to be.
Also...(aware this might be a 'how long is a piece of string' question), roughly how much monthly should I think of allocating to this? 

Thanks

LessImpecunious

Do you have a Google Business Profile? Should be the first step in promoting a business (especially a local business, as I imagine yours is) via Google searches - and it's free

designeditdesignedit

LessImpecunious said:

Do you have a Google Business Profile? Should be the first step in promoting a business (especially a local business, as I imagine yours is) via Google searches - and it's free

yes Ive set that up, but my profule shows up at about number one million and twelve in the list.... I dont know what else I can do with it, one of my competitors is regularly on the first part of the list which comes up on a search and he has a website evn more basic than mine so I dont think its an seo website area