Google Maps Ranking: Why Fewer Reviews Can Outrank You
Google Maps ranks businesses on relevance, distance and prominence, not review count alone. Learn what to fix and how to audit a rival's profile.
Read the articleLocal SEO blog
Local SEO blog: these articles explain how a Greater Montreal business improves its Google ranking and its position in the local pack, without technical jargon. They cover how local search works, your Google Business Profile, the ranking factors that come up most often and the mistakes that slow a site down. They're written for owners and managers of clinics, salons, restaurants and service businesses who want to understand SEO before hiring an agency or starting a project. For a review of your own site, our SEO audit and our Google Business Profile optimization apply these same principles to your business.
Local SEO blog: articles
Local SEO blog: browse the articles in this category.
AI Coding Assistants for SEO: What’s Safe to Automate
AI coding assistants for SEO: which tasks a small business can safely automate, which need a human, and the Québec privacy and language rules to follow.
Read the articleHow to Read Your Google Business Profile Performance Report
Google Business Profile performance report: what views, calls, directions and search terms measure, why they don't prove revenue, and how to read them.
Read the articleGoogle Business Profile: How to Add and Remove Managers
Google Business Profile: learn owner vs manager roles, how to add and remove managers, and run a quarterly access audit checklist for your listing.
Read the articleGoogle Business Profile: How to Move to a New Address
Google Business Profile address change: edit your existing listing to keep reviews and photos, expect re-verification, and keep details consistent.
Read the articleLocal SEO for Quebec SMEs: a practical guide for 2026
Local SEO for Quebec SMEs: how to check your local business details and help customers find your services.
Read the articleHigh-Performing Restaurant Listings on Google: What Three Montreal Restaurants Did the Same Way
High-performing restaurant listings on Google: what La Toxica, Barranco and Piel Canela did the same way to reach the top spot, with the numbers from each published case study.
Read the articleGoogle Business Profile name change: what it means for your listing
Google Business Profile name change: Google renamed My Business last November. Here is where to edit your listing now and what stays the same for your business.
Read the articleTemporary Google Listing Closure: Updating Your Listing and Ads During COVID-19
Temporary Google listing closure: the update sequence I'm running this week to keep a Google My Business listing and Google Ads campaigns honest during COVID-19.
Read the articleService-page and blog keyword targeting: which page should own which keyword?
Service-page and blog keyword targeting: how to stop the two from fighting over the same keyword, using the assignment rule I follow before publishing.
Read the articleGoogle Business Profile Photos for Restaurants: What Helps a Restaurant Get Chosen
Google Business Profile photos for restaurants: the shortlist I give clients, and how to read the view statistics to know if it worked.
Read the articleToxic Links: When to Disavow and When to Leave Them
Toxic links only need a disavow after a manual action notice or a clear attack; here is how to decide, review domains and format the file.
Read the articleFrequently asked questions
What is local SEO?
Local SEO optimizes your presence for searches near you, like "hair salon Laval." It combines your Google Business Profile, customer reviews, the consistency of your name, address and phone number (NAP), and your site content to help you rank in the local pack and on Maps.
Why does my Google Business Profile affect my ranking?
Google uses your profile to confirm your category, service area and local relevance before showing you in the local pack. An incomplete profile, the wrong categories or a lack of reviews all cut your chances of appearing ahead of a customer searching nearby.
How long does it take to see results from local SEO?
Local SEO usually takes 3 to 6 months to show significant results. The exact timeline depends on your industry, your city and how much competition already ranks on Google. A new site with little content takes longer than an established one with reviews and history behind it.
What's the difference between SEO and local SEO?
Standard SEO targets national or global rankings for broad keywords. Local SEO targets searches with clear geographic intent, where the Maps pack and your Google Business Profile matter as much as your site content. A business with a physical location depends mostly on the second.
Do these articles replace a professional SEO audit?
These articles do not replace a professional SEO audit. They explain the concepts so you understand what's happening on your site, but an audit reviews your own data: Search Console, your Google listing and your direct competitors. Our SEO audit applies these principles to your specific site, with a report ranked by impact.
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