Earning Local Links: Sponsorships, Associations and Chambers of Commerce
Earning local links in Greater Montreal comes from sponsorships, chambers of commerce and Quebec associations whose pages link back to your site.
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.
Holiday Hours in Québec: Updating Your Listing in Time
Holiday hours in Québec: set special hours in Google My Business weeks before each statutory holiday so your listing, website and door sign all match.
Read the articleGoogle Maps Questions and Answers: Prepare Them Before Your Customers Do
Google Maps questions and answers appeared on listings in 2017; seed and answer your own before a stranger's guess becomes the answer customers read.
Read the articleGoogle My Business Posts: What a Neighbourhood Business Should Post
Google My Business posts for a neighbourhood shop: what to post as an update, event or offer, which launch button to pick, and a simple weekly routine.
Read the articleYellowPages, Yelp, 411: Which Directories Are Still Worth It in Québec
YellowPages, Yelp, 411, and the Québec directories still worth claiming in 2017: which send real calls, what a paid upgrade adds, and when to keep or drop one.
Read the articleName, Address, Phone: Why Consistent Listings Matter in Québec Directories
Name, Address, Phone: why matching your listings across Québec directories helps search engines trust your business, and how to audit them.
Read the articleChoosing Your Primary Google My Business Category
Choosing your primary Google My Business category: how to pick the most specific listing category for your Greater Montreal business, and when to change it.
Read the articleGoogle Business Profile service-area listings: setting one up with no storefront
Google Business Profile service-area listings: how to set one up when you have no storefront, and the real trade-offs of hiding your business address.
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.
Let's talk about your next client
We'll look at your online presence, reviews, website and ads. Then we'll tell you what is holding back calls and bookings for your business, whether you're in Mascouche, Greater Montreal or elsewhere in Quebec.
20 minutes, no obligation, and we'll tell you if it's not a fit.
Book a call