Next-Gen Search Marketing for Local Businesses
Get Found On Every Searchable Platform —
We handle your SEO and search marketing — so you can focus on running your business
search behavior is changing
User search behavior has fundamentally changed. People no longer just type in keywords, they ask complex, conversational questions and expect clear, personalized answers instantly.
This shift affects not only Large Language Models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity, which have become key platforms for evaluation, comparison, and decision-making, but also Google, with it’s AI overviews and AI mode. If your brand is not featured in the answers provided by these platforms, it is effectively excluded from the customer’s consideration stage.
This new reality requires a strategic layer on top of traditional SEO, known as AEO (Answer Engine Optimization). While the core principles of SEO still matter, success now depends on well-planned strategy, strong execution, on-going analysis, and ensuring your brand has omnipresence across all major search and AI platforms.
modern seo isn’t just about keywords
SEO isn’t just about keywords anymore. The goal is no longer just to optimize a page and rank for a specific keyword. Now, it’s about getting your content featured directly in AI-generated answers. The aim is to have your brand or business recognized by these AI platforms and drive clicks when users are ready to make a decision.
To stay competitive, it requires a new approach to both on-site and off-site strategies. For on-site, information must be structured in a way that large language models (LLMs) can quickly interpret and extract—usually within a 100 to 400 token window. For off-site, factors like reviews, backlinks, and external mentions are crucial for building trust, authority, and improving your brand’s visibility across AI-driven search platforms.
How local SEO Impacts Local Businesses?
A well SEO optimized website can really transform how your business connects with your customers. By improving your ranking on local search results and Google Maps, you make it easier for your clients and nearby people to find you.
It also helps your business appear in AI-powered search results like AI Overviews and large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT and Perplexity. These systems pull data from websites with strong topical authority, domain authority, and content that is well-structured, relevant, and trusted.
This means more qualified clients will visit your website, see your reviews, and get to know your brand better.
The result? More potential customers can find you online, leading to more inquiries, more leads, and more revenue. And because it’s organic, you don’t have to constantly spend on paid ads to keep getting results.
improved discoveribility
Get Discovered by More Prospects Searching for Your Business
When your customers search for a business, they mostly click on results from the first page or the local map pack. Less than 10% of people rarely go to the 2nd page of Google or even click those businesses.
This is where we come in as SEO experts and help your business be more visible across Google, and LLMs (large language models)
How do we Deliver our SEO Services?
Overdeliver – For every client.
stage 1 – discovery call
At this stage, we’ll have a detailed discussion to understand your business and the services you offer. Here’s what we’ll discuss:
- Business Overview: We’ll talk about your primary services, the locations you serve, and what best you’re known for.
- Competitor Insights: We’ll discuss and understand about your main competitors to research and develop a tailored strategy for your business.
- Lead Generation: We’ll explore the lead generation channels you’ve used or are currently using, and their results.
This stage helps us see your business from your point of view and also helps you decide if we’re the right fit for your needs.
Stage 2 – site Audit
We’ll perform a comprehensive SEO audit of your website, comparing it with top competitors to identify issues and opportunities.
The audit report will include a detailed action plan, covering on-page, off-page, technical SEO, and Google Business Profile (GBP) profile audits. We’ll highlight all the gaps, providing a clear roadmap to improve both website and Google business profile performance.
Stage 3 – SEO Strategy
We’ll create a custom strategy based on the audit report and SERP(search engine results page) competitor metrics.
As we implement the strategy, we’ll continuously update it and our standard operating procedures (SOPs) based on the results we observe. This ensures that our approach remains effective, adaptable to changes, and proactive in taking all necessary steps whenever required.
Stage 4 – Implementation
With a strong action plan in place, we’ll begin implementing the best local SEO practices. Your search engine optimization campaign will be in the safe hands of our SEO professionals. Rest assured, you’ll be kept in the loop at every step of the process.
Stage 5 – Analytics & Reporting
At SEO Smith, we use data in our overall strategy to analyze performance and make decisions.
We provide clear, easy-to-understand reports that highlight the results and performance. Our data checks make sure what’s working and where adjustments are needed, ensuring our strategies are always aligned with your goals.
how it works
STEP 1
Website Audit
We begin by running a full audit of your website. This includes checking your technical setup, on-page SEO, site structure, and backlink profile. We also review performance data from Google Search Console to understand how your website is currently performing in search.
This audit helps us uncover any issues that may be affecting your rankings and visibility. It also gives us a clear view of your site’s strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement. Based on these insights we create a tailored strategy for your local business
Unlike many others, we don’t just export automated reports from tools. Our audits are done manually using Screaming Frog, SEMrush, GSC, and manual analysis
STEP 2
SERP Audit & Competitor analysis
Next, we analyze the search results for your most valuable commercial keywords. We look at which types of content dominate the top positions of google and in AI search in AI overviews or chat gpt and perplexity—whether it’s service pages, local listings, or blog articles—and study the patterns behind what’s ranking.
Next, we analyze the search results for your most valuable commercial keywords. We look at which types of content are showing up at the top—whether it’s service pages, local listings, or blog articles—across both traditional Google search and AI-powered results like Google’s AI Overviews, Chat GPT, and Perplexity.
(This is a crucial stage.) We review your top competitors to see what they’re doing well. This includes analyzing their content, backlink profile, website structure, online branding, and overall SEO strategy. This gives us a clear picture of the competition you’re up against and helps us build a roadmap to outrank them in both local search and AI-powered results.
STEP 3
CONTENT Audit
We evaluate your existing content to identify what should be updated, improved, removed, or redirected. We also review how well your main pillar pages and supporting sub-pillar pages are organized and structured. This includes checking if your main pages have related content that supports them and whether your site demonstrates strong topical authority in your industry.
We analyze the keywords, entities, their attributes and values (EAV), along with the key topics covered in your most important content to ensure they match what your audience is searching for. This also includes a detailed review of on-page and on-site SEO factors like internal linking and more.
We also use data from Google Search Console to identify which pages are appearing in search results for your target keywords and how they can be optimized further. We don’t just rely on scores from random third-party tools, our review is thorough and focused on making meaningful improvements to your content and page structure.
STEP 4
Topical map (content strategy)
We create a detailed topical map (content strategy) for your website that outlines the main topics, pillar pages, and sub-pillar content to be covered. These topics are connected based on how users typically search and what they find helpful. For example, someone searching for “HVAC installation for hotel” may next look for information on “HVAC laws in their state or city,” “costs,” “installation time,” or “best practices to follow without downtime or pausing business.” This structure guides users naturally through your content while improving both search visibility and user experience.
Rather than relying solely on low-difficulty, high-search-volume keywords from SEO tools (which are available to everyone), we focus on building a comprehensive topical map that covers your expertise and services from every angle and in depth.
Once the topical map is in place, we conduct in-depth keyword and entity research for each topic. This ensures every page is optimized to target the right terms and deliver content that both users and search engines find valuable, helping to establish strong topical authority and align with every stage of the funnel and searcher’s journey.
STEP 5
Keyword, Entities & Attributes Research
We focus on more than just keywords—we research entire topics. The biggest challenge with keyword research tools is that they rely on limited data, and everyone has access to the same data. We believe modern SEO, especially in the age of LLMs, AI Overviews, and changing user behavior towards search, requires a 360° approach built on detailed research and complete topical coverage.
That’s why we go deeper than basic keyword research. We study entities, their attributes, and values (EAV), connect the dots between related topics, and structure your pages with purpose. We create detailed content briefs, perform gap analysis, and explore broader topics “not just keywords” to uncover what your content may be missing or what might be needed. This includes identifying relevant supporting sub-topics and connecting them in a way that helps establish strong topical authority.
STEP 6
content creation
Based on the research, competitive analysis, and strategy we’ve developed, we start creating content that aligns with your topical map.
STEP 7
link building
As part of our ongoing monthly SEO efforts, we build high-quality backlinks based on the link strategy we’ve developed and insights from analyzing your top competitors’ backlink profiles. From there, we create a custom plan that outlines the types of links to acquire, along with anchor text distribution, URL diversification, and link velocity to maintain.
We don’t just rely on DA or DR metrics from third-party tools. Each link is qualified using our own criteria, such as domain relevance, traffic & traffic trends, historical data, domain age, keywords, industry fit, page and category analysis, and more to ensure it is safe to acquire and passes maximum authority and trust signals.
STEP 8
tracking & moniitoring
We continuously keep track of your campaign’s performance and adjust based on the data because we can’t improve what we don’t measure.
We handle the complete strategy, execution, and analysis of your SEO campaign. We don’t just deliver limited tasks, do basic work or bill you by the hour each month—we get in the trenches and do whatever it takes to help your business grow.
We’re your growth partners, not just another SEO or marketing agency.
book your free discovery call
Feel free to book a call—no pressure, no commitments. Just a friendly chat to see if we’re a good fit and how we can help your business grow.
Is SEO Worth the Investment?
Definitely. SEO is a high-intent marketing approach—people actively look for your services when they need them. It’s a pull approach that brings in organic traffic, meaning potential customers discover your business naturally through search engines. Unlike paid ads, you’re not charged for every click or lead, which helps reduce your overall customer acquisition cost (CAC).
The Math Behind the Model
Let’s break it down for a typical HVAC or roofing business:
- City Population: 120,000
- Average Monthly Searches: 1,200 for HVAC-related services
- Conversion Rate: 2.5%
- Leads per Month: 30
- Close Rate: ~16.6% (1 in 6)
- New Clients per Month: 5
If your website converts just 2.5% of that monthly search volume, that’s roughly 30 leads per month. Even if you close just 1 in 6, you’re still gaining 5 new paying clients every month.
Now, if the average value per job is $1,500, those 5 clients could bring in $7,500/month in new revenue — all from organic search traffic.
Alternatively, let’s say if these customers turn into long-term maintenance clients, and you’re charging $500 per month (conservative), just 20 recurring clients would generate $10,000 in monthly recurring revenue — that’s $120,000 per year, without hiring outdoor sales team or spending anything extra on marketing.
We’re a perfect Fit If…
Why Choose Us Over Other Local SEO Agencies
We let the results do the talking!
Achieved 966% more impressions and 43% more clicks in under 180 days
Our Featured services
We’re already in a modern era of search, and how people search is changing — making it more competitive than ever. SEO isn’t a side project for us, this is what we do full time and everyday. We have the necessary experience, and proven track record to make that happen for your business.
Competitor Analysis
Analyze your top competitors to understand the strategies they’ve used to rank. This includes a deep dive into their on-page and off-page SEO, content strategy, and overall strengths, giving us insights to craft a plan that outperforms them.
In-depth SEO Audit
We thoroughly audit your website & GBP, covering on-page, off-page, technical factors, and content performance. We then use these insights to create a tailored plan to improve your site’s overall performance.
Local SEO
We optimize your website and Google Business Profile to rank for relevant queries & search terms your clients use based on your services and location, helping you appear in top results of search results and local map pack.
On-Page SEO
We don’t just add keywords to your content. We include entities, attributes, and values. Every piece of content we create is carefully researched and guided by a detailed content brief to ensure it’s valuable and relevant for both users and search engines.
Off-Page SEO
We go beyond basic link building by using strategic anchor texts across a variety of URLs and different anchor types. This makes your off-page signals look natural and effective, boosting your site’s authority and relevance with search engines.
Technical SEO
We ensure your site’s technical health by optimizing crawlability, implementing schema markup, and improving loading speeds. This helps search engines index your site efficiently and provides a better user experience.
Topical Maps
We don’t just create content based on keywords or search volume. Instead, we focus on the right entities and attributes for your website. We make sure everything on your site is closely tied to your site’s main theme and context. This helps search engines understand your content better and makes it easier for users to find your website.
Full Funnel Strategy
We don’t create content just for the sake of it. Our approach follows a full-funnel strategy, covering the top, middle, and bottom stages to target potential clients from every stage of the journey from awareness to taking decision
Backlink Audit
Before acquiring or creating any backlinks, we carefully evaluate their relevance. We also diversify anchor text to maintain a healthy backlink profile and avoid over-optimization. Each link is manually checked against our strategy criteria, including relevance, traffic, domain authority, URL distribution, and anchor text variety.
stop loosing business in your own area
Who We Help with Local SEO
We offer our local SEO services to a variety of businesses in the home services industry. Our focus is on helping service-based businesses like roofers, fencing contractors, landscaping contractors, pressure washing companies, interior & exterior design companies and more. We also help businesses with brick and mortar locations, please feel free to contact us to discuss more in details to see if we’re the right fit.
Whether you’re a small business just starting or an established company looking to improve your online presence, we have the expertise to help you succeed.
Common Problems We Fix for Local Businesses
Not Showing Up on Google Maps
Many local businesses struggle to appear in the top results on Google Maps for their main services. We fix that by fully optimizing your Google Business Profile, improving your website’s SEO, and strengthening your off-site presence. This helps you show up in the local map pack, organic search results, and even in large language models like Chat GPT and Perplexity.
Not Ranking in Nearby Cities
Ranking only in your main city means you’re missing out on growth. We manage full local SEO campaigns to help you rank in nearby cities too — bringing more visibility, more leads, and more revenue from surrounding areas.
Traffic but No Calls
When we onboard new clients, we often notice that previous SEO agencies or freelancers focused solely on creating top-of-funnel content to drive traffic to blog posts. Unfortunately, this approach doesn’t help businesses receive calls, get conversions, or generate new inquiries. At seo-smith.com, we prioritize your main business KPIs. We focus on ranking your service pages for high-intent, commercial keywords, the ones that actually bring in calls, leads, and new customers. We care about business results, not vanity metrics.
inconsistent Business Information Online
Conflicting details about your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) can hurt your rankings and confuse customers. We find and fix these errors everywhere they appear, building trust with both search engines and potential clients.
Weak or Outdated Competitor Strategy
It’s always your competitor who decides your position in the SERPs (search engine results page). That’s why after fixing your technical and on-site SEO, we analyze your top 3–5 competitors. We study what’s working for them and create a plan to outrank them — with better content, authoritative backlinks, and stronger Google Business Profile signals.
qualifying Backlinks
Backlinks are like currency to your website. They can make or break your site’s performance. We first analyze the current backlink profile of your website, compare it against your top 3-5 competitors, and then create a strategy on what type of links would be required to sustain long-term rankings. we don’t create any spammy links like profile links, and we don’t just chase metrics like Domain Rating(DR), we have our strict in-house criteria to analyze before we acquire any new link or invest in them.
we are Never Too Busy For You
Always just a call or a text away!
our core service breakdown
Local SEO Audit
We cannot improve what we don’t know. Our local SEO audit analyzes your Google Business Profile, website, local citations, and backlinks to identify issues affecting your rankings. Once we identify the gaps, we create a roadmap and implement changes to optimize your GBP and website for better organic rankings on Google Maps, to improve overall visibility of commercial keywords of your business and that have maximum impact on your business KPIs
Google Business Profile Optimization
A well-optimized Google Business Profile (GBP) can significantly increase your chances of gaining trust and user inquiries. It is one of the most important assets for your business to rank in the top three for your main commercial keywords.
We would be managing and optimizing your complete GBP profile:
Choosing the Right Categories: We help you select the most relevant categories to ensure you connect with your target audience.
Completing Your Profile: Our team fills out every section of your GBP, including business hours, services offered, and photos, providing potential customers with all the information they need.
Regular Posting: We create and post updates to keep your profile active and engaging, which can boost your visibility in local searches.
Responding to Reviews: We manage your customer reviews by responding promptly and professionally, helping to build trust and credibility.
NAP Consistency: We ensure that your Name, Address, and Phone number are consistent across all platforms, which is important for the relevancy for Google and other search engines.
Local Keyword & Entity Research
While keywords are important, search engines now operate based on semantics and the context of users’ search queries. We don’t just conduct keyword research; we take it a step further by identifying relevant entities for your business, along with their attributes and values (EAV), making our content semantically optimized to connect with users and search engines.
On-Page Optimization for Local Relevance
Our local SEO services focusses optimizing all on-page elements which is key to helping search engines understand the context of content. This involves using location-based keywords, optimizing meta tags, URLs, and internal linking, and creating relevant content that answers user queries. We also utilize appropriate HTML tags to structure your content effectively, which also plays a role in crawlability, winning featured snippets and appearing in AI overviews
Schema markup
Schema markup is structured data in JSON-LD format that helps search engines understand your content better. This is especially important for local businesses because it can enhance your visibility in local searches and improve your chances of appearing in the local pack. Well-implemented schema can help win featured snippets and also increase the chances of your visibility in AI-driven search engines.
We ensure to use the right types of schema relevant to your industry and business. This includes incorporating entities and their attributes within the Schema code. By doing so, we provide search engines with clear and structured information, making it easier for them to understand your business and the purpose of your website.
Citation Building and Cleanup
Citations are mentions of your business across directories. Accurate citations significantly enhance your business’s trustworthiness and authority. When search engines find consistent information such as your Name, Address, and Phone number (NAP), across multiple platforms on the internet, they are more likely to trust your business. This trust improves your chances of ranking higher in local search results. Additionally, citations can also help drive traffic to your website and increase inquiries from your potential customers.
Local Link Building
Backlinks are crucial for the success of any SEO campaign. They are often called “votes of confidence” from other websites. These links help build authority, trust, and relevance in the eyes of search engines. In technical terms, backlinks contribute to Page Rank (PR), which is an important metric that search engines use to assess the value of a webpage.
We focus on local link building to boost your business’s online domain authority. Our team works to acquire backlinks from trusted local websites and industry-specific directories. This not only builds trust with search engines but also improves your overall rankings in local search results and AI search engines.
Identifying Relevant Local Websites: We research and target local blogs, news sites, and directories that align with your business.
Creating High-Quality Content: We develop engaging content that is valuable to both users and local sites, increasing the likelihood of earning backlinks.
Outreach and Relationship Building: We reach out to local website owners and influencers to build relationships and secure backlinks.
Semantic SEO Optimized Content for Local Businesses
Appearing for high-intent commercial search terms is crucial for your business’s success in search engine results pages (SERPs). The main goal of your website is to show up when potential customers are searching for services like yours.
We start by creating and optimizing your services and location landing pages. These are the key pages that explain what your business offers and the areas you serve. By focusing on these high-intent keywords, we make it easy for clients to find you when they need you the most.
Additionally, we create content on related core topics. This helps build topical authority and targets clients at different stages of their buying journey. By addressing their concerns and needs, it not only guides them toward making a decision but also helps them take the next action.
Tracking and Reporting
We can’t improve what we can’t measure. We provide transparent and easy-to-understand monthly reports about your rankings for search terms and keywords, calls, website visits, and Google Business Profile (GBP) performance. These reports give you a clear picture of your SEO campaign and show whether it’s paying off.
By analyzing these reports, we adjust our strategy according to the initial roadmap we created. We make necessary changes to our approach if and where necessary to ensure we are on track to meet your business KPIs.
Ready to Boost Your Business Visibility with SEO Experts?
You’ve come to the right place.
Choosing the right SEO experts means you’re not just another website in the crowd. We dive deep into your specific needs and goals, ensuring our efforts are tailored to your business.
We focus on delivering clear, actionable results that drive more customers your way. If you’re looking for a straightforward approach to boost your online presence and see real impact, get in touch.
