Blacksmith Local SEO - News, articles and cooperation

We offer the following local SEO consultant services:

• Proper site set-up for new local businesses
• Analytics set-up, review & funnel mapping (understanding current online behaviour)
• Online reputation management
• Site audits and recommendations report
• Keyword strategy with projected ROI
• Optimized content writing
• Link building strategy
• SOP’s for clients that want to take on Local SEO themselves in the future

Our rates for quality SEO Work:

• We work from fixed priced quotes but calculate against an $80/hr rate. This gives our clients predictable cash management, transparency, and peace of mind against minor cost-over runs. If you are a part of a non-profit or charity, we may be able to offer you a discount provided we aren’t over extended in the moment.
• Hourly rates in $CAD. GST is applied to Canadian-based clients.
• All quotes come with a statement of work + time expectations, and a service level agreement (SLA).
• References on request.

Expect a SEO pro that’s willing to lean in to a task - someone like you.

Expect someone to care about communication, cohesion and results.

Conversation

There is nothing more important than conversation. Rapport is critical to success. Whether we connect in person, over the phone, or on a zoom call, making time to understand your unique needs, interests, as well as the value you are creating in the community is the start of absolutely everything.

We’ll do our homework ahead of every conversation and we’ll be ready with questions that create objectives; goals that create scope; and actions that create results.

Alignment

Whether you want more revenue across the board, to capitalize on a seasonal buying cycle, or feature new a product - we’ve got your back.

Once aligned, we create a scope document using milestones, timelines and projected outcomes as the basis for a roadmap to your return on investment (ROI).

Action

Now that we have shared values, created expectations, and agreed on a scope document, we’re ready to roll.

Using best-in class tools and custom standard operating procedures (SOP’s) we begin to lay the proper foundation for change - brick by brick.

For us, action means execution, evaluation and improvement. We can’t hide from data.

A job done well, is a job well quantified.

Local SEO, or Local Search Marketing, is the act of working with search engines to display your organizational value and the product and service problems you're solving in the community.

Local SEO assists business and organizations reach important customers that are both closer to home and closer to purchase.

The Internet is vast growing network - it’s what’s made the term ‘rabbit hole’ contemporary. If you are a business owner or manager, and working within a budget, it’s important to avoid getting passed over among all the other rabbit holes. It’s also important not to spend money reaching unqualified audiences. A term known as media spill.

In the context of online marketing and advertising, avoiding media spill is the art of getting the right message to the right person all while spending as few resources as we can. Reaching local traffic with intent to purchase, is the reason people like us exist.

If advertising is a shot gun. Local SEO is a sniper rifle.

In order to get local traffic, a business must understand local search intent and be able to leverage the tools and resources at their disposal. More than ever, businesses need to provide search engines with validation (subject matter trust) and the digital assets (online real estate) that shout ‘Hey, we’re over here and we’re open for business!’. 

Why it’s important?

The first thing to know is that search engine optimization of any kind, is not fast. It’s a mix of science, art and consumer psychology. It takes more time that just hitting ‘Boost this post’. It’s not to say a good SEO consultant can’t strike gold fast with an in-demand keyword, and great matching content - but it’s rare. 

SEO is a journey, not a destination. For many people, especially during difficult financial times, advertising becomes a harder pill to swallow. If done well, it can provide a fast sales spike, in most cases however, it can burn out just as fast. Advertising can be great for seasonal buying cycles, but for the rest of the year, SEO is often a more responsible and sustainable choice in filling your sales funnel.

How to choose a good SEO service provider?

This part is all on you. However, if we were to trade places, if for only a minute, we’d say that a good SEO service partner should care enough to take time to understand your intentions and make sure you understand your role in the process. Your Local SEO consultant should be an effective communicator, both online, and offline; and they need to take what is a complex process and simplify enough for anyone to understand.

A solid service provider will manage your expectations through timed scope documents, allow for flexibility, bill transparently, and communicate on your terms.

Understanding that a Local SEO specialist is a skillset within much a larger digital marketing skillset. They need to be knowledgeable with Google My Business, Maps, Local Directories, and powerful review channels, like Yelp and Trip Advisor. This is above and beyond being an expert in technical troubleshooting, keyword research and content writing strategy.

When you’re speaking with an SEO service provider, make sure they ask you about your goals, and why you’ve decided to make search engine optimization a priority.

For us, at Blacksmith Local SEO, we’re not interested in being a big SEO agency, just a pretty good one. We won’t say yes to every client. That’s not coming from a place of arrogance. It’s from a place of capacity and experience. We enjoy what we do, we love the communities we live in, and our passion and success rides lockstep with yours. 

If interested, you can learn more about our SEO Services and Fees.