local seo – Growth Kolony | #1 Growth Marketing Toronto

Feb 26

ai seo how to rank my website on chatgpt

ChatGPT SEO: How Do I Rank My Business Website In ChatGPT?

By Growth Marketing Toronto Growth Kolony Blog, AI Marketing, Ai SEO, Artificial Intelligence, Local SEO, SEO No Comments

ChatGPT SEO: How Do I Rank My Business Website In ChatGPT?

By: Growth Kolony Growth Hacking Agency Toronto

The way people search has fundamentally changed.

Instead of typing short keyword phrases into Google, users now ask full questions inside AI tools like ChatGPT.

That shift has created a new question for business owners across Canada and beyond:

How do I rank my business website in ChatGPT?

The short answer: you do not “rank” in ChatGPT the same way you rank in Google. Instead, you earn visibility through authority, structured information, entity recognition, and trustworthy content.

Let’s break this down properly.

How ChatGPT Actually Chooses Sources

Before optimizing, you need to understand how AI answers are formed.

ChatGPT doesn’t “rank pages” the same way Google does. Instead, it relies on three core layers:

Training Data

Large language models are trained on massive datasets containing publicly available information, websites, articles, and structured data.

Brands that appear frequently and consistently across the web become stronger “entities.”

Retrieval Systems (RAG)

When live search is enabled, AI tools use retrieval systems to pull relevant sources from search engines (often Bing-based indexing).

Pages that are well-structured, authoritative, and crawlable are more likely to be selected.

Entity Authority Over Keywords

AI systems prioritize entities — recognizable businesses, brands, people, and services — over isolated keywords.

This means:

Authority > keyword stuffing
Structured clarity > clever writing
Trust signals > thin content

What Are The Top Ranking Factors For ChatGPT Visibility?

ChatGPT AI Ranking Factor 1. Entity Authority

AI needs to clearly understand who you are and what you do.

If your brand name, phone number, service descriptions, or location data are inconsistent across the web, your entity weakens.

How To Improve:

Ensure consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) everywhere.
Create a strong About page explaining your services clearly.
Use consistent branding across directories.
Build citations in reputable local and industry directories.
Ensure your Google Business Profile matches your website exactly.

AI favours businesses that look structurally trustworthy.

ChatGPT AI Ranking Factor 2. Topical Authority Clusters

Single-page service sites rarely rank in AI responses.

Instead, AI favours businesses that demonstrate depth of expertise.

If you offer microcement services, don’t just create one page. Create a cluster:

Microcement overview
Microcement cost guide
Microcement vs tile comparison
Microcement bathroom guide
Microcement case studies
Microcement in Toronto (location page)

Each page should interlink naturally.

This builds semantic authority and increases your probability of being cited.

ChatGPT AI Ranking Factor 3. Structured Data & Schema Markup

AI systems prefer machine-readable context.

Implement:

LocalBusiness schema
Service schema
FAQ schema
Review schema
Organization schema

JSON-LD structured data helps AI interpret:

Who you are
What services you provide
Where you operate
What customers say about you

Without schema, you rely entirely on interpretation. With schema, you provide clarity.

ChatGPT AI Ranking Factor 4. High-Quality Mentions & Citations

AI tools lean heavily on referenced sources.

If your brand is mentioned on:

Industry blogs
News publications
Local directories
Podcasts
Guest posts
Reddit threads
Quora answers

Your authority increases significantly.

This is not about spam backlinks. It’s about legitimate brand mentions that reinforce your entity.

ChatGPT AI Ranking Factor 5. Review Authority

Reviews are a massive AI signal.

Not just quantity, but quality and semantic richness.

Instead of:
“Great company.”

Encourage:
“Marcrete repaired our cracked concrete driveway in Scarborough. The resurfacing was smooth and completed in 3 days.”

Descriptive reviews reinforce service + location relevance.

Embed reviews on your website and implement structured review schema.

ChatGPT AI Ranking Factor 6. Content Depth & Clarity

AI prefers structured, answer-first content.

Optimize pages with:

Clear H1 headings
Direct answers in first paragraphs
FAQ sections
Bullet clarity
Defined processes
Pricing transparency (when possible)

Avoid fluff. Clarity wins.

ChatGPT AI Ranking Factor 7. Freshness & Update Signals

Outdated content weakens trust.

Update:

Year references
Service trends
Pricing information
Case studies
Blog content

Add “Last Updated” dates where relevant.

Freshness signals improve AI selection probability.

How Do I Rank My Business Website In ChatGPT?

ChatGPT SEO Step 1: Define Your Core Service Entities

Each core service deserves its own optimized page.

Example:
Concrete Driveway Installation Toronto
Microcement Bathroom Installation Toronto
Concrete Crack Repair Scarborough

Make the H1 clear and geographic.

ChatGPT SEO Step 2: Build A Topical Authority Map

For each core service, create 10–20 supporting pages.

Think ecosystem, not single landing page.

Interlink everything strategically.

ChatGPT SEO Step 3: Optimize For AI-Friendly Formatting

Use:

Short paragraphs
Clear definitions
Direct answers
FAQ blocks
Subheadings every 200–300 words

AI extracts structured answers more easily from well-organized content.

ChatGPT SEO Step 4: Optimize For Bing

Many AI systems rely on Bing indexing.

Submit sitemap to Bing Webmaster Tools.
Ensure crawlability.
Fix duplicate pages.
Avoid thin location content.
Improve page speed.

ChatGPT SEO Step 5: Build Brand Mentions Outside Your Website

Authority is not built on your own domain alone.

Get featured:

In local news
On industry podcasts
In blog interviews
In trade publications
On LinkedIn thought leadership posts

The more your brand is referenced independently, the stronger your entity becomes.

ChatGPT SEO Step 6: Publish Real Case Studies

Case studies are citation magnets.

Structure:
Problem
Assessment
Solution
Materials Used
Timeline
Outcome
Customer Feedback

Add photos and location details.

ChatpGPT SEO Step 7: Strengthen Technical Foundations

Ensure:

Fast loading speeds
Mobile optimization
Clean URLs
Canonical tags
No duplicate service pages
Secure HTTPS

Technical weaknesses reduce trust.

How Is AI SEO Different Than Traditional SEO?

Traditional SEO focuses heavily on:

Backlinks
Keyword placement
Technical site structure
Page authority

AI SEO includes those elements but adds:

Conversational relevance
Entity recognition
Context depth
Semantic relationships

Keyword stuffing is ineffective in AI environments. Instead, AI tools prioritize content that naturally answers detailed user questions.

What Is An Entity And Why It Matters?

In SEO, an entity is a clearly defined concept or brand that search engines understand independently of keywords.

For example:

“CN Tower” is recognized as an entity tied to Toronto.
“Shopify” is recognized as an eCommerce platform company.

If your business becomes a recognized entity within your niche, AI tools are more likely to reference it.

Google’s Knowledge Graph contains billions of entities and relationships. Becoming part of this ecosystem improves AI discoverability.

How To Build AI-Optimized Content

Write For Questions, Not Just Keywords

Instead of targeting “emergency plumber Toronto,” create content that answers:

What should I do if my basement floods at midnight in Toronto?
Who do I call for a burst pipe during winter in Ontario?

AI systems prefer content that mirrors how users speak.

Create Deep Topical Clusters

If you run a water damage restoration company, build clusters such as:

Basement flooding
Sewer backup cleanup
Mould remediation
Insurance claim assistance
Structural drying

Each article should internally link and reinforce authority.

Publish Original Data

Original statistics, case studies, or insights dramatically improve citation likelihood. For example:

A restoration company could publish:
“In 2024, 42% of our emergency calls occurred after sump pump failure during spring thaw.”

Original data increases your chances of being referenced.

How To Get Referenced In AI Answers

AI tools often rely on:

Authoritative news publications
Industry journals
Government websites
Educational institutions

Strategies include:

Writing expert guest posts
Getting quoted in media
Appearing on industry podcasts
Publishing research reports
Securing listings in trusted directories

The more third-party references your brand earns, the stronger your AI presence becomes.

Technical SEO Still Matters

AI tools favour:

Fast-loading websites
Mobile optimization
HTTPS security
Clear HTML structure
Schema markup

Google reports that as page load time increases from 1 second to 3 seconds, the probability of bounce increases by 32%.

Speed and usability remain foundational.

Optimizing For Conversational Search

Include detailed FAQ sections. Write in natural language. Use clear headings.

Instead of writing robotic paragraphs, write like a human explaining something clearly.

AI systems reward clarity.

Case Example: Local Service Business

A Toronto-based restoration company publishes:

25 in-depth guides on water damage
10 case studies with data
Local news commentary
FAQ pages targeting real homeowner questions

They earn mentions in municipal blogs and insurance forums.

Result: Their brand becomes recognized in AI responses when users ask about basement flooding in Toronto.

Measuring AI SEO Success

You can track:

Branded search growth in Google Search Console
Referral traffic from AI tools
Mentions across authoritative websites
Increase in direct traffic

AI visibility is often reflected indirectly through brand growth.

Understanding How ChatGPT And AI Search Actually Work

ChatGPT is built on large language models (LLMs), which are trained on a mixture of licensed data, human-created content, and publicly available information.

According to OpenAI, these models learn patterns in language and generate responses based on probability, context, and relevance.

When connected to web browsing tools, AI systems can retrieve live information using search engines and trusted sources.

This is often referred to as Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), where the model combines training knowledge with fresh web data.

This matters because AI tools prioritize:

Authoritative domains
Well-structured content
Recognized brand entities
Frequently cited sources

Unlike traditional SEO, AI visibility is more about being referenced than ranked.

The Future Of AI SEO

Gartner predicts generative AI will transform search behaviour significantly in the next few years.

We are entering what some marketers call Generative Engine Optimization (GEO).

Authority, trust, and entity strength will determine who gets referenced.

If you have any questions about our article “ChatGPT SEO: How Do I Rank My Business Website In ChatGPT?” or need to rank your website in ChatGPT and Ai search engines, connect with our founder on social media or call us at 1 888-593-4159 for a free discovery call and insights.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Get My Business Mentioned In ChatGPT?
Focus on building authority across multiple trusted websites. AI models rely on widely referenced information.

Does Schema Markup Help With AI SEO?
Yes, structured data improves clarity for search engines, which can influence AI retrieval systems.

Do Backlinks Still Matter?
Yes, but quality matters more than quantity. Authoritative links improve trust signals.

Can Small Businesses Compete In AI Search?
Absolutely. Niche expertise and deep topical authority often outperform generic large websites.

Is Blogging Still Important?
Yes. Detailed, helpful articles increase the likelihood of citations and mentions.

Does ChatGPT Pull Directly From My Website?
Only if it accesses current web data through browsing features and finds your site authoritative.

How Long Does AI SEO Take?
Authority building typically takes months to years, similar to traditional SEO.

Should I Focus On Google Or AI?
Both. Google remains dominant, but AI-driven search is rapidly growing.

Does Social Media Impact AI Visibility?
Indirectly. Strong brand presence increases mentions and authority.

What Is The Most Important Factor For AI Ranking?
Brand authority and entity recognition across the web.

Feb 19

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How To Generate Online Leads And Sales For My Home Renovations Startup Company (Complete Guide)

By Growth Marketing Toronto Growth Kolony Blog, AI Marketing, Artificial Intelligence, Growth Marketing Agency Toronto, Local SEO, SEO No Comments

How To Generate Online Leads And Sales For My Home Renovations Startup Company (Complete Guide)

By: Growth Kolony Growth Hacking Agency Toronto

Homeowners don’t hire renovation companies the way they used to.

They don’t flip through directories. They don’t rely solely on referrals.

They search. They compare. They read reviews. They watch videos. They ask AI tools for recommendations. And they often decide who to contact before ever picking up the phone.

If your home renovations company isn’t generating consistent online leads, you’re not just missing traffic, you’re missing booked kitchens, finished basements, bathroom remodels, and full-home transformations.

The good news?

Online lead generation isn’t complicated. It’s systematic and predictable.

This guide will show you exactly how to generate online leads and sales for your home renovations company using modern SEO, paid traffic, AI search optimization, content marketing, and conversion systems that actually close projects.

Let’s get right into it.

Powerful Stats That’ll Easily Sway Home Contractors Into Online Lead Generation

Over 90% of online experiences begin with a search engine.
Roughly 75% – 90% of users never scroll past page one of search results.
Businesses that publish consistent content generate significantly more leads.
Nearly 90% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal referrals.
Most local searches result in contact within 24 hours.
Paid search traffic converts at higher rates than most social traffic.
Retargeted users are far more likely to convert than cold audiences.
Video can dramatically increase landing page conversions.
Email marketing continues to deliver one of the highest returns on investment.
AI-powered search results are influencing more buying decisions every year.

For renovation contractors, this means one thing: visibility equals revenue.

What Are The Top 10 Most Effective Online/Internet Lead Generation Strategies For Home Contractors?

Local SEO & Google Business Profile Optimization

Believe it or not, 90% of the customer journey starts with an online search.

This means 90% of your new customers will come from a search engine like Google, Bing, Yahoo, social media and Ai.

Out of those 90% of users looking for your services every day, 75% – 90% of them will never look past page 1 Google.

This is why it’s incredibly important why your home renovations company must rank on page one of search engines.

Because when someone searches, “home additions near me” or “basement renovations contractor in Toronto” or “kitchen remodelling company”, you want your business to show up on page 1 at the exact moment when your customers are looking for them.

Google displays a local map pack. Those are the top three listings that feature Google reviews and Google Maps — it takes up prime digital real estate on page 1.

The local 3-pack listings receives around 48% – 49% of the organic search traffic.

So how can your home renovations company rank in Google’s local 3-pack?

To rank in local SEO and the local 3-pack in search engines you’ll need to:

Fully complete your Google Business Profile
Add accurate service categories
Upload high-quality before-and-after photos weekly
Collect consistent 5-star reviews
Respond to every review
Create optimized location pages on your website

Local SEO is the highest-intent traffic source for home contractors.

But remember, there are over 200 different ranking factors to consider to rank in organic search, which also includes local 3-pack SEO.

It’s better to cast a wide net across the web and attack search engines with a multi-channel-360-degree strategy to inject search engines with as many landing assets for the best results.

AI Search Optimization (ChatGPT, Gemini, AI Overviews)

AI search is changing discovery.

Homeowners now ask:

“Who is the best kitchen renovation company in my area?”
“What does a basement renovation cost?”
“Top-rated bathroom remodel contractors near me.”

To appear in AI-generated results:

Create structured, FAQ-rich content
Use schema markup
Publish detailed cost breakdowns
Build strong review profiles and authority
Maintain consistent entity mentions online
Submit your website to local directories and citations.

AI systems pull from authoritative, structured content. Contractors who optimize for AI visibility will dominate the next wave of search.

High-Converting Renovation Website Design

Your website is not a brochure. It’s a sales machine.

Essential elements:

Clear headline with your niche
Strong call-to-action above the fold
Before-and-after galleries
Case studies with real numbers
Trust badges (insurance, warranties, certifications)
Fast load speed
Mobile responsiveness

Every extra second of load time reduces conversions. Every unclear CTA loses leads.

Google Search Ads for High-Intent Keywords

Google Ads gives immediate visibility. This works well with organic SEO because their data and strategies compliment each other.

However Google Ads can easily burn a hole through your pocket if you do not know what you’re doing.

With Google Ads, you’ll be able to temporarily your keywords like:

“Kitchen renovation contractor [city]”

“Basement finishing company near me”

“Bathroom remodelling contractor”

“Custom home builder” etc.

Use:

Exact and phrase match keywords
Negative keywords to filter junk
Call tracking
Dedicated landing pages

Paid search captures buyers ready to move and when executed properly can generate leads ASAP.

Facebook & Instagram Lead Generation Campaigns

Renovations are visual. Social media amplifies that advantage.

Run:

Before-and-after carousel ads
Project walkthrough videos
Testimonial clips
Limited consultation offers

Use retargeting for:

Website visitors
Video viewers
Engaged users

Social media builds familiarity and nurtures longer buying cycles.

Retargeting Campaigns (Google + Meta + YouTube)

Most renovation decisions take weeks or months.

Retarget visitors who:

Viewed service pages
Started but didn’t submit a form
Watched your videos

Show them:

Case studies
Testimonials
Limited-time incentives

Retargeting dramatically increases conversion rates.

Content Marketing & Authority Blogging

Blog topics that convert:

How much does a kitchen renovation cost in [city]?
2026 bathroom design trends
Basement renovation permit requirements
Renovation timeline expectations

This captures long-tail search traffic and builds authority.

Use a pillar + cluster model:

One large renovation guide
Supporting related articles
Internal linking

Authority compounds over time.

Video Marketing & YouTube SEO

Video accelerates trust.

Create:

Walkthrough tours
Client testimonials
Time-lapse transformations
Educational renovation guides

Optimize titles, descriptions, and tags for local keywords.

Embed videos on service pages to boost conversions.

Online Reviews & Reputation Systems

Reviews influence both rankings and buying decisions.

Implement:

Automated review requests
Direct review links
Follow-up reminders
Review highlights on landing pages

The contractor with the most recent positive reviews often wins.

Email Marketing & Automation

Not every lead is ready immediately.

Create:

Renovation cost guides
Design inspiration lookbooks
Planning checklists

Build automated sequences:

Education emails
Case studies
Budget transparency
FAQ answers

Email nurtures prospects until they’re ready.

How To Turn Online Leads Into Signed Renovation Contracts

Generating leads is only step one.

Closing them requires structure.

Speed To Lead

Respond within 5 minutes whenever possible.

Pre-Qualification

Ask:

Budget range
Timeline
Scope
Decision-making authority

Consultation Framework

Present:

Visual case studies
Social proof
Clear timeline
Transparent pricing structure

Professional presentation increases close rates significantly.

Why Online Lead Generation Is Critical For Home Renovation Companies

The modern homeowner’s journey starts online.

Before contacting a contractor, they typically:

Search for renovation cost estimates
Compare contractors in their area
Read Google reviews
View before-and-after galleries
Watch walkthrough videos
Ask AI tools for recommendations

If your business isn’t visible during that research phase, you don’t exist in the decision-making process.

Online lead generation creates:

Predictable monthly inquiries
Higher-quality prospects
Scalable growth
Long-term digital assets

Referrals are powerful, but they are not controllable. Digital lead generation is.

What Are The Biggest Online Marketing Mistakes Contractors Make?

Relying only on referrals
Ignoring SEO
Poor website design
Slow response times
No tracking or CRM
Over-dependence on third-party lead platforms
Ignoring AI search trends

Avoiding these mistakes alone can double inquiries.

90-Day Action Plan To Start Generating Leads

Days 1–30

Audit website for conversion rate optimization and SEO
Optimize Google Business Profile
Install call tracking and user behaviour tracking
Collect new Google reviews for social proof

Days 30–60

Launch SEO organic campaign
Launch Ai SEO campaign
Launch Google Ads campaign
Publish 2 long-form renovation articles
Launch social media campaign
Implement retargeting

Days 60–90

Create video content
Build email nurture sequence
Expand SEO content clusters
Expand Google Ads
Expand social media
Analyze conversion metrics

Measure, scale and build brand and domain authority with quality consistency.

FAQs About Generating Online Leads For Home Renovation Companies

1. How long does SEO take?
Depends on how competitive the landscape is but typically 3–6 months for noticeable traction.

2. Is Google Ads better than SEO?
Ads deliver immediate traffic. SEO builds long-term assets for 24/7/365 keyword ranking.

3. How much should I budget?
Growth-focused contractors often invest 5–10% of revenue.

4. Do online reviews really matter?
Yes. 88–90% trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations.

5. Can small contractors compete online?
Absolutely, with strong local positioning and strategy.

6. What generates the highest-quality leads?
Google search traffic and strong landing pages.

7. How important is website speed?
Critical. Slow sites lose conversions.

8. How does AI search affect contractors?
Structured, authoritative content increases AI visibility.

9. Should I buy leads from marketplaces?
Use them strategically, but build owned traffic.

10. What’s the fastest way to get renovation leads?
Google Ads combined with optimized landing pages.

The Future Of Online Lead Generation for Contractors

The next phase of contractor marketing includes:

AI-generated search results
Voice search optimization
Video-first discovery
CRM automation
Predictive lead scoring

Contractors who embrace AI and automation early will dominate their local markets.

Conclusion

Online lead generation is no longer optional for home renovation companies.

It’s the difference between unpredictable referrals and predictable pipelines.

When you combine:

Local SEO
AI search optimization
Paid traffic
Reviews
Content marketing
Retargeting
Automation

You build a system.

And systems win markets.

Start building yours now, because your competitors already are.

If you have any questions about our article “How To Generate Online Leads And Sales For My Home Renovations Company? Your Complete Guide” or need to generated leads online for your home renovations company contact us at 647-931-1113 or connect with us on social media.

Mar 09

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Toronto SEO Guide: Why Businesses Need A Local SEO Agency

By Growth Marketing Toronto Growth Kolony Blog, Growth Marketing Agency Toronto, Local SEO, SEO

Toronto SEO Guide: Why Businesses Need A Local SEO Agency In Toronto And How To Find One

By: Growth Kolony

Did you know: 88% of consumers who do a local search visit a store within 24 hours.

So if you’re looking to land more local leads and turn online traffic into real foot traffic, find a local growth marketing agency in Toronto.

Without question, getting found on local search engines like Google is one of the most effective ways your business can drive more local leads to your store.

Yet with 46% of Google searches being local searches, over 56% of local businesses fail to claim their Google My Business.

Why?

In this local SEO Toronto guide you will learn:

– What exactly is local SEO?

– How local SEO in Toronto works

– How local SEO helps Toronto businesses with online sales

– How much should you pay for local SEO in Toronto

– How to hire a local SEO agency in Toronto

– How to pick the right local SEO package

What Is Local SEO?

Local SEO is an online marketing strategy that optimizes landing pages and websites for local searches with the objective of increasing local visibility.

They do this by targeting local customers at the perfect time while they search for local products and services when they need them.

A local SEO agency will help a business target customers on popular search engines like Google, Bing, Yahoo, Apple Maps, to just to name a few resources, and help businesses drive traffic and lead by ranking them for relevant search terms for a local region.

How Toronto Local SEO Works?

Toronto local SEO works just like local SEO in any other region.

Search engines rely on search signals to retrieve the most relevant local data from local search results.

Local search data includes local content on local landing pages, Google Maps, social media profile signals, online reviews, citations, directories, and other properties that help search engines prioritize the best local search results for target users.

When a user searches for a particular keyword, you’ll find the local SEO results at the top, also known in the SEO industry as the Google Local “Snack Pack”.

These results normally show above organic results.

The main difference between local SEO and organic SEO results is that local SEO strategies target a URL with a specific location; like a brick-and-mortar location, whereas organic results focus on ranking websites that may not have a brick-and-mortar location.

How Local SEO Helps Your Toronto Business With Sales?

With 97% of users and customers using search engines before making a purchase on a product or service locally, the opportunities for online lead generation through local SEO are lucrative.

According to one study, the Google Local Snack Pack get 33% of the overall search traffic.

This means any Toronto business that ranks in local search, will take home its share of the local SEO market pie.

Just imagine getting 33% of the impressions every day and month.

On the other side, when you fail to rank on page one in local search, you’ll miss out on a world of opportunities.

Because 91.5% of Google users ignore page 2 of Google.

How Much Does Local SEO Cost In Toronto?

Being a top local growth marketing agency in Toronto that’s ranked in the top local SEO three-pack, we often get asked, “how much does SEO cost?”

There is an industry range floating around of between $300/month – $10 000+/month with averages between $1000 – $2000/month.

Of course, you get what you pay for.

There are some agencies who will even offer $99/month to land more volume of clients and only do an hour of work every month.

And there are also agencies that overcharge and still do little work, which is why many business owners out there are skeptical of the SEO industry.

There are a wide range of plans out there, and it’s easy for an untechnical-savvy user to get hoodwinked.

But each website is different and each local agency SEO will operate differently as well.

The price of local SEO also determines how fast you want to “work the system” and use it to your advantage.

There are 3 main local SEO plans Toronto businesses often consider:

Automated: This is where your SEO agency will use in-house software to automatically submit your website to relevant local directories and citations. It’s more of a band-aid solution to a gunshot wound.

Small Scale: This is an SEO strategy that works for one location. It’ll help your location rank higher in search results and drive more online leads.

Comprehensive: This is where your SEO agency will take control of website management, link-building campaigns, citations, mobile SEO, online reputation management, social media and content marketing and including custom reporting.

All three local SEO plans do make a difference and eventually in most cases businesses with more than one location will go with the Comprehensive option, which includes all of the above and more; accelerating the overall local SEO ranking process.

How Much Should You Budget For Local SEO In Toronto?

It’s best practice for every business to allocate 5% – 35% of their overall annual revenues to growth marketing.

Since we’re in a digitally-dominant world and growth marketing is less expensive than traditional marketing, take 50% – 90% of your marketing budget and use that number for growth marketing which includes local SEO.

Other elements like overall company size and level of competition play a role in how much you should invest in local SEO and your local SEO agency in Toronto should be able to read the market, show you the data, and give you an accurate monthly estimation.

How To Hire A Local SEO Agency In Toronto?

Learning how to find the right local SEO agency in Toronto is a lot easier said than done.

There are a lot of local SEO agencies out there who work without certifications while offering a world of promises at a too-good-to-be-true rate.

Sure it’s a great rate but it’s also a money grab and a huge waste of precious time.

The time that could be spent on real growth.

Before you jump into a contract with the first local SEO agency you engage with, it’s best to create a shortlist of options.

Tip #1: Make sure that your local SEO agency has SEO credentials

Any good and reliable local SEO agency will have Google or Bing badges and certificates.

Make sure your local SEO agency at the very least has their Google certificate.

Tip #2: Does the local SEO agency have case studies?

Your local SEO agency should have at least a handful of links and examples of clients that they have worked on in the past.

After you get the list of URLs, make sure that these websites are ranked in local search and are ranked for keywords with local regional modifiers.

Also, look if they have been able to get local Google reviews for their client websites as well.

Tip #3: Is the SEO agency organically ranked for keywords?

It’s a red flag when the SEO agency you plan to hire fails to provide evidence of keyword ranking.

Do your research and see if the potential SEO service provider you plan to hire has a local digital footprint on sites like Google, Bing, Yelp, and Clutch to just to name a few resources.

Tip #4: Ask if your local SEO agency practices white-hat SEO

When search engines like Google spot pages and websites committing black-hat SEO, they often remove them from search results.

This is the last thing you want to happen when running a business today.

Before you hire any local SEO agency, make sure that they agree to abide by the Google Webmasters guidelines.

Tip #5: Ask your local SEO agency what you will expect in the report

One of the big issues when businesses first get into local SEO is that they do not understand what to expect, nor know what kind of reports they should receive.

Sure SEO is an investment at the start.

But after 3 months you should see some noticeable progress in traffic, rankings and overall goal conversions.

If you’re going to spend money, you’ll need to know where your money is going so let’s make sure you get your local SEO agency to report the following at the very least:

Keyword rankings report for each local location;
Traffic report for each location, including conversion rates, leads or sales.

How Do You Pick The Right Local SEO Package?

Picking the right local SEO package should be aligned with your overall objectives and goals.

This depends on how competitive your market is, your budget, the size of your company, and many other local SEO ranking elements.

The SEO agency should be able to narrow down your budget, expectations, key performance indicators, and marketing goals and put you in the right slot best suited for your special case.

Summary

50% of users who perform a local search result in an offline purchase within 24 hours.

Finding the right SEO agency in Toronto is crucial to growth and the search process is similar to finding the right mechanic.

When you let SEO agencies review your site, they should be able to diagnose the underlying issues, offer solutions to your problem, and show you reports to back everything up.

Before you commit, make sure to follow our quick list of tips on how to find the right local SEO agency in Toronto.

Like with all industries, you’ll find the good, the bad, and the ugly.

If you have any questions about SEO in Toronto and getting ranked on page 1 Google feel free to call us at 1.888.593.4159 or chat with us in real-time on Twitter.

Mar 01

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Local SEO Tips: How To Get More Online Reviews And Improve SEO Ranking

By Growth Marketing Toronto Growth Hacking, Growth Kolony Blog, Local SEO

It’s no secret that online reviews help improve SEO ranking.

On top of that, positive online reviews can increase conversion rates by as high as 270%.

With 90% of consumers reading online reviews before visiting a business, it’s never been more important for businesses today to have an online reviews strategy.

Below we highlight why online reviews are important and helpful tips that’ll take you from online reviews zero to hero.

Let’s get into it.

Why Are Online Reviews Important For Your Business

Most customers are social creatures.

They need validation from their peer group and the general public.

So when they don’t know what to buy, they go online and look for social proof and consult with an online community for social validation.

And online reviews play a big role in today’s digital world.

It’s commonplace to read and write one.

According to Search Engine Land, 70% of customers will fill out a review when asked.

Yet, there are a lot of business owners today who are hesitant to ask for reviews.

Search Engines Love Online Reviews

The more customer reviews your company gets, the more Google loves you.

Search engines show users the most relevant and most credible content for each search query.

If a company is receiving a lot of love online, then you are more likely to show up on page one.

Online Reviews Serves Fresh Content

One of Google’s many algorithms is fresh content.

It often ranks websites by how relevant and up-to-date they are.

Google reviews also show users that your business is still in business and fresh and available and up-to-date.

While encouraging customers to leave a review, another great way to keep your website fresh is to update pages or blog regularly.

Online Reviews Gets You On The Local Pack

Google’s Local Pack are the businesses that show up under Google Ads.

Google will generally show the top 3 local businesses for each query.

It features contact information and their ratings.

For example, if you searched for a local service or product in a particular region like, “cafe near me” or in this particular case, “growth marketing toronto”, Google will show you the top 3 businesses in their Local Pack.

Online Reviews Make You Trustworthy

In today’s world, customers have more options than ever before.

So when they visit a store they generally have already done some homework online.

This is where online reviews help your business drive more foot traffic and convert more leads.

When your business has online reviews from real customers, it shows that your business is legitimate and has been validated and trusted by previous customers.

Online Review Tips And Tricks

1. Sign Up For A Google My Business Account

The first thing you want to do to increase your business reviews is to first make sure you can receive them in the first place.

For Google Reviews to be possible, your business needs to create a Google My Business account.

The process is simple.

Google even provides a guide to make sure any business owner – tech-savvy or not – can manage it.

Once your business account is verified, any customer that is looking for your business will find all the information they need. Like the following:

What you offer
Service options
The address
Opening hours
Menu
Website
Phone number
Reviews

It’s also worth noting that the number of online reviews and your current star rating is shown directly under your business name in the search results.

2. Encourage Customer Reviews

Most customers are aware of online reviews and that they can review businesses online; be it through Google, or another platform like Yelp.

But most of the time, customers are not incentivized to write an online review or prompted to do so. Don’t feel ashamed to remind people that the option is there.

It’s important not to make people feel pressured into leaving a review, but, planting the idea can be all that it takes.

As they leave your store, or after they make an online purchase, you can say something as simple as, “thanks for your purchase, and if you’re happy with it, feel free to leave a Google Review.” See? Not complicated, not pushy, but can ultimately lead to more sales and a higher ranking.

3. Don’t Be Discouraged By Negative Reviews

The reality is, many people are going to look up your business with the sole intention of leaving an online review if they are not happy with their experience.

That’s the nature of the beast.

However, your aim should be to make sure the number of positive reviews is higher than the number of negative ones.

Don’t be discouraged by disgruntled customers.

Instead, use them as a learning opportunity to improve your products and services so you can prevent their issue from being one in the future.

You can also reply to negative reviews as well, share your side of the story and give readers context.

4. Don’t Be Fooled by All Positive Reviews

If you’ve been looking at your competition, frustrated at how they managed to achieve a perfect star rating across hundreds of reviews, then don’t be concerned.

According to research, a perfect score can actually decrease the trust of a business.

It sounds strange, but with the prevalence of fake reviews, having an average score of between 4.5 to 4.7 can make your business seem more trustworthy than one that achieves a perfect 5-star rating.

5. Reply To Google Reviews

A Harvard Business Review study found that if business owners respond to a customer review (be it a positive or negative one), they can see a rating increase.

Remember, you can learn a lot from all reviews that customers leave, so engaging with them on a public platform can have more of a positive impact than you might think.

Be transparent about any mistakes you may have made, and, thank them for taking the time to leave the review.

Ask questions if the information is unclear, and offer a solution to their problem.

You can even humanize the response by putting your name at the bottom of it.

Responding promptly is also quite important, for it shows your customer that you respect the decision they made to come forward and value what they have said.

6. Advertise That You Have A Reviewing Platform

If you’re struggling to drum up reviews for your Google My Business account, try positioning or marketing to your audience that your business has a reviews page.

You don’t have to take out a full-page ad in the newspaper, but small, discrete links in emails and on your website can often be enough.

Remember, you’re not trying to drum up a positive review, but a review in general.

By providing a link for people to click, you’re making it easy for customers to leave an online review.