Local Link Building & Partnerships

I spent years thinking I had to compete with every business within a five-mile radius. Guarded my customer list like Fort Knox. Watched other businesses as threats instead of opportunities. Total waste of energy. Then I saw this struggling gym owner completely turn things around. Not by getting fancy new equipment or slashing prices. He […]

Do this: stop scrolling through another “10 SEO tips” listicle and pay attention to something that actually moves the needle for local businesses. I’ve watched hundreds of local businesses throw money at Google Ads and chase algorithm updates while completely ignoring one of the most powerful local SEO strategies sitting right in their backyard. Look,

I’m going to let you in on something most local businesses completely miss: community event sponsorships are basically SEO crack. I’m serious. While everyone else is obsessing over keywords and meta descriptions, smart local businesses are crushing it by actually showing up in their communities. About a week ago I was talking to this plumber

I’ll be straight with you. Most local business owners think getting industry experts to talk to them is like trying to get a celebrity to return their DMs. But here’s what I’ve learned after years of doing this: the businesses that figure out expert interviews don’t just rank better. They become the business everyone else

After work, I went to this Mexican restaurant that just opened near my office. Place was dead. Like, two customers on a Friday night dead. The owner was working the register himself, and I could see it in his eyes… that look of “what am I doing wrong?” I almost said something. Almost told him

So, I’m sitting in this little shop in Denver, and the guy next to me is on a conference call with his marketing agency. Full volume speakerphone, because apparently that’s a thing people do now. He’s getting pitched on this $5,000 monthly package for “nationwide brand awareness” for his two-location auto repair shop. I almost

I just had coffee with a plumber who told me he’s been throwing money at Facebook ads for months with zero results. Same week, I met another plumber who’s booked solid through next month. The difference? The second guy sponsors two youth hockey teams and shows up to games. He’s not spending more on marketing,

Look, I won’t sugarcoat it. Most local businesses are completely screwing up their link building strategy. They’re out there begging for links from random websites that have zero impact on their local visibility, while ignoring the goldmine of opportunities sitting right in their own backyard. I spent last week with a plumbing company owner who

Do this: open a new tab right now and search for your business name plus your city. Go ahead, I’ll wait. What’d you find? If you’re like most local business owners I’ve worked with, you probably saw your Google Business Profile, maybe your website, and then… crickets. Or worse, you found outdated information scattered across

I know what you’re thinking. Another digital marketing guru telling you about another online thing you need to do to get more customers. Except here’s the thing: I’m not a guru. I’m just someone who accidentally discovered that spending 20 minutes a day talking with strangers on the internet about broken water heaters can build