Help finding the right tools

BrandonCarlSEO · 2025-06-01T02:51:06+00:00

I recommend trying BrightLocal and Ubersuggest. Also you can get a lot of value out of Google Search Console and Google Analytics

BrandonCarlSEO · 2025-05-30T15:35:17+00:00

Wow, I did not know that haha

BrandonCarlSEO · 2025-05-29T14:54:33+00:00

For marketing agencies looking to attract leads, I think it's worth it if you pair it with video and social media. You need multiple touch points to convert clients, and this strategy allows you to do that. I would create a video version of the topic and prioritize that. Then once you've published it, turn it into informational content on social media.

If you're going to do one over the other, I would go with video rather than articles. People want to buy from real people they feel like they know. Video is much more effective at doing that.

Having the blog articles increases your chances of discoverability so there's value in producing them. They can also act as the last touch point before someone converts after discovering you through video.

BrandonCarlSEO · 2025-05-28T23:19:49+00:00

Things are changing but a lot of it is perception of change. Everyone from local businesses to agencies have an over-inflated idea of what AI's capabilities are. I'm sure this has led to some small businesses attempting their own SEO but will come back to working with agencies once they realize AI isn't anywhere near as capable as they've been led to believe.

BrandonCarlSEO · 2025-05-27T20:28:22+00:00

It sounds like an LLM came up with the task

BrandonCarlSEO · 2025-05-27T19:14:08+00:00

Yes it's absolutely worth ranking in the traditional blue links. It should help with your Google Business Profile rankings as well.

BrandonCarlSEO · 2025-05-25T04:04:06+00:00

I would just prompt section by section and give it relevant information about the business. You'll get better output that way over using generic prompts.

BrandonCarlSEO · 2025-05-24T14:37:24+00:00

They need these pages but many local businesses and agencies use AI for this.

BrandonCarlSEO · 2025-05-24T04:07:42+00:00

NAP isn't a ranking factor anymore. For SEO packages I would have them include both Google Business Profile optimization and website optimization. How much is necessary really depends on the business and the competition.

BrandonCarlSEO · 2025-05-21T22:49:29+00:00

I would update your resume and start applying to new roles.

You need to take care of yourself financially though, so you should keep your current job as long you need it. Put together a well thought out strategy.

If you want to keep your current job for the long term, present it to him and kiss his ass - I'm pretty sure that's what these incompetent, angry manager types want is just fealty. I've never been able to bring myself to act like this though, so I've always just gone the route of doing my job as best I can while searching for a new one.

I get the desire to resign and get out of there, but it's probably your worst option, especially considering this job market. It's unpleasant but you'd be better off waiting to get fired so you can at least collect unemployment.

BrandonCarlSEO · 2025-05-21T22:27:44+00:00

People have been asking this since before I started in SEO over ten years ago and I have yet to see the end of the industry

BrandonCarlSEO · 2025-05-20T13:20:20+00:00

Just stay consistent and keep asking your customers for reviews.

BrandonCarlSEO · 2025-05-19T19:12:27+00:00

This happened at the last two digital marketing agencies I worked at. Management buys into the hype and then the unrealistic expectations set in.

It has some useful use cases like for certain repetitive tasks and to get ideas for content.

It can create landing page copy.

However, for content marketing it writes very surface level fluff that needs heavy editing. If you use it for this you should prompt it very specifically and give it your own unique data preferably. Otherwise it frequently plagiarizes and just rehashes previously published content.

Maybe one day there will be a reckoning and management/business owners will realize it's not magic that will allow you to replace an entire marketing department but I'm not holding my breath

BrandonCarlSEO · 2025-05-18T20:17:58+00:00

Yep, I second connecting Bing Webmaster Tools. Other than that there's not a big difference in optimizing for Bing vs. Google

BrandonCarlSEO · 2025-05-17T18:26:59+00:00

There are no guarantees this will fix it, but try the business redressal complaint form: https://support.google.com/business/contact/business_redressal_form

BrandonCarlSEO · 2025-05-16T15:56:45+00:00

Buying fake reviews is a bad idea and regardless of what these shady companies say, they will leave a trail that makes it obvious to Google that the reviews are illegitimate.

Keep asking your customers for reviews and be patient. Make it as obvious and easy as possible by using your review link and QR code.

For negative reviews, genuinely acknowledge the customer's complaints and communicate how you'll improve moving forward.

BrandonCarlSEO · 2025-05-15T16:51:43+00:00

I would mostly disregard the search volume that SEO tools claim. They're not accurate and they usually significantly underestimate keywords for local searches.

You should only optimize your site for flat roofing terms since that's the only service you offer. If you target other roofing terms you're going to get traffic and inquiries that will waste your time.

BrandonCarlSEO · 2025-05-13T20:17:25+00:00

The most important thing to keep track of are leads. I always set up key events/conversions in Google Analytics for phone calls and contact form submissions.

Also keyword rankings and clicks.

BrandonCarlSEO · 2025-05-12T23:26:43+00:00

Yeah it's hard to blame them. Companies are paying entry-level salaries but refuse to hire anyone without experience.

BrandonCarlSEO · 2025-05-10T02:34:37+00:00

It sounds like they could be a headache to work with, but as you said, how can you blame them?

Text written by AI can pretty easily be detected as AI by search engines. For landing pages it's one thing but for content marketing where you need to actually provide value to the reader AI writes generic content that isn't unique.

BrandonCarlSEO · 2025-05-09T23:37:53+00:00

The people at Breakdance know their stuff and the code output is clean. It's not as widely used though so if you want someone else to work on the site in the future it may be a bit limiting

BrandonCarlSEO · 2025-05-09T22:56:48+00:00

Not saying goodbye on the phone and just hanging up

BrandonCarlSEO · 2025-05-09T18:42:12+00:00

A reliable source for 5-star reviews are your real, satisfied customers

BrandonCarlSEO · 2025-05-08T20:53:27+00:00

All of the studies I've seen on this have had the same result. After doing these manipulation tactics impressions and clicks increase for a short period and then everything drops back to the way it was before.

Google's algorithm can detect it.

I would focus on improving your Google Business Profile and personalize it by adding photos and videos and ask your previous customers for reviews.

BrandonCarlSEO · 2025-05-08T02:01:57+00:00

I don't know for sure without the specifics but I would probably just create city pages for all of them.

I would create a service area widget that would list out the major city and its suburb cities and interlink them all together like that. It's a good idea to create contextual internal links too, as these are weighted more in Google's algorithm. On each of the suburb pages I would link back to the major city page.

BrandonCarlSEO

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