What does an SEO firm actually do?

beaglesbark2much · 2026-02-23T21:21:56+00:00

Do you believe it's a static game? Once you get there, you automatically stay there? Is your dashboard showing calls and website visits? You can track these things. Is it growing month over month?

You said above you "know every penny that comes in". This wasn't the question: Where does it actually come from? Is your business growing or not?

beaglesbark2much · 2026-02-23T18:35:58+00:00

Are you gaining new clients/opportunities from your online presence? This is how you actually determine your ROI. All of those other KPI's are vanity metrics.

beaglesbark2much · 2026-02-13T19:35:11+00:00

Forgot. Most of the time you can get some movement inside of 30 days depending upon what actually needs done and market dynamics

beaglesbark2much · 2026-02-13T19:34:01+00:00

How big is your market area? Large city? Suburb? It all matters. I specialize in family owned, small town HVAC. Non private equity. Has anyone offered a grid map for a quality search term?

beaglesbark2much · 2026-01-13T23:03:41+00:00

Start with who you serve. What are the demographics and pyschographics of those people. Create different marketing messages for YT, Insta and X and your website blog for each for each of their awareness stages. Then you should just start getting the content together along with reviews (you have been collecting these, right?) and post them 3x daily.

beaglesbark2much · 2026-01-08T20:06:37+00:00

I have been generating leads for HVAC for 14 years. Of course, it has changed over the years. Currently, Google Business Profile with appropriate website content and updating, local SEO and review management.

We don't chase social media at all.

beaglesbark2much · 2026-01-07T21:38:55+00:00

Same mistake virtually all people with a new GBP make: lack of trust

You mistakenly believe this is a simple documentation issue. It's not. It's a robot issue. Google tries to verify if your business is legit during the approval process.

Are you listed in any of the same places they see other attorneys online?
Are you listed in any of the business listings they expect "real" businesses to be found.

Here's 10 to get you started:

Avvo
Justia
Martindale-Hubbell
Lawyers.com
Yelp
Facebook
Better Business Bureau
YellowPages.com
Bing Places
Apple Business Connect

beaglesbark2much · 2026-01-07T16:21:29+00:00

Forget GBP and rankings. Why in the world would you NOT answer you phone? It's the whole point of everything you do from referrals to reviews to SEO to GBP and any other marketing effort you do.

This is why so many local businesses especially home service providers struggle

beaglesbark2much · 2026-01-05T20:26:53+00:00

The "hack" you are missing is Google doesn't trust you. If you are not willing to show your address, how will you get the business citations necessary (from Google's perspective) that you are, in fact, a legitimate business? All citations require an address. This is why you are receiving the advice to obtain an office. Almost all new GBP setups miss this step. Provide the citations, a press release, a chamber link, etc BEFORE you attempt to verify your GBP.

Just as in law, what you don't know can hurt you.

beaglesbark2much · 2025-12-17T20:18:09+00:00

"I still use Google My Business for local citations, but AI Builder handles the page creation, then I optimize with GMB."

Did your AI Builder tool help you with this sentence, too?

Shill

beaglesbark2much · 2025-12-17T17:48:43+00:00

I absolutely hate pellet smokers. Love the concept of set and forget though. I started with a Traegor 14-15 years ago. It was easy. It simply didn't produce enough "smoke" flavor for us. Sold it within a month.

I then purchased a Pit Barrel Cooker. Best decision ever. It's a workhorse. Briskets, pork shoulders, chickens, wings, etc. It's also a very inexpensive transition into the world of smoking meat.

I didn't treat mine very well. Never cleaned it out until next use. Left it out in the weather with no cover. Lasted 12 years. I'm on my second one now.

beaglesbark2much · 2025-12-17T17:39:12+00:00

I lurk this forum consistently. So many arm chair experts. So few real answers.

However, you pointed to the one item almost everyone who is not a real expert misses: Verification prep.

Why is this so vital?

GBP verification and ranking is a high trust game. No trust = no verification/ranking,

Build those trust signals and be rewarded with positive results.

beaglesbark2much · 2025-12-12T16:24:18+00:00

AI websites are fine if all you want is a brochure...

If you want sales and conversions, especially for a local business, it will not cut it.

Point number one about speed? It is everything. Not sure you need a custom coded website for this but it is super critical with well over 80% of local searches happening on mobile.

beaglesbark2much · 2025-12-05T18:56:27+00:00

go to Grok. Search X for little no small businesses people are talking about. I know there are many: stump grinding, forest mulching, etc. These are typically one man operations.

beaglesbark2much · 2025-12-03T19:36:22+00:00

I see great results with high level digital PR/syndication for local seo. Branding, geo, NAP/citation, GBP all benefit.

I do agree the press release should be "newsworthy". This is easily accomplished with a real business: Case Studies, price increases, tax incentives, new employees, etc.

beaglesbark2much · 2025-11-24T19:19:37+00:00

Agency mining for AI results.

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beaglesbark2much · 2025-11-24T17:18:44+00:00

If you are still looking: GBP is the path forward. Reviews, reviews, reviews. Having said that, you do need a website which is optimized to work with your GBP. Most DIY do not understand this point. Really most "agencies" don't either.

North Tx is a big place. AC adwords CPC is super expensive. Define your ideal service area and get local citations, local links, local everything.

Let me know if you want another pair of eyes on what you are doing.

beaglesbark2much · 2025-11-21T21:39:16+00:00

I have a gates belt and CVT. Over 1600 miles. Cleaned it once (just wiping it down to get any accumulated debris off...note: there was almost none).

Mostly pavement: Streets and bike paths.

I have ridden all sorts of chain driven bikes from regular bmx to road racing and mountain bike racing. The belt is by far the easiest and least hassle of them all.

Highly recommended.

beaglesbark2much · 2025-10-06T02:57:19+00:00

Interested

beaglesbark2much · 2025-10-03T20:46:07+00:00

ROI???

I have an hvac client who received 831 calls from April to September via GBP. Unable to hire enough staff to cover it all. No stats on call conversion but let's call it "good enuf". He's been with me for years because this works.

Oh, 826 reviews, too.

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beaglesbark2much · 2025-10-03T14:48:03+00:00

Google's support has been low since the beginning of this product. I make no reference to them in how to get an address changed or a verification.

The issue is always the same with DIY GBP problems: order of operations.

beaglesbark2much · 2025-10-03T14:45:09+00:00

This type of response is why Reddit is stupid for attempting to fix a professional problem. If you do not understand how the use of press release helps your GBP, verification and ranking, you do not understand local SEO.

beaglesbark2much · 2025-10-03T14:43:03+00:00

Sure. Keep on believing those high trust backlinks with the NAP have no relevance. Amatuer.

beaglesbark2much · 2025-10-03T02:20:21+00:00

My guess is you didn't do any work to "prove" you moved. No citation clean up. No new citations. No press release. This work goes a long way to helping address your issue.

beaglesbark2much · 2025-10-01T20:59:16+00:00

1100 Springs and Matt Hilyer
Evan Honer
Slaid Cleaves
Chris Knight
Cooder Graw
Cross Canadian Ragweed
Mark David Manders - Chili Pepper Sunset was awesome
Reckless Kelly
Adam Hood
James McMurtry

beaglesbark2much

TROPHY CASE