Adschoolmaster

Had a great chat with a local business owner this morning.

They asked me, “Do I really need a lot of backlinks to rank well in my area?”

Here’s what I told them:

If you’re a local business, you don’t need hundreds of links like big national brands do.

Most of the time, fewer than 150 solid links can get you on page one.

But not just any links.

You need links from places that matter in your area.

Think of it like this:

Are other local sites talking about you?

Are you listed in local directories?

Are you creating content that people in your community care about?

Are you missing out on links your competitors already have?

These aren’t giant mystery strategies. They’re doable. With a little digging and some effort, you can find great link opportunities close to home.

It’s not about being everywhere. It’s about being in the right places, with the right people.

Want more visibility in local search?

Start by asking:
Who in my town is already ranking-and how can I be part of that conversation?

If you’re not sure where to begin, we can help.

Let’s build something that lasts.

A lot of local business owners still guess what people search for online.

They try to think like the customer... but end up missing the words that actually matter.

One of the things we talk about a lot at AdSchoolMaster is this:

If you want to show up in local search results, you need to know what people are really typing into Google.

Not what you think they type. What they actually type.

Example: People might not search “plumber in Manchester”… they might type “emergency drain fix near me.”

See the difference?

That’s why local keyword research is so important.

Here’s a simple way to start:

- Look for keywords that show local intent
(You’ll know when Google shows map results with business listings)
- Use Google Keyword Planner and set it to your city or area
- Don’t worry if search volumes look small
(For local businesses, that small number could be your next 10 clients)
- Group your keywords by service
(Each one should lead to its own service page-not all crammed on your homepage)

And yes, tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush help. But even free tools can get you pretty far.

Here’s the real secret: Stop guessing and start listening to the data.

Want to attract more local customers?

Start by knowing what they’re actually searching for.

Had a great chat with a client this morning about SEO.

They asked, “Is content still that important?”

Short answer: Yes. More than ever.

Here’s why:

Writing a bunch of blog posts isn’t enough. You need to write stuff that actually helps people.

Clear answers. Real value. No fluff.

Google’s getting smarter. It’s not just looking for keywords anymore. It wants to show good, trustworthy info to its users.

So what does that mean for you?

Write with care. Focus on what your audience needs. Structure it so it’s easy to read. Use plain language. And don’t overthink the SEO part-just be helpful.

Good content brings traffic. But great content builds trust. That’s what keeps people coming back.

Thinking of reworking your content strategy?

Ask yourself:
Would I stay and read this if I wasn’t the one who wrote it?

Start there. Adjust often. And make sure it’s worth someone’s time.

If you want content that works for people and search engines, let’s make it happen.

Just got off a call where someone asked,
"What’s the secret to winning with SEO?"

Honestly, it’s not one thing.
It’s a bunch of small steps done the right way.

Start here:
Figure out what you really want. More sales? More traffic? Better leads?
Then learn what your audience needs. What are they searching for? What problems can you solve for them?

Next, check out your competitors. What are they doing well? What are they missing? That’s your chance.

And yes-keywords matter. But only the ones that actually match what your audience is looking for.

Once you’ve got that down, make sure your website works.
Fix broken links. Clean up any slow pages.
Add content that helps people. Not fluff. Real answers.
And don’t forget to tidy up titles and tags. Search engines (and people) care about that.

Then there’s the trust part.
You’ve got to earn links from other sites. That tells Google you’re worth showing.
Also-share your content. Talk with your audience. Show up.

Finally, don’t just set it and forget it.
Check what’s working. Change what’s not.

SEO isn’t magic. But done right?
It brings steady, real growth over time.

Want a strategy built for the long game?

Start with what your audience needs.
And build from there.

Just wrapped up a chat about SEO with a few freelance marketers.

Most of them thought SEO was just about stuffing keywords on a page.

It’s not.

Here’s what really moves the needle:

Page Titles
Your title should tell Google-and people-exactly what your page is about. Use your keywords early. No tricks.

Real Content
Write stuff that actually helps your audience. Not fluff. Not just long for the sake of it. Answer real questions.

Fast Sites Win
If your page takes forever to load, people bounce. Google notices that. Speed matters.

Links Help
Link between your own pages. It keeps people exploring and helps search engines understand your site better.

Pick Good Keywords
Go after words people are actually searching for. Not just high-volume ones. Look for the narrow stuff too. Those often bring better leads.

Add Images
Not just pretty pictures. Use ones that explain what you’re saying. They should add value, not just fill space.

Think About the Reader
If your site is confusing or hard to read, people won’t stay long. Google sees that. Make it easy and helpful.

SEO isn’t magic.

It’s just doing a lot of simple things well-over and over again.

Want more people to find your site?

Start by asking:
Is my website useful, fast, and clear?

If not, that’s where to begin.