Notes

What I keep running into when I look at Google Business Profiles and local search for small businesses around east Toronto.

GBP

The Google Business Profile section most businesses fill out once and forget

The services section is indexed text that Google matches against real searches. Most profiles leave it empty or fill it with one word entries. Here is what belongs in it.

·7 min read
GBP

Your Google Business Profile primary category is doing more work than you think

The primary category is the biggest single lever in local search, and most businesses set it once during setup and never look at it again. Here is what it actually controls.

·7 min read
Local SEO

How to Do a Local SEO Audit Yourself (Toronto Small Business Guide)

A step by step local SEO audit you can run on your own business in about 40 minutes. No tools to buy, no agency required. Just the six checks I run on every profile I look at.

·10 min read
Local SEO

What Is a Google Business Profile? A Plain Guide for Toronto Small Businesses

A simple explanation of what a Google Business Profile is, where customers see it, and how Google decides which businesses show up on the map.

·7 min read
Local SEO

Why Your Google Reviews Look Old (And How to Fix It)

Most Toronto businesses have enough Google reviews. The problem is that they are old. Here is what I see in local audits and how to fix it.

·5 min read
GBP

5 Signs Your Google Business Profile Is Costing You Customers

Your Google Business Profile is often the first impression a customer gets. Here's how to spot the mistakes that are quietly sending them to a competitor instead.

·2 min read
Local SEO

Local SEO Checklist for Toronto Small Businesses in 2026

A practical, no-fluff checklist for contractors, salons, and clinics who want to show up higher on Google Maps and local search, without paying an agency to do it.

·2 min read
Paid Ads

Google Ads vs Meta Ads: Which Is Right for Your Local Business?

Both platforms can drive real customers to a local business, but they work in very different ways. Here's how to decide where your next ad dollar should go.

·2 min read