#best of houzz 2016

[alwaysasoldier]

Pantry in Brisbane Photo of a large, modern, u-shaped kitchen pantry with a light wood floor, a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, quartz countertops, a white backsplash, a stone slab backsplash, stainless steel appliances, and an island.

[ernestoperry]

Mediterranean Exterior - Exterior Ideas for a sizable one-story stucco exterior remodel with a hip roof and a tile roof in Mediterranean beige

[sgtpeppersofab]

Large minimalist white two-story metal exterior home photo large two-story white metal home exterior image

[love-is-vengeful]

Austin Home Bar Large transitional galley porcelain tile and brown floor seated home bar photo with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, beige backsplash and marble backsplash

[grahamjadiel]

Austin Pool Large transitional backyard stone and rectangular natural pool house photo

[bewitchingbritain]

Transitional Pool - Poolhouse Example of a large transitional backyard stone and rectangular natural pool house design

[wtfem]

Austin Transitional Home Bar Example of a large transitional galley porcelain tile and brown floor seated home bar design with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, beige backsplash and marble backsplash

[likeimseventeen]

Austin Transitional Home Bar A spacious transitional galley with brown flooring and porcelain tile, a home bar, flat-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, beige backsplash, and marble backsplash are examples of the style.

[avoiderdragon]

Transitional Bedroom - Bedroom Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional guest medium tone wood floor bedroom remodel with blue walls, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace

[madisonetjenifer]

Transitional Home Bar Austin With a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, a beige backsplash, and a marble backsplash, this large transitional galley photograph with its brown floor and porcelain tile also features a home bar.

[shunkoku]

Poolhouse Poolhouse Austin An illustration of a sizable transitional backyard house with a rectangular natural pool

[conceptcookie]

Galley Austin Example of a large transitional galley porcelain tile and brown floor seated home bar design with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, beige backsplash and marble backsplash

[blobsandberries]

Poolhouse in Austin Inspiration for a large transitional backyard stone and rectangular natural pool house remodel

[qinzimos]

Stucco - Exterior Idea for the exterior of a large, modern, two-story white house covered in hip roofs and metal roofs

[rinann]

Large minimalist white two-story metal exterior home photo large two-story white metal home exterior image

[zov911]

Title: 10 Effective Local SEO Strategies for Canadian Architectural Firms Search engine optimization (SEO) is no longer an option for Canadian firms in the architecture sector—it’s an absolute necessity. With more than 75% of consumers turning to search engines to find local businesses, a strong local SEO strategy can help your firm appear in those critical search results. You see, SEO isn’t just a buzzword; it's a gateway to visibility and success in today's digital world. So, let's delve into ten effective local SEO strategies tailored specifically for Canadian architectural firms. 1. **Nail Down Your Google My Business (GMB) Listing:** An accurate, well-optimized GMB listing is Canada's answer to being found in local searches. If your firm isn’t registered here, well, it’s akin to hiding your loonie under a toonie—it’s just not sensible. Make sure your listing consistently includes your business name, address, and phone number (NAP information), photos of your work, and encourages customer reviews. 2. **Cultivate Positive Reviews:** Positive online reviews are like the double-double of local SEO, vital and desired. Emphasize obtaining them on your GMB, but remember sites like Yelp and Houzz can't be ignored. Encourage satisfied clients to leave a review detailing their positive experience. 3. **Hyper-Local Keyword Integration:** Statistics from Comscore show that over half of search queries are four words or longer. Try to incorporate long-tail keywords, involving locally-relevant terms such as "Toronto modern architect" or "Vancouver commercial architectural services". 4. **Ensure Mobile Friendliness:** Given how everyone's practically glued to their mobiles these days, it's of paramount importance to ensure your site is mobile-friendly. Optimizing your website for optimal viewing and navigation on smaller screens can significantly boost user experience and your local search ranking. 5. **Optimize for "Near Me" Searches:** Pay attention to geolocation optimization. Frequently, Canadians are on the hunt for businesses that are "near me", so ensure your web pages are optimized for this phrase with respect to your locality. 6. **Voice Search Optimization:** Fun fact: ComScore (2016) had predicted that approx. half of all searches would be voice searches in 2020. Consider the natural speech patterns and phrasing of search terms—often questions—as a part of your keyword strategy. 7. **Build High-Quality Backlinks:** Quality backlinks from reputable, local sites can significantly help in boosting your local SEO ranking. Consider collaborating with Canadian architectural magazines, blogs, or local suppliers for such opportunities. 8. **Localized Content:** Create blog posts, case studies, and project features that are specific to Canadian locations your architectural firm has worked in. This not only adds to your local authority but illustrates tangibly how your firm is best suited for local projects. 9. **Citation Consistency:** Ensure consistent citations—mentions of your business NAP across the web. Discrepancies can create confusion and harm your local SEO. 10. **Leverage Social Media:** While not a direct ranking factor, an active social media presence can increase your visibility and provide another platform for customer interactions. Canadians are quite social media savvy, eh? Remember, implementing these strategies is no walk in the park, it’s more like climbing the CN Tower—but with persistence and strategic work, the view from the top makes every step worth it. Local SEO plays a pivotal role in positioning Canadian architectural firms in their local market, establishing a profound online presence which can translate into considerable business growth. Case Study: Reimagining Local SEO for Winnipeg's "Grandiose Architecture" Introduction Winnipeg-based architectural firm, "Grandiose Architecture", was striving to garnish a more significant slice of the local market share. Recognizing the importance

of online visibility in today's digital landscape, they decided to revamp their Local SEO strategy, following steps outlined below, a process that speaks to the heart of our article's strategy offering. Step 1: Localizing their Website's Content To capitalize on local search trends, Grandiose Architecture began tailoring their website content to appeal to a local audience. They implemented geographic-specific keywords, like "Architects in Winnipeg" or "Manitoba Designers" throughout their site. They also localized their blog content, focusing on architectural trends in Winnipeg and Manitoba. The result was a higher search engine ranking for these specific local searches. Step 2: Google My Business and Bing Places Optimization Recognizing the importance of online directories, they claimed and optimized their business profiles on Google My Business and Bing Places. They ensured that all details in their profiles were accurate and consistently updated with fresh images and content, contributing to higher visibility in local search results. Step 3: Gathering and managing online reviews In the contemporary digital world, online reviews work as positive votes influencing rankings and customer decisions. Understanding this, Grandiose Architecture adopted a proactive approach to gather and manage online reviews. They followed up with clients after project completion, requesting them to review their experiences on Google and other industry-specific review sites. Step 4: Utilizing Local Business Schema To stand apart from competitors, they added structured data markup or schema to their website, providing search engines detailed information about their business, services, and works, which subsequently resulted in search engine showcasing this enriched information in search results. Step 5: Building high-quality local backlinks Grandiose Architecture invested in local link building, aiming to collaborate with local influencers, be featured in local news and blogs, and become active in community events. This approach added credibility to their firm while also improving their local SEO ranking. As a result of these steps, within a span of six months, Grandiose Architecture saw a substantial improvement in their site’s local ranking. Their organic traffic increased by 60%, while leads from online sources saw an impressive surge of 45%. The redesigned local SEO approach significantly enhanced their visibility and stature within the community, demonstrating the effectiveness of the strategies mentioned in the article. This case study serves as a guiding example for Canadian architectural firms looking to improve their online visibility and garner a larger local consumer base using effective local SEO strategies. These strategies are not only actionable and cost-effective but also promise long-term growth and sustainability in today's rapidly evolving digital marketplace. "Don't Miss Out! Harness the power of local SEO for your architectural firm today. Take the first step on your journey to top rankings and more clients. Click here to find out how!" Start Your Digital Transformation Now! "Did you know that 46% of all Google searches are seeking local information? If you run a Canadian architectural firm and are yet to take advantage of local SEO, you could be missing out on potentially half of your digital audience. With the right Local SEO strategies, your practice can rank higher in search results, leading to more visibility and potential clients."