Vancouver SEO Checklist – Your Complete Guide for 2025

Local SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is a crucial strategy for businesses in Vancouver.

Don’t take my word for it; that’s why Vancouver has so many SEO service providers.

A good Local SEO strategy can help increase a business’s visibility in local search results and, in turn, drive more traffic to both physical and online locations. 

I’ve been helping everyone, from startups to SaaS companies to some of the world’s biggest brands, drive more revenue from organic search.

In this article, I’ll provide tailored advice to Vancouver-based business owners so they can effectively implement SEO strategies that work – and I have proof that these strategies work (check out my case study for a local Design-Build company in Vancouver).

Key Takeaways:

✔ Optimize Your Google Business Profile

✔ Create Vancouver-Specific Content

✔ Encourage and Respond to Reviews

✔ Prioritize Local Keywords

✔ Ensure Consistency Across Platforms

✔ Consider Hiring an SEO Specialist

What is Local SEO?

Local SEO is a digital marketing strategy that focuses on optimizing a business’s online presence to attract more customers from relevant local searches. 

These searches take place on Google and other search engines, often with geo-specific queries or intent.

Why is Local SEO Important for Vancouver-Based Businesses?

For every business, including those based in Vancouver, Local SEO is vital because it:

✔ Targets Local Customers

It helps in reaching out to customers in the Vancouver area more effectively.

✔ Increases Visibility

Enhances online presence in local search results, crucial for attracting local traffic.

✔ Boosts Credibility

Local listings and reviews build trust among the local community.

✔ Boosts Online and In-Store Visits

By being more visible, you increase your chances of receiving more traffic, both online and in-person.

✔ Drives Revenue

With increased traffic, you have the ability to drive additional revenue. 

How to Get Started With Local SEO in Vancouver? [Start With Your Business Profile]

1. Claim and Optimize Your Google Business Profile

If you have a physical location, you should register it with Google. They provide businesses with a “Google Business Profile” (GBP).

Claiming and then optimizing your business profile will improve your organization’s visibility across Google Search and Maps. 

Here’s how you can optimize your GBP listing. 

Double-Check Essential Business Information

Make sure all your business details are correct. This includes:

• Name
• Address
• Website URL
• Business Hours
• Business Phone Number 
• Services 

Mistakes to avoid are misspelling your website, using the wrong address, and using a personal phone number instead of a business phone number. 

Choose The Correct Category

Select a category that best describes your business to improve relevance in search results.

This is one of the most important things you can do. Make sure you select the correct category.

Add Attributes

Include attributes that highlight unique aspects of your business.

Attributes include things like “dine in”, “takeout”, “delivery”, “home services”. 

Upload Photos of Your Vancouver Business Location

Visuals enhance engagement and provide authenticity to your business profile.

Google says that businesses that upload photos:

• Get up to 42% more direction requests through Google Maps.
• Generate 35% extra clicks to their website. 

Add Products or Services

List your offerings clearly to inform potential customers.

Did you know you can add products or services and the price? You can also add in-stock or out-of-stock tags. 

Vancouver traffic can be a nightmare, don’t disappoint potential customers by making them drive to your location if your products are out of stock. 

2. Create Vancouver-Specific Content on Your Website

Prioritize Keywords based on Difficulty and Search Volume

Focus on keywords that are most likely to bring local traffic.

For example, “ICBC Lawyer Vancouver” has a volume of 90 and a keyword difficulty of 15. 

However, “accident lawyer” has a volume of 1,000 and a difficulty of 38. 

You’ll likely rank faster for the former query vs the latter. 

Create World-Class Content

Develop content that resonates with your local audience and showcases your expertise.

Google loves to rank and serve high quality content, your users love to read and see high quality content. 

Keep the standards high, and make sure your content is fit to serve its purpose. 

3. Conduct Local Keyword Research

You can leverage keyword research tools such as Ahrefs, SEMRush, and Low Fruits to do local research. 

For example, here, look at the searches related to “Cactus Club”. From the search volumes, you’re able to see what the highest searched keywords are related to “Cactus Club”. 

Take A Look At What Other Vancouver Companies Are Doing

Analyze competitors to understand the local SEO landscape. 

The search results for “Vancouver Canucks” are very competitive. A small business likely will not rank against a big sports store.

However, the search results for “canucks merchandise” are much less competitive, and a small business has a much higher chance of ranking.

4. Optimize Your Website for Local Search

Ensure your website is user-friendly and relevant to the Vancouver audience. Here are a few things you need to consider. 

Use SEO-Friendly URLs

Create clear and concise URLs that include local keywords. 

For example, when you visit the Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival website, you know that the content is targeted at Vancouver locals. 

One tip is to create URLs with sub-locations in them, for example, if you’re a local realtor, you might want a page that targets /south-vancouver-houses-for-sale/ 

This type of URL will let you capture more specific searches. 

Optimize title Tags and Meta Descriptions

Incorporate local keywords in these elements for better search engine visibility.

Users are more likely to click on title tags that have been optimized for local queries. 

If you’re looking for Mexican Restaurants in Vancouver, what would you click on?

A title tag that mentions “Vancouver” or a title tag that mentions “Canada”? 

Use Header Tags Effectively

Organize content with header tags (H1, H2, etc.) for better readability and SEO. Header tags are used to structure content on a website. 

Use Proper Internal Linking

Link to relevant pages within your website to enhance user experience and SEO. 

Internal linking is vital as it helps Googlebot and users find your pages.

When internal linking, don’t use terms like “click here”; make sure that your anchor text is descriptive. 

5. Ensure Your NAP Citations In Vancouver are Accurate and Consistent

NAP doesn’t mean going to sleep.

It means Business name, address, and phone number. 

Maintain uniformity in your business’s NAP across all online platforms.

NAP citations appear in Vancouver business directories, Google Business Profile, social media profiles, and on your website. 

6. Manage Your Vancouver Based Reviews

Reviews are extremely important. Here’s some stats to prove what I’m saying: 

Let’s use “sushi Vancouver” as an example. 

• The number 1 listing for “Sushi Vancouver” has 6,608 reviews, with an average score of 4.5
• The next 10 listings have an average of 884 reviews each, with an average score of 4.5. 

You want to make sure that your customers leave good quality reviews, and you want to ensure that you engage with those reviews. 

So the way you’ll manage your reviews is by:

#1 Asking Your Customers To Leave Reviews

Encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews.

#2 Responding To Google Reviews

Engage with reviewers to show that you value customer feedback.

The other rule to remember is not to discount other places your business is listed – Google isn’t the only point of traffic. Think of Yelp (yes, Yelp), Bing, ChatGPT, Perplixity and more.

Local SEO in Vancouver: When To Bring In The Experts

There was a lot to consider in this article – the fact is that you’ll need to invest in your organic presence. 

Rankings, traffic, and sales won’t just come overnight. 

An SEO expert, consultant, or agency can help your business grow, but how do you know it’s time to bring in a specialist? 

Here are some general thoughts – I promise this is not a sales pitch.

#1 Your website isn’t driving traffic:

Your first goal was building a website and just getting it up and running, however for it to provide value you’ll need to focus on SEO and boosting your organic presence. 

#2 You have the budget to invest in SEO:

$99 a month SEO won’t cut it.

Cheap services = cheap results. In SEO, you really get what you pay for. 

A basic local SEO package costs around $500 a month, you should only invest in SEO if you have the funds to do so. You don’t have to go all out at once; SEO is about incremental growth. 

#3 Your team has no time 

SEO can be time-consuming; if your human resources are already stretched thin, you know it’s time to hire an expert.

#4 You lack the knowledge 

SEO can be tricky. If you don’t know how to handle SEO on its own, then it’s recommended that you use a professional.

SEO can be a make or break for many businesses. 

How To Hire An SEO Professional In Vancouver

If you’ve decided to work with an SEO specialist, then you need to follow a few steps to get the most out of your engagement. 

In my opinion, the three of the biggest are: 

#1 Identifying your aims and objectives:

There’s no point in hiring an SEO professional if you expect results overnight.

In the early days of your engagement, you should expect to see progress, but this might not be in the form of leads or revenue right away. Progress includes making technical fixes, and aligning content with your audience’s needs. 

#2 Determining your budget:

As I said before, this is important. Different services cost different amounts, example you can’t expect to be featured in Forbes if you’re paying $250 a month in SEO. 

#3 Deciding between a freelancer, consultant, or agency:

A freelancer or consultant might be more affordable, but an agency might have more resources. A consultant might be more value for money, but an agency might have a bigger network. 

For many, this is the biggest question – do they hire an individual or go with an agency?

Local SEO is Your Route To More Sales In Vancouver

Get it right, and local SEO can be the equivalent of a winning Lotto Max ticket. 

I believe implementing effective Local SEO strategies is essential for every business in Vancouver. 

You can attract more customers through proper local SEO, which means more revenue. 

If you think SEO is for you, then get in touch with us today!