Struggling to get found online? You’re not alone. In this blog, you’ll discover how to increase local business visibility using smart SEO strategies, Google Business Profile optimization, and real-world examples from marketing experts. Whether you’re new to local SEO or ready to level up, this guide breaks down what actually works—and how to get started.
About This Huddle’s Special Guest
Zhe Scott, The SEO Queen, is a visionary entrepreneur, MIT graduate, and founder of The SEO Queen Digital Marketing Agency, where she helps businesses get more clients and revenue through effective and ethical search engine optimization. With a passion for data and a gift for storytelling, Zhe blends her background in engineering with a strategic marketing mindset to help clients across industries—from local service providers and e-commerce brands to global creatives and estate managers—grow their visibility online.
Known for her personalized approach and deep technical expertise, Zhe has optimized thousands of websites, helped clients land national press features, and spoken at major conferences about the power of digital presence. She specializes in organic SEO, on-page optimization, local visibility, and vertical search strategies across platforms like Google, YouTube, Instagram, and even Amazon.
Her clients call her “The SEO Queen” because she doesn’t just drive traffic—she delivers growth with measurable results. She is also a published author, podcast host, and advocate for minority- and women-owned businesses. Whether speaking on stage, consulting with enterprises, or mentoring entrepreneurs, Zhe Scott brings clarity, confidence, and proven strategy to every conversation.
You can connect with her at seoqueen.com or follow her thought leadership across social media and industry platforms.
Why Local Business Visibility Is More Important Than Ever
In 2025, consumers aren’t just searching on Google anymore. They’re asking Alexa for recommendations, using AI tools like ChatGPT to research services, and discovering businesses on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. If your business isn’t visible across these channels, you’re losing customers daily. According to research, 46% of all Google searches are for local businesses. Even more compelling, 88% of those who search on mobile call or visit a business within 24 hours.
And yet, many small business owners feel invisible.
The digital landscape has shifted. Visibility is no longer about being on Google—it’s about being found everywhere your customers look. That includes voice assistants, AI search, business directories, social media platforms, and review sites
Meet Zhe Scott, the SEO Queen
One expert who’s mastered the art of multi-channel visibility is Zhe Scott, founder of The SEO Queen. A graduate of MIT, Zhe helps small businesses build scalable SEO systems that generate consistent traffic, leads, and revenue.
She specializes in optimizing content for Google, Amazon, YouTube, Instagram, and emerging AI platforms. Her clients include authors, contractors, and estate managers—all of whom struggled with visibility until she stepped in with her data-driven, customer-first SEO strategies.
Zhe doesn’t believe in short-term tricks. She believes in powerful long-term growth built on three pillars: content, authority, and trust.
A Real-World Case Study: Bringing Back the Legacy of Ntozake Shange
Zhe was approached by the estate of Ntozake Shange, the celebrated poet and playwright behind For Colored Girls…. Despite the cultural significance, her website was not ranking for her name or related keywords. Zhe restructured the site architecture, added schema markup, optimized on-page SEO, and refreshed outdated content.
Within weeks, organic traffic surged. More importantly, her content began showing up in Google’s knowledge graph and AI assistants began surfacing her work.
This wasn’t magic. It was SEO done right.
Why Your Google Business Profile Matters
Your Google Business Profile (GBP) is the most powerful free tool to improve local business visibility. Yet most small businesses either don’t claim it, don’t optimize it, or don’t maintain it.
Key reasons to optimize your GBP:
- Businesses with complete profiles are 2.7x more likely to be considered reputable.
- GBP listings appear in the “Local Pack” at the top of search results.
- Reviews, photos, and posts directly impact your visibility.
- Google rewards consistency and fresh updates.
Simply Be Found’s Google Business Profile Boost service helps busy owners manage their listings with:
- Weekly SEO-optimized posts
- Keyword updates and profile audits
- Review and Q&A management
- Performance reports tracking calls, clicks, and direction requests
Your Website Is the Trunk of Your Marketing Tree
Dean and Rob from Simply Be Found use the analogy of a tree to explain digital marketing:
- Roots: Your listings and citations across 1,000+ directories (powered by the Listings Engine)
- Trunk: Your website—the central hub of your brand and SEO
- Branches: Social media, email, video content, and ads
If your trunk is weak (outdated website, no blog, slow loading), your branches can’t deliver results. Make sure your website:
- Has schema markup (local business, FAQ, service schema)
- Uses clean permalinks (avoid dates in URLs)
- Includes fresh content updated monthly
- Features trust signals like reviews, badges, and a clear call to action
How to Build a Multi-Platform Visibility Strategy
1. Create Weekly Content Based on Real Questions
Record short videos after client calls or jobs. Turn the transcript into a:
- Blog post
- Google Business Profile post
- Instagram Reel
- YouTube Short
2. Claim & Optimize Listings Across Platforms
Use the Listings Engine to distribute accurate business info across 1,000+ platforms, including voice assistants, Apple Maps, Yelp, and Bing.
3. Update Website Content Monthly
Add new blogs, update service pages, refresh your homepage content, and update image alt tags. Google favors websites with ongoing changes.
4. Monitor Reviews and Reputation
Respond to every review within 48 hours. Ask satisfied customers to leave reviews. Include Q&A content in your GBP to proactively answer common concerns.
5. Analyze and Adapt
Use performance dashboards to track calls, form submissions, keyword rankings, and top content. Refine your strategy based on what works.
Don’t Fall for Cheap SEO Tricks
Zhe cautions against Fiverr audits and template-based keyword reports that promise traffic but deliver nothing. “Many SEO vendors use keywords with zero traffic. It’s not about looking good on paper—it’s about being found by real people,” she explains.
Cheap SEO often leads to:
- No ROI
- Poor quality backlinks
- Penalized content
Instead, work with a trusted system like Simply Be Found that uses real data, ethical practices, and long-term strategy.
The Future Is Voice, AI, and Mobile
Dean, Rob, and Zhe agree that search is evolving fast:
- Voice search is growing rapidly but has no easy tracking mechanism
- AI tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity are referencing structured data (like schema)
- Mobile and in-app search (Apple Maps, Instagram Tags, TikTok Maps) are exploding
To stay visible, your business needs:
- Social proof across platforms
- Accurate listings
- Fresh content
- Schema and structured data
5 Weekly Tasks to Grow Your Local Visibility
1. Record and Publish a Short Client-Facing Video
Think about the questions your customers ask you most often. Each week, take 5–10 minutes to record a short video answering one of those questions. You can film it right after a service call, product demo, or consultation. Use your smartphone—authenticity matters more than production. Then, transcribe it using a tool like Otter.ai or ChatGPT, and repurpose it into:
- A blog post for your website
- A short-form video on social media (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook)
- A YouTube Short or Google Business Profile update
2. Post to Your Google Business Profile (GBP)
Google rewards activity and freshness. Use the video or blog content you just created and turn it into a weekly GBP post. Include a high-quality image, a call-to-action (e.g., “Call Now” or “Learn More”), and relevant keywords. Weekly posts keep your profile active, engage potential customers, and improve your chances of appearing in the Google Local Pack.
3. Share on Instagram or Facebook With Geo Tags
When you share content on social media, add geo tags that pinpoint your city or service area. Geo tags help local customers discover your content and strengthen your local visibility signals across platforms. Use 3–5 local hashtags (like #DenverPlumber or #DowntownBakery) along with niche-relevant ones to attract both local and interest-based traffic.
4. Respond to Reviews and Manage Q&A
Local SEO isn’t just about content—it’s about engagement. Take time each week to:
- Respond to all new reviews on your GBP, Yelp, and Facebook
- Answer any new questions in your GBP’s Q&A section
- Politely request reviews from recent satisfied clients This not only builds trust with prospective customers but also shows Google that your profile is active and trustworthy.
5. Add One New Piece of Content to Your Website or Blog
Google loves fresh content. Use your video transcript, a case study, or a customer testimonial to write a blog post, a new FAQ page, or update an existing service page. Focus on long-tail keywords and natural language. Adding even 300–500 words of useful content each week can significantly impact your visibility over time.
Ready to Get Found Everywhere?
Getting found online is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. Every day, your competitors are working to secure their place in search results, build trust through reviews, and engage with your shared audience across platforms. The good news? You don’t have to play catch-up. With the right tools and consistent action, you can leap ahead.
Let’s take the guesswork out of SEO and local visibility. Let’s put your business in front of the right people at the right time—every time.
Here’s how to get started:
- ✅ Google Business Profile Boost: Drive more traffic and engagement from local searches.
- ✅ Listings Engine: Get your business listed consistently on 1,000+ directories.
- ✅ Contact Us: Book a visibility audit or marketing strategy session with our team.
Because your next lead, sale, and lifelong customer is just one search away. Let’s make sure they find YOU.
Transcript
- 00:00 | Introduction: Meet The SEO Queen, Zhelinrentice Scott
- 00:34 | How The SEO Queen Helps Businesses Get Found
- 01:31 | The Power of Being Visible on All Platforms
- 02:17 | Why Quality Content Beats AI Spam
- 03:10 | Secrets to Vertical Search (Images, Video & News)
- 04:05 | How Z Uses PR to Drive SEO Results
- 06:00 | Insider Tips: Getting Featured in Media Outlets
- 08:00 | Website SEO Mistakes That Tank Rankings
- 09:04 | How to Structure WordPress URLs for Evergreen Content
- 10:36 | Blogging for Authority and SEO Longevity
- 12:00 | The Math Behind Keywords per Page
- 13:55 | Data-Driven SEO: Setting Clear Content Goals
- 15:00 | Don’t Change Your Domain Without This
- 17:22 | The Risks of Cheap Fiverr SEO
- 18:30 | Understanding Real SEO vs Vanity Reports
- 19:47 | Building SEO Foundations for Long-Term Growth
- 21:00 | The SEO Tree Method: Roots, Trunk & Canopy
- 22:45 | Why Mobile-Ready Sites Are Critical
- 24:30 | How Email Strategy Powers Long-Term Results
- 26:15 | Automation Tools Z Recommends for Funnels
- 27:55 | What’s Still Working in SEO in 2024
- 28:30 | Top Search Traffic Sources Today
- 30:00 | Tracking AI & Voice Search in Your Strategy
- 31:05 | Why Keyword Audits Still Matter
- 32:10 | Schema Tips: Local Business, FAQ, and More
- 33:30 | How Yoast Helps Simplify Schema Setup
- 35:10 | Why Citation Consistency Is Key
- 36:50 | Behind the Scenes of Simply Be Found’s Listings Engine
- 39:00 | How AI Helps Build Citations Automatically
- 40:20 | Social Media’s Growing Role in SEO
- 41:40 | Why Social Signals Are Ranking Factors
- 43:00 | Final Thoughts & Where to Find The SEO Queen
00:00 | Introduction: Meet The SEO Queen, Zhelinrentice Scott
Dean: “Welcome to Simply Be Found, where we talk about business, marketing, and getting your business found.”
Rob: “Today we’ve got a special guest—Zhelinrentice Scott, also known as The SEO Queen. Did I say your name right, Z?”
Zhe: “Yes, you did!”
Dean: “Good, because I second-guessed myself.”
Rob: “Z brings a ton of SEO knowledge. She’s an MIT grad and does everything SEO.”
Dean: “Tell us more—where can people find you and what’s your focus?”
Zhe: “I’m the founder of The SEO Queen. We help businesses get found online and get more customers, clients, and revenue using effective SEO strategies—on Google, Amazon, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter—anywhere digital content lives.”
00:34 | How The SEO Queen Helps Businesses Get Found
Rob: “You’re not an agency partner with us yet, right?”
Zhe: “Nope, not yet!”
Dean: “I knew it—I was second-guessing myself. But that day’s gonna come when someone sneaks up on us and says they already use you.”
Zhe: “I’d be honored!”
She goes on to explain how visibility across platforms is what drives traffic. Zhe: “When your business shows up on Google, YouTube, Instagram, and even Amazon, that’s when the magic happens.”
01:31 | The Power of Being Visible on All Platforms
Rob: “So what changes are you seeing in SEO right now?”
Zhe: “Companies that are visible everywhere are the ones winning. Basics still work, but now, consistency is king.”
Dean: “I agree, but I’d add quality, too. It’s not just blasting out AI content.”
Zhe: “Absolutely. Google wants expert content—not spam.”
02:17 | Why Quality Content Beats AI Spam
Zhe: “I tell my clients: those conversations you’re having daily? That’s content. Record a video after a job. Use the transcript to create SEO content.”
Rob: “Right, those moments are gold. And they don’t get shared nearly enough. They’re what people are searching for.
03:10 | Secrets to Vertical Search (Images, Video & News)
Zhe: “You can’t just focus on web results. Optimize your images, videos, and be present on YouTube. It’s a game changer.”
Rob: “And don’t forget news results. People miss the power of getting into media placements—but it’s huge for authority and rankings.”
04:05 | How Z Uses PR to Drive SEO Results
Zhe: “Digital PR is about knowing where your ideal clients are and showing up there. I’ve been featured in Black Enterprise and EURweb because that’s where my audience is.”
Rob: “That’s a great strategy. Most people overlook those channels entirely.”
06:00 | Insider Tips: Getting Featured in Media Outlets
Zhe: “Help a Reporter Out is back! That’s how I landed my first big feature with Carol Roth.”
Rob: “Really? That platform was a goldmine back in the day. Still using it like the old email lists?”
Zhe: “Exactly—simple and still super effective.”
08:00 | Website SEO Mistakes That Tank Rankings
Zhe: “One huge issue—businesses using Shopify’s subdomain. You’ve got to set up your own custom domain or you’re hurting your visibility.”
Rob: “It’s crazy how often that one mistake holds back great businesses.”
09:04 | How to Structure WordPress URLs for Evergreen Content
Zhe: “Take the date out of your permalinks. You want content that can be updated and still rank.”
Rob: “Exactly. I prefer using the ‘last modified’ date inside the post, not in the URL.
10:36 | Blogging for Authority and SEO Longevity
Zhe: “Blog posts last longer than social content and help you rank on Google. I’ve hit page one just by blogging what I talk about with clients.”
Rob: “Most people never go back and update blogs, which is a huge missed opportunity.”
12:00 | The Math Behind Keywords per Page
Zhe: “The more content you have, the more money you’ll make—if it’s good and relevant.”
She explains how websites with more indexed pages rank for more keywords.
Zhe: “I’m seeing five to ten keywords per page. If you only have five pages, that’s just not enough to grow.”
Rob: “I’ve been seeing around eight keywords per page too. That lines up.”
13:55 | Data-Driven SEO: Setting Clear Content Goals
Zhe: “When business owners tell me their goals, I do the math. We need X amount of keywords and pages to support that.”
She explains pulling regional keyword data to set measurable goals.
Zhe: “It’s about consistency with quality content—there’s a formula to it.”
15:00 | Don’t Change Your Domain Without This
Dean: “So, are you saying we should go buy a new domain if it’s not working?”
Zhe: “No, no, no! Don’t go changing your domain like that. It can tank your traffic overnight.”
She shares a story about a client who switched domains without telling her—and saw all traffic drop.
17:22 | The Risks of Cheap Fiverr SEO
Zhe: “One of my clients went on Fiverr and came back with a list of keywords—none of them had traffic!”
She warns against cheap SEO consultations.
Rob: “Some agencies give these reports just to scare people into spending more.”
They laugh about the flood of misinformation from low-cost services.
18:30 | Understanding Real SEO vs Vanity Reports
Zhe: “A lot of SEO people learn from blogs but don’t understand data.”
Rob: “And then they give these fancy-looking reports that mean nothing.”
They agree that real SEO success comes from data, not fluff, and that many small businesses can’t tell the difference between true value and vanity metrics.
19:47 | Building SEO Foundations for Long-Term Growth
Zhe: “You’ve got to build a solid foundation. Know your audience, understand their pain points, then create content around that.”
She shares how she guides businesses to index content on Google first, then boost it through backlinks, social shares, and media coverage.
21:00 | The SEO Tree Method: Roots, Trunk & Canopy
Rob: “Think of your marketing like a tree. The roots are your listings, the trunk is your website, and the branches are social, email, and everything else.”
Zhe: “Exactly. If your trunk is weak, your branches won’t support much. You need a healthy foundation to grow visibility across channels.”
22:45 | Why Mobile-Ready Sites Are Critical
Zhe: “Most of my traffic is desktop—but for my clients, it’s mobile. Mobile responsiveness can make or break your SEO.”
Rob: “Ours is almost 50/50. It really depends on the audience, but mobile optimization is no longer optional.”
24:30 | How Email Strategy Powers Long-Term Results
Zhe: “Email is critical. If someone gives you their email, they’re opening a door. You need to walk through it.”
Dean: “Emails are gold. I’m still on clients about collecting and using them.”
Zhe: “If you build a solid email funnel and nurture those contacts, it can yield incredible long-term returns.”
26:15 | Automation Tools Z Recommends for Funnels
Rob: “Are you using WordPress for email automation?”
Zhe: “I don’t have automation connected daily, but I do have a funnel with a drip campaign.”
Rob: “We use Groundhog.io—it keeps everything in WordPress and you own your data.”
27:55 | What’s Still Working in SEO in 2024
Zhe: “Content still works. So do backlinks, social proof, citations. But you need the right structure and consistency.”
Rob: “Most people just stop too soon. Keep pushing forward and your strategy will pay off.”
28:30 | Top Search Traffic Sources Today
Rob: “Right now, I’m seeing most traffic coming from YouTube, then Google, then AI and Bing.”
Zhe: “Same here. People still search constantly, and being present in multiple ecosystems is key.”
30:00 | Tracking AI & Voice Search in Your Strategy
Rob: “There’s no perfect tracking for AI and voice yet, but you can see traffic when people click through from it.”
Zhe: “Exactly. Don’t obsess over attribution. Focus on brand reach and bottom-line growth.”
31:05 | Why Keyword Audits Still Matter
Zhe: “The way people talk about products changes. If you see traffic stalling, revisit your keywords.”
Rob: “Search trends evolve fast—regular audits keep your content aligned with what people are actually searching.”
32:10 | Schema Tips: Local Business, FAQ, and More
Zhe: “Schema is powerful—especially FAQ and local business schema. It makes your content machine-readable and increases visibility.”
33:30 | How Yoast Helps Simplify Schema Setup
Rob: “We use Yoast a lot. Just make sure you go deep and configure it for local business.”
Zhe: “I do the same. It’s effective even if your site doesn’t go as deep as recipes or e-commerce.”
35:10 | Why Citation Consistency Is Key
Zhe: “If your listings don’t match, your visibility suffers. Tools like Yext or others often fall short.”
Rob: “We built our own listing engine to solve this—over 1,000 directories.”
36:50 | Behind the Scenes of Simply Be Found’s Listings Engine
Rob: “We manage over 70,000 locations. Our engine pushes your info out organically—no pay-to-play stuff that disappears when you cancel.”
Zhe: “That’s smart. Most systems are too complicated or don’t let the data catch up before changing things again.”
39:00 | How AI Helps Build Citations Automatically
Rob: “Our AI crawls for matches and builds new citations over time. It’s a slow but powerful build.”
Zhe: “That’s the future—plug it in once, and let it grow naturally without needing manual maintenance.”
40:20 | Social Media’s Growing Role in SEO
Rob: “Facebook’s algorithm shifts mean social signals matter more again.”
Zhe: “Absolutely. No social presence means you’ll likely see traffic drops—Google sees it all.
41:40 | Why Social Signals Are Ranking Factors
Zhe: “It’s all data points. If your content is being shared and discussed, search engines trust it more.”
Rob: “They’re looking for activity and confirmation—signals of trust.”
43:00 | Final Thoughts & Where to Find The SEO Queen
Rob: “Z, how can people reach you if they want to work with you?”
Zhe: “You can email me at zhe@seoqueen.com or visit seoqueen.com to hop on my calendar.”
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About This Huddle’s Special Guest
