You’ve got a good-looking website. You offer solid services. Maybe you’ve even hired someone to “do SEO.”
But weeks go by…
And you’re still buried on page 5 of Google.
To be honest, we see this every day. Especially here in Calgary, where local businesses are trying hard to rank, but keep making the same SEO mistakes.
After helping dozens of businesses improve their rankings, here’s what we’ve learned:
Most of them lose the SEO game before it even starts.
Let’s break down where things go wrong (and what to do instead).
1. They Only Think About Keywords—Not Intent
Yes, keywords matter. But, remember – Google ranks intent, not just words.
We saw a Calgary landscaping company trying to rank for “best lawn care.” But they used that phrase everywhere. On blogs, on their homepage, in their title tags.
So what’s the problem?
People searching “best lawn care” might be looking for DIY tips, product reviews, or even lawn mowers, but not a service provider.
Meanwhile, crucial terms were being ignored. Such as:
- “landscaping companies in Calgary”
- “lawn maintenance near me”
- “book weekly lawn cutting Calgary”
These have buying intent. Big difference.
2. Homepage = SEO Dumping Ground
Too many websites try to rank for 10 different services on the homepage. We saw one site with this in the title tag:
“Plumber | AC Repair | Electrical | Roofing | Painting – Calgary”
That’s a red flag.
Google doesn’t know what you’re about. Neither does your visitor.
So, what works better?
One page per service. Optimized separately. Your homepage should build trust, not carry the weight of all rankings.
3. No Local SEO Basics
You’re a Calgary business. But your site doesn’t mention Calgary enough, or at all.
Here’s what’s usually missing:
- No Google Business Profile (or a poor one)
- No local service pages (like “Drywall Repair in Calgary NE”)
- No city-specific content
- No local backlinks (from directories or local blogs)
You can’t expect to rank locally if Google doesn’t even know where you are. That’s like trying to play in a hockey match without lacing up your skates
4. Slow Sites and Mobile Nightmares
This one’s not even “SEO”—it’s just user experience. But Google really cares about it.
One site we reviewed took 12 seconds to load on mobile. That’s a full eternity online.
Another had buttons overlapping text, and images that wouldn’t load on smaller screens.
Fast, clean, and mobile-friendly = higher rankings and better conversions.
Use free tools like:
- pagespeed.web.dev
- search.google.com/test/mobile-friendly
…and fix the issues they flag.
5. No One’s Updating the Site
SEO is not “set it and forget it.” But many Calgary businesses still think posting one blog in 2022 means they’re active.
Here’s a better plan:
- Post 2 blogs/month answering local search questions (e.g. “How much does window cleaning cost in Calgary?”)
- Add new case studies, service areas, testimonials
- Regularly update pages as services change
Google notices when a site is alive. So does your audience.
So, What’s the Fix?
SEO is a long game, but only if you’re playing the right game.
At Digital Monk Marketing, we help local businesses:
⮞ Build a smart SEO foundation
⮞ Target real customer intent
⮞ Optimize for local rankings
⮞ Improve performance and trust
Want us to take a look at your site’s SEO?
No jargon, no hard pitch, no complicated datasets. Just honest feedback and a game plan to improve.
