In today’s LinkNow Case Study, we’ll be taking a look at a janitorial company in Hawaii that came to us in need of a digital rescue mission. With a lackluster, outdated website and no marketing budget at all, this business was floundering. In one of the most competitive markets for commercial cleaning, they were invisible.
Fast-forward one year, and that same business is dominating page one for some of the most competitive keywords in their niche. How’d we do it? Smart strategy, relentless SEO, and a focus on building trust.
Here’s how we took them from digital obscurity to the top of Google.
No Digital Footprint To Build From
When this Honolulu-based janitorial company first approached us in late 2023, their online footprint was virtually nonexistent. No web presence. No rankings. No clear way for potential customers to find them online—even if they were actively searching.
In today’s market, that’s like showing up to a job interview without a resume. Great service doesn’t mean much if no one can find it, and they were missing the digital foundation required to compete in a search-driven world.
A Highly Competitive Local Market
Honolulu is more than a tourist hotspot—it’s a bustling city full of office buildings, banks, retail centers, and restaurants that all need professional cleaning services. That means the competition is fierce when it comes to commercial janitorial work.
Long-standing local brands dominate the scene, and new companies face an uphill climb. To make an impact, this client needed a strategy that could earn them visibility in a market where trust and reputation mean everything.
A Service Industry Built on Trust
Unlike impulse-buy products, commercial cleaning contracts are built on trust, consistency, and reputation. Potential clients will often compare testimonials, track records, and brand credibility.
With no reviews, no Google Business presence, and no easy way for happy customers to share their experiences, this janitorial company was missing a crucial piece of the puzzle: social proof. Without it, winning new business—especially from larger facilities—would be next to impossible.
Lay the Groundwork With a Professional Website
Before anything else, the client needed a strong digital foundation—a place to direct traffic and showcase their services. We started with one of our Ready to Go Websites, which gave them a polished, mobile-optimized site that worked as their digital business card.
Not only did the site clearly explain what they do and who they serve, it also came with built-in HTTPS security and professionally written content tailored to the local market. Within weeks, search engines started paying attention.
Build Momentum With SEO and Marketing
Once the website was live, the next step would be boosting visibility through proven SEO and marketing tactics. After about six months of steady growth, the client upgraded to our Foundation 900 Full Service Plan, which proved to be a real game-changer.
This plan gave them over 900 high-quality backlinks, detailed citation building, and local SEO enhancements. We focused on the exact services they wanted to promote—like gym, bank, and retail cleaning—and made sure those keywords were supported with structured metadata, smart page layouts, and location-rich content.
Earn Trust With Real Testimonials
Trust is the currency of service-based businesses, and we helped the client start earning it. With access to LinkNow’s Custom Review Generation Tool, it became easy to reach out to satisfied customers for honest feedback.
Those glowing reviews boosted their credibility while also improving their local SEO, instilling confidence in future clients, and helping the brand stand out from longer-established competitors. It was the kind of organic growth that money alone can’t buy, but smart strategy can spark.
From Invisible to Highly Visible
In just over a year, this janitorial company went from zero visibility to over 1,200 keywords ranking in Google’s top 50 results. This means they’re now showing up when potential clients search for commercial cleaning services in their area.
Even better? Many of those keywords aren’t just appearing in searches—they’re outranking the competition.
Dominating Local Search for Competitive Terms
Thanks to the combination of high-authority backlinks, local citations, and on-page optimization, the company now holds #1 rankings for highly competitive, high-converting keywords, “Honolulu bank cleaning,” “shopping center cleaning Honolulu,” and “Honolulu gym cleaning.”
These are high-value keywords tied directly to commercial contracts, which means their visibility is translating into real opportunities, not just vanity metrics.
A Reputation That Works Around the Clock
With their new site, fresh reviews, and strong search rankings, the client now has the credibility needed to win over new customers in a trust-based industry. Their online presence works 24/7—answering questions, showcasing services, and making it easy for prospects to take the next step.
Instead of missing out on digital traffic, they’re now turning those clicks into calls and contracts.
- •You don’t need to start big, but you do need to start: Even without an existing online presence, this janitorial company began seeing results by launching a professional website built for SEO.
- •Consistency and upgrades lead to momentum: Starting with a strong foundation and later scaling up to full-service SEO created long-term growth, not just short-term wins.
- •Backlinks and citations still matter: Quality backlinks and accurate local listings played a major role in helping this client compete in a crowded market.
- •Trust is earned and reviews make it visible: Using our review generation tool turned client satisfaction into public proof, building the credibility needed to stand out.
- •With the right strategy, small businesses can beat big names: By focusing on search visibility, reputation, and local relevance, this client is now outranking larger, more established competitors.
Ready To Write Your Own Success Story?
This Honolulu janitorial company didn’t have a flashy brand or a big marketing budget, but with the right website, smart SEO, and a strategy built on trust, they climbed to the top of local search and started landing real contracts from real clients.
That’s the power of a strong digital foundation—and it’s exactly what we do at LinkNow.
If your business is ready to stop being invisible and start getting found, we’re here to help. Whether you’re starting from scratch or looking to level up, our web design and marketing solutions are built to drive results.
Contact us today to learn how we can help you dominate your local market.
