When it comes to growing a successful small business, simply providing excellent service isn’t enough—customers have to find you first. Our client, a skilled arborist serving the Houston area, discovered this the hard way. Despite their expertise, the lack of an online presence meant potential customers weren’t even aware they existed.
Partnering with LinkNow, they went from zero digital visibility to dominating their local market, proving just how powerful (and necessary) ongoing digital marketing can be.
Here’s how we guided them step-by-step toward lasting success.
Starting from Scratch with Zero Online Presence
When this Houston-based arborist first reached out in 2019, they were essentially invisible online. With no website, no online reviews, and zero digital presence, attracting new customers had become an uphill battle.
They knew potential customers were searching online, but without even a basic website, their competitors consistently got noticed first. The challenge was clear: how could they quickly build trust and visibility online without any prior experience in digital marketing?
Navigating the Complexities of Digital Marketing
Our client specialized in tree care, not digital marketing. Faced with terms like “SEO,” “backlinks,” and “HTTPS,” they understandably felt overwhelmed. They weren’t sure exactly what they needed, nor did they have the time or resources to learn an entirely new set of skills.
What they really needed was a simple, comprehensive solution—a partner who could manage everything and clearly explain the process along the way.
Maintaining Consistent Growth and Visibility
After a promising start with significant improvements in visibility and website traffic, our client believed the hardest work was behind them. Deciding to scale back their marketing investment seemed logical at the time. However, they quickly learned that digital marketing isn’t a “set it and forget it” process.
Without ongoing effort, their online rankings and traffic began to decline, threatening the initial success they’d worked so hard to achieve. Recognizing this, they knew they needed to adjust their approach to ensure consistent, long-term growth.
Establishing a Professional Online Presence
To address our client’s lack of visibility online, we started with our Foundation 20 package—a comprehensive solution designed specifically for small businesses entering the digital space. We created a professional, visually appealing website tailored to their arborist services, complete with professionally written content specifically for arborists.
To further customize their website, they selected the website core addon, which included additional pictures for their gallery, video integrations, and custom content pages to showcase their expertise, personality, and unique value to customers. This instantly established credibility while clearly differentiating them from local competitors.
Simplifying Digital Marketing for Immediate Results
Recognizing that our client felt overwhelmed by technical marketing jargon, we kept things simple. Our team handled all aspects of the initial SEO setup—including citation management (making sure their business information appeared consistently across the web), securing their website with HTTPS to build visitor trust, and acquiring quality backlinks from reputable sites. We provided clear updates and easy-to-understand reports, eliminating confusion and allowing them to focus entirely on their tree care business.
Adapting to Changing Business Needs
When the client initially decided to scale back their marketing investment, we respected their decision, thanks to our flexible, no-contract approach. Later, as their traffic began to dip, we seamlessly helped them upgrade to a more robust marketing plan, boosting their online presence again.
By implementing our Elite 40 plan with a refreshed, targeted SEO strategy, we helped them regain—and eventually surpass—their previous success. This adaptive approach ensured their digital strategy could evolve alongside their business goals.
Immediate Growth in Visibility and Traffic
Almost instantly after launching their new website and implementing our SEO strategy in 2019, our Houston arborist client saw a significant surge in traffic. Within just a few months, they went from zero online visibility to ranking for over 250 keywords in the top 50 positions on Google.
This dramatic improvement meant more potential customers discovering their business, directly translating into increased calls and inquiries.
Learning the Value of Consistent Effort
When our client scaled back their digital marketing efforts, the results were noticeable. Traffic and rankings gradually began to decline through 2020, underscoring the importance of continued investment in SEO.
However, this temporary downturn became an invaluable learning experience, demonstrating clearly that ongoing optimization and regular attention are crucial for sustained digital success.
Dominating Their Market
After returning with an even stronger commitment to digital marketing, our client experienced explosive growth, particularly at the start of 2024. Their online visibility skyrocketed, with their site ranking for over 900 keywords in Google’s top 50 results—more than triple their initial success.
Today, they proudly hold top rankings for highly competitive, valuable search terms such as “arbor tree care” and “Houston arbor care,” firmly establishing themselves as leaders in the local market.
- • Start strong: Investing in a professional website and comprehensive SEO from day one is critical for quick, measurable online success.
- • Continuous effort is essential: Digital marketing isn’t a one-time project. Consistent, ongoing optimization keeps you ahead of the competition.
- • Adaptability matters: Flexible, no-contract services allow businesses to scale their marketing strategies up or down according to their current goals and budget.
- • SEO builds long-term growth: Sustained SEO efforts yield compounding results, significantly boosting visibility and establishing market dominance over time.
- • Trust the experts: Working with a trusted digital marketing partner simplifies the process, letting you focus fully on running and growing your business.
Start Growing Your Business With LinkNow
This Houston arborist’s journey with LinkNow demonstrates the transformative impact of smart, strategic digital marketing. What began as a simple effort to get noticed online evolved into a continuous strategy that propelled their business to the top of search results and ahead of competitors.
With a flexible partner like LinkNow, adapting your approach to match evolving business needs has never been simpler. If you’re ready to start your marketing journey, don’t hesitate to contact us.
