From Invisible to #1: First-Year SEO Turnaround for a Calgary Garage Interiors Company

+88%

Monthly organic traffic increase from Google alone.

+260

Additional keywords ranking on Google search.

10/10

All 10 most valuable keywords ranking #1.

Client Introduction

This Calgary garage interiors company had been in business for decades with a reputation for craftsmanship, customer service, and a beautiful showroom. They had even appeared on local TV renovation shows and had a library of photos and video testimonials from happy clients.

But despite their history and reputation, their digital presence didn’t reflect who they really were. Most new work was still coming from referrals, and in December 2021 their website averaged just ~368 monthly Google organic clicks and ranked for only ~440 keywords. They knew they were leaving opportunities on the table online — and that’s when they turned to Mindset Media.

Challenges

Paid ads were running without clear ROI.
Two uncoordinated Facebook pages and a dormant Instagram.
No YouTube channel, despite having valuable video clips.
GBP under-optimized: few posts, limited photos, outdated information.
Technical SEO issues: broken links, missing alt tags, poor heading structure.
Competitors outranking them on high-intent local keywords.
Security concerns: the client had past issues with a vendor mishandling data, so part of onboarding included building trust and ensuring system security.

What We Did (First 12 Months)

1) Strategy & Research

Ran in-depth keyword research validated through a workshop with the client’s team — blending software insights with their deep industry knowledge.
Conducted a full website audit to uncover technical gaps and opportunities.
Reviewed their video library and discussed previous marketing campaigns.
Built rapport and trust by addressing data privacy concerns and outlining secure systems.

2) Technical & On-Site SEO

Fixed broken links, optimized alt tags, corrected heading structures, refreshed meta data, and re-indexed pages.
Optimized service pages first, followed by product pages.
Improved site speed and implemented structured data (schema).

3) Content & Authority

Established a monthly blog cadence on high-intent topics.
Began backlink outreach, increasing referring domains from 34 → 52 in the first year — a 53% gain that strengthened authority.

4) Local SEO & GBP

Overhauled categories, services, and hours.
Uploaded new showroom photos and video clips.
Replied to reviews and began weekly Google Business Profile posts.
Built location landing pages targeting surrounding communities.

5) Social Media & Content Systems

Consolidated accounts; took ownership of Instagram, and ensured 3 posts/week with consistent stories and highlights.
Attended expo events to capture and tag timely content.
Developed a job-site content system: installers now take photos/videos of each installation, label them with job details and materials, and upload to a shared group chat. This provided a steady flow of authentic content for reels and posts.
Personally visited install sites to capture behind-the-scenes clips for reels.

6) Partnership & Governance

Held weekly in-person meetings to review results, plan strategy, and collaborate on ideas.
Sat in on vendor pitches, ensuring the client’s marketing stayed aligned.
Became their trusted advisor, integrating seamlessly into their team.

Results After 1 Year

Within 12 months, the client saw a measurable turnaround:

Traffic Growth: Monthly Google organic clicks grew from ~368 → 692, an 88% increase in year one.
Keyword Breadth: Rankings expanded from ~440 terms in the first month → 700 terms by year’s end.
Rankings: 10 priority keywords jumped from not ranking (some buried in the 80s/90s) to #1 on Google, where they remain.
Referring Domains: Backlink outreach and content promotion increased referring domains from 34 → 52 — a 53% gain in the first year, strengthening site authority and supporting rankings.
Client-Reported Performance: The company’s president noted an 88% month-over-month improvement in performance during the first year.
Visibility & Content Impact: GBP revitalized with weekly posts, authentic media, and accurate services; consistent blogs and reels created a steady stream of local content.

Client Review

“Mindset Media has been providing excellent online marketing support. We have weekly face-to-face meetings focused on digital performance, plans, and strategies. Since working with Julian, our online performance has improved significantly — our organic search results increased by 88% on a month-over-month basis — and our social presence has grown across platforms.”

- President, Calgary garage interiors company

Conclusion

By focusing on foundational SEO, local visibility, and consistent content, Mindset Media transformed this company’s online presence in just one year. Their showroom, reputation, and client experience were finally reflected in their digital footprint — fuelling steady growth and trust.

And the relationship didn’t stop there. We’ve now been working together for several years, rolling out new systems and continuing to make gains — all without relying on paid ads or even email newsletters. Over time, our strategy evolved: in later years, we refined the focus from chasing sheer traffic numbers to targeting the highest-quality, conversion-ready keywords. The results have come from sustainable strategies built on SEO, GBP optimization, and content systems that compound over time.

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Long-Term Impact

While this case study highlights the first 12 months, growth has continued to compound:

Dec 2021 → Dec 2022: 368 → 692 monthly Google organic clicks (+88%)
Dec 2022 → Dec 2023: 692 → 1,240 monthly Google organic clicks (+79%)
Two-Year Result: More than 3.3× growth since the engagement began
Four-Year Result: Owner reported 5x revenue growth since we started.

Independent tools like Ahrefs confirm this trajectory, showing organic traffic rising from ~350 in late 2021 to peaks above 1,200 by early 2025.

In 2024, we intentionally shifted strategy: rather than chasing more and more keywords, we refined the focus to target higher-quality, conversion-ready terms. This meant traffic numbers levelled off somewhat, but the leads became better aligned with the client’s ideal projects — showing that SEO success isn’t just about volume, but about the right visibility.