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How Calgary Businesses Can Rank Higher in Local Search Results
- Priya Gupta
- Oct 6
- 7 min read
After working with local businesses in Calgary, we’ve learned one thing for sure: the real ROI comes from ranking in local search results. Imagine a customer - someone who just moved to Calgary or is here on a business trip - craving Chinese food. Their first instinct? Pull out their phone and search for “Best Chinese Restaurant Near Me” or “Chinese food Calgary.” The top three results for that search will have a 90% chance of getting the order. That’s the power of local SEO.
In this blog, we’ll share some practical insights on how Calgary businesses can rise to the top of local search results in 2025.
What Comprises Local Search Results?
When someone in Calgary searches for a service or product “near me,” the results that appear at the top - right below the ads - are called local search results. These usually include the Local Pack (a map with three top business listings) and organic local listings.
For example, if someone types in “best coffee shop in Calgary,” they’ll likely see a map, star ratings, business hours, and a few options right at the top. This section is incredibly valuable; it captures attention fast and drives calls, visits, and sales.
Google decides who shows up here based on three factors:
Relevance | Distance | Prominence |
How well your business matches the search intent | How close your business is to the searcher | How well-known and reputable your business is online |
Understanding these elements is key to climbing higher in the local results.
How To Do Local Keyword Research
If you want to show up in the right searches, you need to know what your potential customers in Calgary are typing into Google. That’s where local keyword research comes in. It helps you uncover the exact terms people use when they’re looking for your products or services in your area.
Here’s how to do it step by step using both free and paid tools.
Start with Google Autocomplete Suggestions
A simple and free way to begin your research is by using Google's autocomplete feature.
How it works:
Start typing a search term related to your business on Incognito mode, like “Calgary Dentist” or “best coffee in Calgary.” Google will automatically suggest additional searches based on what others have commonly searched.
Why it’s useful:
These autocomplete suggestions are a goldmine for discovering what real Calgarians are searching for. For example:
Typing “dentist Calgary” may show suggestions like:
“dentist Calgary NE”
“emergency dentist Calgary”
“pediatric dentist Calgary"
These variations show search intent - and you can use them to create content or pages tailored to those exact terms.
Use "People Also Ask" and Related Searches
As you scroll through a search results page (SERP), you’ll find sections titled:
People Also Ask (PAA): A box with related questions like “How much does a dentist cost in Calgary?”
Related Searches: Found at the bottom of the page with search suggestions such as “affordable dentist Calgary” or “Calgary dental reviews.”
How to use this:
Use these to generate FAQs, blog topics, or service page content.
Answer those questions directly on your website to capture long-tail keyword traffic and improve user engagement.
Dig Deeper with the Semrush Keyword Magic Tool
If you have access to Semrush, their Keyword Magic Tool is a powerhouse for finding keyword opportunities with data-driven insights.
How to use it:
Go to Keyword Magic Tool under the Keyword Research tab.
Type in a seed keyword like “Calgary roofing” or “chiropractor Calgary.”
Set the location to Canada.
Semrush will return a list of thousands of keyword suggestions grouped by topic or phrase match.
What to look for:
Volume: Shows how many people are searching for that term monthly.
Keyword difficulty (KD): Tells you how hard it is to rank.
Intent type: Helps you prioritize terms based on whether people are looking to buy, learn, or compare.
Phrase match & questions tab: Filter for long-tail keywords and common questions like:
“How much does a roof replacement cost in Calgary?”
“Chiropractor near downtown Calgary”
Once you’ve narrowed down your list, export the keywords and organize them by topic or service category.
Keep Your Google Business Profile Updated
Your Google Business Profile (GBP) is often the first impression customers will have of your business. It’s where people check your hours, look at photos, read reviews, and decide whether or not to choose you.
Make sure your profile is always up to date:
Double-check your address, phone number, website, and hours.
Add holiday or seasonal hours well in advance.
Update photos regularly - show off your location, products, or a happy team!
Post updates, offers, and events to keep your profile active and engaging.
An outdated profile can cost you business. A well-maintained one builds trust and increases visibility.
Optimize Your Google Business Profile
Keeping your profile updated is one thing - optimizing it takes things a step further. Here’s how to make your GBP stand out:
Choose the right category: Be specific. “Italian Restaurant” is better than just “Restaurant.”
Write a compelling business description: Focus on what makes you unique in Calgary.
Add services and products: Include pricing, descriptions, and photos.
Enable messaging so potential customers can reach out with questions.
Also, use keywords naturally in your description and services (e.g., “We are a family-owned bakery serving SE Calgary”).
Not sure if your GBP is fully optimized? At NU Media Edge, we offer a free website
and Google Business Profile audit for Calgary-based businesses. We’ll identify what’s missing, what’s working, and how to improve visibility. Just reach out here and we’ll take care of the rest!
Optimizing your GBP isn’t a one-time task, it’s a powerful marketing tool that deserves regular attention and strategy. If you're too busy running your business, let us handle it for you.
Get More Customer Reviews
Positive reviews can directly influence whether someone chooses your business, and they boost your local rankings too.
The trick is to ask for reviews consistently:
Ask right after a great service experience.
Train your staff to make review requests part of their routine.
Use SMS or email follow-ups with a direct link to your review page.
Most customers are happy to leave a review if you make it easy and personal.
Online Reviews Management
Getting reviews is step one, managing them properly is just as important. Here’s how to stay on top of it:
Respond to every review, good or bad. Thank happy customers and address any concerns with professionalism.
Don’t ignore negative reviews. A thoughtful response can win back a customer—and show others that you care.
Use feedback to improve your business. Sometimes a single review can reveal an issue you didn’t realize existed.
Regular engagement with your reviews tells Google, and your customers, that your business is active and reliable.
Get Listed in Local Directories
Citations, or mentions of your business info across the web, play a big role in local SEO. Make sure your business is listed on:
Yelp
BBB
411.ca
Canada411
Chamber of Commerce directories
Industry-specific or Calgary-focused platforms
Be consistent with your NAP (Name, Address, Phone) details across all listings. If your phone number is written differently in one place, Google might get confused - and your rankings can suffer.
Create Original Content For Your Local Calgary-Based Customers
If you want to connect with Calgarians, your content needs to speak their language - literally and figuratively.
Create blog posts, FAQs, or videos that are helpful, relevant, and local:
“How to Prepare Your Home for a Calgary Winter”
“Top Things to Look for in a Calgary Dentist”
“Why SE Calgary Is Great for First-Time Homebuyers”
You’re not just helping people - you’re also showing up in long-tail keyword searches and building trust with your audience.
Most Effective Ways To Measure Your Local SEO Success
Tracking your local SEO efforts is essential if you want to know what’s working and where to improve. Here’s a breakdown of the most effective ways to measure local SEO success for Calgary businesses:
Metric | What It Tells You | Where To Find It | Why It Matters |
Google Business Profile (GBP) Insights | Number of views, clicks, calls, direction requests, and website visits directly from your GBP. | Google Business Profile dashboard | Helps you understand how visible your business is on Google Maps and local results—and how often people engage with your profile. |
Local Keyword Rankings | Your current ranking position in Google for local search terms (e.g., “Calgary plumber” or “hair salon NW Calgary”). | Semrush, BrightLocal, or manual tracking in incognito mode | High rankings = more visibility. Tracking helps you identify which keywords need attention or content updates. |
Website Traffic | How many visitors are coming to your website | Google Analytics 4 (GA4) & Google Search Console | Helps verify if your SEO efforts are attracting the right audience - people who can actually become customers. |
Click-Through Rate (CTR) | The percentage of users who click on your listing after seeing it in search results. | Google Search Console | A low CTR may indicate poor titles or descriptions; optimizing them can increase website visits. |
Online Reviews Volume and Ratings | The number of new reviews and your average rating over time. | Google Business Profile, Yelp, Facebook | Reviews influence trust and rankings. Tracking helps you see reputation trends and catch negative feedback early. |
Conversion Metrics | Track calls, form submissions, bookings, or quote requests that come from local searches. | Google Analytics 4, website CRM | This shows your true ROI - how many leads or sales are generated from your local SEO efforts. |
Local Citation Consistency | Checks if your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) are consistent across directories. | BrightLocal, Semrush | Inconsistent citations can hurt rankings. This helps you identify and fix errors across the web. |
At NU Media Edge, we offer Local SEO Reporting and Optimization Packages designed for Calgary businesses. We track all the KPIs above and send you easy-to-read monthly reports - so you always know what’s working.
Whether you’re just getting started or want to scale your visibility, we’ve got your back. Book a free strategy call and let’s talk about getting your business to the top of local search.
Priya is an SEO Specialist at NU Media Edge, helping businesses attract more customers by enhancing their organic visibility through strategic and creative SEO solutions. With over six years of experience in SEO, content optimization, and website audits for local and global B2C and B2B businesses, she is passionate about driving qualified leads to your website. Read more articles by Priya for insights on SEO, digital marketing trends, and organic growth strategies.
