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Mindsaw Blog

Local SEO, Google Maps & AI search tactics from Bret Moleta.

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Latest guides on Google Maps, GBP categories, reviews, and local search for home-service and professional businesses.

Local SEO

Defense Attorney or Criminal Lawyer? Use Google Trends Before You Name Your Pages

Use Google Trends before you name law firm practice-area pages. Why “defense attorney” can beat “criminal lawyer,” from Bret Moleta.

Google Business Profile

Plumber, Not Contractor: The GBP Category Mistake That Kills Rankings

Why plumbers who set Contractor as their primary Google Business Profile category lose map pack calls, and how to fix it. From Bret Moleta.

Google Business Profile

Plumber Reviews: The Text to Send After Every Job

The review text to send after every plumbing job, why pace beats old star counts, and how reviews support Google Maps rankings. From Bret Moleta.

Local SEO

General Contractor SEO: Which Category Goes First

How contractors pick the right primary Google Business Profile category, match the website menu, and name the town. From Bret Moleta.

Local SEO

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Local SEO

Local SEO Checklist for Service Businesses, From Bret

The local SEO checklist Bret uses for service businesses: measure first, pick the right category, match your profile and site, real photos, reviews. Start here.

Local SEO

Local SEO Tools: The Short List Bret Actually Uses

The local SEO tools Bret uses for Google Maps work: a rank grid, a category checker, Google Trends and two free Chrome extensions. See what each one is for.

Local SEO

SEO for Electricians: How to Get More Calls From Google

SEO for electricians, from Bret Moleta: pick the right Google category, build a page per service, get reviews the right way, and track the calls.

Google Business Profile

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Google Business Profile

Plumber, Not Contractor: The GBP Category Mistake That Kills Rankings

Why plumbers who set Contractor as their primary Google Business Profile category lose map pack calls, and how to fix it. From Bret Moleta.

Google Business Profile

Plumber Reviews: The Text to Send After Every Job

The review text to send after every plumbing job, why pace beats old star counts, and how reviews support Google Maps rankings. From Bret Moleta.

Google Business Profile

Google Business Profile Suspended? What to Do First

Profile suspended or gone from Google Maps? What Google says causes it, what to fix first, and how the appeal, evidence and review times work.

AI Search

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AI Search

Google AI Mode for Local Business: What to Fix First

Google AI Mode for local business comes down to three things Bret names: your website, your Google Business Profile and your reviews. Get the checklist.

SEO & Websites

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SEO & Websites

How to Hire an SEO Company: The Questions Bret Says to Ask

How to hire an SEO company for a local service business: Bret’s questions on what you’re buying, reports, ownership and red flags. Read them before you call.

SEO & Websites

Does Website Design Affect SEO? Bret’s Rules for Local Sites

Does website design affect SEO? Yes. Bret’s rules for local service sites: say what you do and where, a page per service, a big phone number. See the checklist.

Google Ads

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Google Ads

Do Google Ads Help SEO? Bret’s Straight Answer

Do Google ads help SEO? Google says ads don’t change organic rankings. Here’s how Bret splits paid and free clicks for local service businesses. Read the plan.

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