For many agencies, especially those that don’t specialize in SEO, getting early traction for clients can be a challenge. That’s where strategic SEO updates can make a huge difference.
Brad Ball, Founder of digital agency Liquis Digital, figured this out and shared his story. That's how we first met Brad.
His team implemented RivalFlow suggestions on a single blog post, tracked the page’s performance, and saw it climb in the rankings.
That was over a year ago—and that single post is still delivering results without further tweaks.
I wanted to hear more about how he serves his clients, and there's some magic in what he learned from focusing on local expertise. We got into everything from local SEO and marketing automation to running ads and onboarding clients. If you’re working with local businesses—or running one yourself—there’s a lot to take away from this.
When you're onboarding a new client, there’s typically a ramp-up period—learning their business, their goals, their voice. That’s necessary groundwork, but clients often expect results yesterday. Early wins can help you build trust and buy time to implement a broader strategy.
One of the simplest wins is content optimization: taking existing blog posts or service pages and improving them in ways that measurably boost rankings.
During my chat with Brad, we talked about how easy it was for him to get measurable SEO results using RivalFlow—without needing a full-blown SEO department.
Brad’s agency specializes more in web design and paid ads than SEO, yet he was able to use RivalFlow to fill that gap for his clients. It’s a straightforward process: choose a page, get suggestions, place them exactly where RivalFlow tells you, and publish.
Tools like RivalFlow make that easy by identifying ranking opportunities and showing exactly what content to add—and where to add it. For agencies, this means anyone on the team can contribute to SEO without needing to be a specialist. That’s a huge value-add when you’re juggling client demands and tight timelines.
There’s something uniquely powerful about a small, family-run agency that knows how to get results. Liquis Digital, a local agency based in Peoria, Arizona, is one of those rare shops that blends technical skill with down-to-earth strategy. Brad has been running the agency for more than 17 years with his family, and what stands out is how dialed-in he is to the needs of local businesses.
A big part of Brad’s success—and that of his clients—is rooted in their local, real-world experience. AI can generate endless articles, but it can’t replicate experience. Local businesses—especially service providers—deal with real customers who often have unanswered questions about real problems.
That’s what makes their content stand out. When a pool company writes about actual pool issues they’ve solved in Phoenix, or a gym shares real stories about member transformations, that content is inherently more valuable and harder to replicate. AI generated content should include human-driven, human-focused points of view. These should be as specific as possible, giving local audiences confidence that you know how to address their problems.
The key is to lead with that experience—whether it’s a customer story, a “day in the life” insight, or expert tips from the field—and then use AI or optimization tools to fill in the gaps. That kind of content not only ranks better but also builds trust and connection with prospective customers.
RivalFlow helps local businesses capitalize on that by building up authentic content that could still answer more common questions. The tool works with pre-existing content, so it’s ideal for businesses that already have blog posts or service pages and want to increase their visibility.
Video is another area where local businesses can shine without overthinking it. A simple, authentic video—shot on a phone—can build more trust and brand personality than a polished corporate spot. More importantly, video becomes a content engine. One video can fuel a blog post, social media clips, and even ad creative.
What’s interesting is how the tools for video have evolved. Subtitles, for example, aren’t just about accessibility—they brand your video and make it more engaging, especially when most people watch without sound. Brad called out Descript for subtitles (which we've used too) because they’re more accurate and customizable than what YouTube or LinkedIn typically auto-generate.
And here’s the kicker: once you embed a video into a blog post, that page often gets better SEO performance. Search engines like seeing multimedia on a page—it adds depth and improves engagement. Combine that with content optimization, and you’ve got a page that works harder for you.
Brad emphasized that even simple, authentic videos can build trust and make your brand more relatable.
One quick note about auto-captions and transcripts: be sure to double check the way they capture your brand and personal names. And since they use familiar words like "spy food" for SpyFu, it won't necessarily stand out in spellcheck. The better tools will learn over time.
Local businesses are often wary of diving into Facebook or Google ads—and for good reason. Done wrong, ads can burn cash with little to show for it. The trick is to start small and build confidence.
I want to +1 Brad's tip about using retargeting ads. These ads focus on people who’ve already visited your website or interacted with your social media. For a local business, that could mean running a $5/day ad to stay top of mind with warm leads. It’s cost-effective and helps convert existing interest into action.
There’s also a key distinction between ad platforms: Google Ads are great when people are actively searching for your service (“I need a plumber near me”), while Facebook Ads work better for creating awareness when no one is searching. Think of it as "they don't know that they need you--yet."
Another low-effort, high-impact SEO win for local clients is citation management. It's not flashy, but it works. Making sure your client’s business name, address, and phone number (NAP) are consistent across directories like Google Business Profile, Yelp, and other local listings helps solidify trust with search engines. It’s one of those foundational moves that takes minimal time but can significantly improve local search visibility. Especially for new clients, this kind of quick SEO housekeeping builds momentum while you work on longer-term strategies.
I like knowing that small teams can be agile enough to find faster returns like these. Sometimes those faster wins come in the form of building your client's marketing efficiencies in other ways.
For example, you can streamline their follow-up emails or customer onboarding with automation, and it adds real value beyond traditional marketing.
Brad had high praise for GoHighLevel, a marketing automation platform that’s affordable and packed with features (calendars, invoicing, CRM, and more) at a fair price. Brad appreciated GoHighLevel’s pricing and flexibility. More value for the customer means more opportunity to grow.
If you run a small agency or local business, you don’t need to be an SEO expert to get results. Yes, you should grow your SEO knowledge over time, but for smaller businesses, tools and strategic thinking help you deliver for your clients. Start with what you have—existing content, genuine customer stories, and your talent for storytelling—and turn it into content that makes your client remain memorable and authoritative.
Thanks again to Brad for sharing his insights. If you want to connect with him or learn more about Liquis Digital, check them out at liquisdigital.com.
