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Local SEO, made plain.
Field notes on local SEO in Chicago, the suburbs and Lake County, written by the person who does the work. No jargon, no fluff.
Written by Izaac Lopez, founder of Spark N Code · 20 articles and countingWhat we write about
Local SEO
Google Business Profile, Map Pack rankings, citations, and 'near me' strategy for Lake County and Chicagoland businesses.5 articlesWeb Design
1 articleSEO
On-page, technical, and content SEO — the long-game work that grows organic traffic for local small businesses.2 articlesGoogle Business Profile
12 articlesPrefer a score to a read? Check your Google profile in ten seconds.
Score my profilePractical local SEO, web design, and Google Business Profile guidance for small businesses across Lake County and Chicagoland. We write about what's actually working in local search right now — Map Pack rankings, citations, and fast, conversion-focused websites — in plain language, from the person doing the work. No fluff, no jargon, just tactics you can use.
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Browse the library.
How to Get More Google Reviews (Without Breaking Google's Rules): A Chicago Owner's Playbook
How to get more Google reviews the right way: when to ask, what to say, your review link and QR code, and the three mistakes Google prohibits.
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Google Reviews Disappeared Overnight? What Chicago Businesses Should (and Shouldn't) Do
Woke up to fewer reviews, or a 0.0 rating? Don't touch your profile yet. Here's what's happening and what Chicago owners should do.
Read the articleGoogle Maps SEO in Chicago: Your Profile Wins "Near Me." Your Website Wins the Cost Questions.
Your Google profile wins "near me." Your website wins "how much" and "how long." Most Chicago businesses only show up for one.
Oct 12, 2026Contractors: Fix Your Google Presence in October, Not January
Winter work gets researched in fall. GBP changes take weeks. Contractors who wait until January miss the season they meant to win.
Oct 8, 2026Your Google Ranking Depends on Where You're Standing
Search yourself from your own desk and you're #1. Search from a customer's driveway four miles away and you're invisible. The single ranking number is a lie — here's what a grid scan actually shows.
Sep 21, 2026Law Firms: Your Google Business Profile Has Rules No One Else Has
Bar advertising rules, confidentiality limits on reviews, and attorney listings that compete with the firm's own — a law firm's Google presence has constraints no other local business faces.
Sep 15, 2026Your Google Profile Is the New Front Door of Your Dental Practice
New patients judge your practice on Google before they ever call — photos, reviews, insurance, activity. What matters on a dental practice's profile, and the review-collection rules you can't break.
Sep 8, 2026Why HVAC Companies Vanish from Google in the Off-Season
That off-season phone-quiet isn't all demand — part of it is your Google Business Profile going invisible for the season it wasn't built for. Here's how HVAC companies stay found year-round.
Aug 31, 2026What Plumbers Get Wrong About Emergency Google Searches
A burst pipe at 11pm is decided in ten seconds in the Map Pack — and most plumbers lose that call. Here's what actually wins the emergency search.
Aug 28, 2026The Google Business Profile Category Mistake Costing Contractors Jobs
A contractor can do everything else right and still be invisible — all because of one wrong dropdown. The primary category is the messiest, highest-impact field on a contractor's profile.
Aug 25, 2026The 7-Point GBP Audit We Run on Every Lake County Client
Unlock your business’s potential with our comprehensive 7-point GBP audit for Lake County clients, designed to enhance visibility and drive growth.
Apr 27, 2026Mastering Local SEO in Chicago: Tips for Small Businesses
Unlock the potential of your small business in Chicago with effective local SEO strategies. Discover essential tips to boost visibility and attract local customers!
Apr 3, 202612 articles in Google Business Profile
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