Local SEO is how Montreal businesses get found by nearby customers actively searching for their services. Done right, it delivers highly qualified leads at the exact moment they're ready to buy. Here's your complete guide to local SEO in Montreal.
Why Local SEO Matters in Montreal
Local search behavior:
- 46% of all Google searches have local intent
- 76% of people who search on their phone for something nearby visit a business within 24 hours
- 28% of those searches result in a purchase
- "Near me" searches have grown 900%+ in recent years
Montreal-specific factors:
- High mobile usage (78% of web traffic)
- Strong local business preference
- Neighborhood-focused search behavior
- Bilingual search queries
Local SEO advantages:
- Targets high-intent searchers
- Less competitive than national SEO
- Higher conversion rates
- Builds neighborhood presence
- Works for any local business
If customers come to you or you serve a geographic area, local SEO should be your priority.
Google Business Profile Optimization
Your most important local SEO asset:
Complete every section:
- Business name (exact, consistent)
- Address (precise, matches everywhere)
- Phone number (local Montreal number)
- Website URL
- Business hours (accurate, update for holidays)
- Business categories (primary + secondary)
- Description (bilingual, keyword-rich)
- Attributes (wheelchair accessible, etc.)
Photos matter:
- Exterior (helps customers find you)
- Interior (shows your space)
- Team photos (builds trust)
- Products/services in action
- Upload new photos monthly
- High-quality images only
Bilingual optimization:
- Fill out profile in both languages
- Quebec customers expect French
- Use French for primary in Quebec
- Complete descriptions in both
Posts:
- Weekly updates
- Promotions and offers
- Events and news
- New products/services
- Keeps profile active
Reviews: Your Local SEO Secret Weapon
Reviews directly impact local rankings:
Why reviews matter:
- Google's #3 local ranking factor
- 87% of consumers read online reviews
- 4+ star rating influences decisions
- Recent reviews matter more than old
Getting reviews:
- Ask happy customers (in person, email)
- Make it easy (direct link)
- Time requests strategically
- Follow up politely
- Never incentivize or buy reviews
Responding to reviews:
- Respond to ALL reviews (good and bad)
- Thank positive reviewers
- Address negative feedback professionally
- Show you value customer input
- Respond in reviewer's language
Montreal considerations:
- French reviews for Quebec customers
- English reviews for wider audience
- Don't delete negative reviews
- Learn from constructive criticism
Aim for 10+ new reviews per month for active presence.
Local Citations and Directories
Consistent business information across the web:
What are citations:
- Your NAP (Name, Address, Phone) on other websites
- Signal trust to Google
- Help customers find you
- Build local authority
Key Montreal directories:
- Google Business Profile (most important)
- Yelp (still relevant in Montreal)
- Yellow Pages / PagesJaunes.ca
- Facebook Business Page
- Apple Maps
- Bing Places
Montreal-specific:
- Montreal Chamber of Commerce
- Quebec business registries
- Industry associations
- Neighborhood directories
- .qc.ca local directories
NAP consistency critical:
- Exact same format everywhere
- Don't vary abbreviations (Street vs St)
- Include Suite numbers consistently
- Same phone format
- Monitor and fix inconsistencies
Tools to find citations:
- Moz Local
- BrightLocal
- Whitespark
- Manual searches for your business
Claim and optimize all major listings.
Local Content Strategy
Create content that signals local relevance:
Location pages:
- Dedicated page for Montreal
- Neighborhood pages if you serve multiple
- Actual useful content, not keyword stuffing
- Include local landmarks, transit info
- Embed Google Map
Blog topics:
- Montreal industry news
- Local event participation
- Neighborhood guides
- Montreal customer case studies
- Quebec regulations/compliance guides
- Seasonal Montreal content
Keyword strategy:
- Primary keywords + "Montreal"
- Neighborhood names (Plateau, Mile End, etc.)
- "Near me" optimization (through local signals)
- Quebec-specific terminology
- Service + neighborhood combinations
Bilingual content:
- Separate French articles
- Target different search behaviors
- French content for Quebec keywords
- English for certain industries/demographics
Internal linking:
- Link to location pages
- Create neighborhood hubs
- Service pages link to locations
- Logical site structure
Technical Local SEO
Technical implementation matters:
Schema markup:
- LocalBusiness schema
- Include NAP in markup
- Business hours
- Geo coordinates
- Service areas
Mobile optimization:
- Most local searches are mobile
- Fast loading essential
- Click-to-call buttons
- Easy navigation on small screens
- Mobile-friendly forms
Local landing pages:
- URL structure: /montreal/ or /plateau/
- Unique content per location
- Embedded map
- Local testimonials
- Location-specific CTAs
Title tags and meta:
- Include "Montreal" or neighborhood
- Don't keyword stuff
- Compelling, click-worthy
- Match search intent
For bilingual sites:
- Proper hreflang tags
- Language-specific URLs
- Don't duplicate content
- Each language fully optimized
Local SEO is the highest-ROI marketing channel for Montreal businesses serving local customers. Start with Google Business Profile optimization, actively collect reviews, ensure NAP consistency across directories, and create Montreal-focused content. Implement proper technical optimization and monitor your local rankings. Results take 3-6 months but compound over time. The businesses that dominate local search commit to ongoing optimization, not one-time setup.