Cap Puckhaber: How I Got My Company Found on Google: A Step-by-Step Guide

Cap Puckhaber: Black Diamond Marketing

Reno, Nevada and Beyond

Over the past few months, I've dedicated a significant amount of time and effort to get Black Diamond Marketing Solutions and my personal name, Cap Puckhaber, to rank on Google. You’d think that ranking for your own name would be a straightforward task—after all, if no one else is competing for it, why wouldn’t it show up? But as I quickly learned, SEO is rarely that simple. Even though tools like SEMrush indicated zero competition for my name, I still struggled to make an impact. If you find yourself in a similar situation, here are the strategies that ultimately helped me improve my Google ranking.

One of the first things I realized was that focusing solely on my business name and personal name wasn't enough. I needed to broaden my strategy to include both long-tail and short-tail keywords. Short-tail keywords, such as “marketing solutions,” are highly competitive, but targeting long-tail keywords like “digital marketing services in [city]” allowed me to tap into more specific searches with less competition. By targeting both types of keywords, I improved my chances of ranking for less competitive queries while still working to rank for broader terms.

Another effective tactic I discovered was listing my business on various agency directories. Websites like Wellfound, DesignRush, DAN, and Clutch helped my company gain visibility, as well as provide high-quality backlinks to my site. These directories are trusted by search engines, so getting listed on them contributed to increasing my site’s authority. Many potential clients also use these platforms to find agencies, which made it a great way to expand my reach.

I also found value in listing my company on Glassdoor. While many people associate Glassdoor with employee reviews, it's also an excellent platform for boosting SEO. By creating a profile for my business, I was able to generate an additional authoritative backlink and improve the overall performance of my site on search engines.

Setting up a Google My Business (GMB) profile turned out to be another critical step. A GMB profile not only boosts local SEO but also allows my business to appear in Google Maps and local search results. By keeping my profile up-to-date with accurate contact details and images, I saw a significant improvement in local visibility.

Customer reviews play a vital role in SEO, and having my business listed on platforms like Trustpilot gave me the opportunity to gather reviews from satisfied clients. Positive reviews not only enhanced my brand’s credibility but also contributed to higher rankings on Google. Never underestimate the importance of social proof in your SEO efforts!

Building quality backlinks was another area I focused on, and iCopify turned out to be a great resource. This platform allowed me to gain backlinks from reputable websites in the marketing industry, which helped raise my site's authority. As search engines value backlinks from trustworthy sources, this was an essential part of my SEO strategy.

Maintaining an active presence on social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram was key to driving more traffic to my website. I ensured that each of my social profiles linked back to my site, which created a network of inbound links and increased my website’s visibility. Social media engagement also helped build brand awareness, contributing to a boost in organic traffic.

Finally, I began blogging on external platforms like Medium and Blogspot. These sites already have a strong domain authority, and by publishing articles on them, I was able to create valuable backlinks to my own website. Additionally, the built-in audience on these platforms helped my content reach a wider audience, driving even more traffic to my site.

Improving your Google ranking takes time, experimentation, and a multi-faceted approach. From optimizing for both long-tail and short-tail keywords to listing on directories and review sites, every small step contributed to my eventual success. If you’re struggling with SEO, be patient, stay consistent, and keep refining your strategy—you’ll get there.