The challenge
This Chicago custom cabinetry company had been in business for 18 years — but when potential customers searched "custom kitchen cabinets Chicago" on Google, the business didn't appear until page 3 of the Map Pack, buried behind national chains and big-box retailers.
The consequences were direct: inbound calls had declined 40% year-over-year despite unchanged service quality. They were losing high-intent buyers the moment those buyers turned to Google to find a local specialist.
Our methodology
- Week 1–2
GBP Audit & NAP Cleanup
Ran a full 40-point GBP audit. Found 23 NAP inconsistencies across 31 directories, two duplicate listings, and a miscategorised primary category (Furniture Store instead of Cabinet Store). Fixed all within 10 days.
- Week 3–4
Category & Attribute Strategy
Updated to exact-match primary category (Cabinet Store) with 4 supporting categories. Filled all attributes: custom, design consultations, in-store shopping, women-led. This immediately improved relevance scores.
- Week 5–8
Content & Photo Optimisation
Published 8 keyword-rich GBP posts targeting high-intent terms: "custom kitchen cabinets Chicago", "cabinet refacing near me", "built-in closet Chicago". Added 40 geo-tagged photos of completed projects.
- Week 9–12
Review Velocity System
Launched SMS review request workflow for all completed installations. Generated 47 new 5-star reviews in 30 days, each professionally responded to within 4 hours. Review sentiment analysis improved prominence score.
Results at 90 Days
- Ranked #1 in Google Maps 3-Pack for "custom kitchen cabinets Chicago" and 14 related terms
- +312% inbound leads via Google Business Profile within 90 days
- Call volume increased from 8 avg/week to 32 avg/week
- 47 new 5-star Google reviews — average rating moved from 4.1 to 4.8
- Profile views up 218% month-over-month
“We were invisible online despite 18 years of excellent work. SBGeeks fixed that in three months. Our phones ring constantly now with exactly the kind of customers we want.”
Growth Plan · Chicago, IL
Results depend on the market, the starting point and the competition. These outcomes are specific to this client and are not a forecast for any other business.
