REK Marketing and Design

05/07/2026

If you own a home service business in Orlando and your Google rankings have been stuck in the 6-15 range for a year, you're probably paying an agency for the wrong things.
REK has been doing local SEO for Orlando home service businesses since 2003, and the list of what actually moves rankings in 2026 is shorter than most owners think. Ten things.
Most of what your current agency is selling probably isn't on the list.

We just published the full breakdown, including the things you can stop paying for, the signals Google actually weighs, and the monthly rhythm we use with our 90+ clients.
If your rankings have been flat, this is the post to read.

https://www.rekmarketing.com/blog/2026/local-seo-signals-orlando-home-service-2026.html

03/26/2026

We asked our Head of Marketing & Growth, Tom Klingebiel, one question: what's actually changing in local SEO right now?

His answer might surprise you.

45% of consumers now use AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity to find local services. One year ago that number was 6%.

If your website isn't structured for AI search, you're not on page two. You don't exist.

REK designer Donna sat down with Tom to find out what local businesses need to do about it — and why the way your site is built matters more than ever.

Read the full interview 👇

REK designer Donna interviews Head of Growth Tom Klingebiel on what's really changing in local SEO and AI search for local businesses in 2026

03/16/2026

In our opinion, traditional Google search as you know it will be obsolete by the end of 2026. Here's why we believe that.
Gartner predicts traditional search engine volume will drop 25% by 2026 as users shift to AI assistants. ChatGPT now processes 2 billion queries every single day. Google's own AI Overviews appear in 25% of all searches, up from 13% just one year ago. And 58% of Google searches already end without a single click to any website.

That last one is the number your business needs to sit with. More than half the people searching for your services right now never make it to your website. They get an AI-generated answer and they're done.

The businesses showing up in those answers didn't get there by accident. They got there because their websites are structured specifically for AI to read, understand, and cite.

Is your business showing up in those answers, or are you invisible to the half of searchers who never click?

03/02/2026

We've been in business for 22 years (gosh, has it been that long???). Here are three things we've learned that most marketing agencies won't tell you:

1. You don't need a 12-month contract to get good SEO results. You need an agency that's confident enough to earn your business every month. Every REK client is month-to-month. If we're not delivering, you can leave. That keeps us honest.

2. Your website template matters more than you think. If your site is built on the same WordPress theme as thousands of other businesses, Google sees duplicate code structures. It's harder to stand out. Every REK site is custom-coded from scratch, built specifically for your business and your service areas.

3. The most expensive marketing mistake isn't spending too much. It's spending on the wrong things for too long without anyone telling you. That's why we start every new relationship with a free SEO audit. No sales pitch. Just an honest look at where you are and what actually needs to happen.

Running a local business is hard enough. Your marketing shouldn't make it harder.

Curious where your business stands? Drop us a message or visit rekmarketinganddesign.com for a free audit.

02/23/2026

Google just made it possible for customers to leave anonymous reviews.

That means more reviews are coming, but not all of them will be fair. Here's what every local business owner should know:

Anonymous reviews will likely increase overall review volume. More people feel comfortable leaving feedback when their name isn't attached.

You're probably going to see more negative reviews. Anonymity makes it easier for people to complain. That's just human nature.

How you respond matters more than ever. Potential customers read your responses just as closely as the reviews themselves. A professional, calm response to a negative review actually builds trust.

AI search engines are now reading your reviews to decide whether to recommend your business. They look at the words customers use, not just star ratings. If customers mention specific services in their reviews, that helps you rank for those services.

The businesses that will win this shift are the ones with a system: actively asking happy customers for reviews, monitoring new reviews daily, and responding to every single one, positive and negative, within 48 hours.

Need help building a review strategy that works? That's part of what we do at REK. Message us for a free consultation.

02/12/2026

Orlando business owners, quick question: when was the last time you checked your Google Business Profile?

Not your website. Your Google Business Profile, the listing that shows up when someone searches for your business or your services on Google Maps.

Here's why it matters more than ever: Google's AI is now answering local searches directly, and it's pulling information straight from your profile. If your hours are wrong, your services are incomplete, or you haven't posted an update in months, AI literally can't recommend you.

Five things to check right now:

1. Are your hours correct, including any upcoming holiday hours?
2. Are your service categories specific to what you actually do?
3. Have you added a photo in the last 30 days?
4. Have you responded to your most recent reviews?
5. Is your phone number and address matching what's on your website?

Takes 10 minutes. Could be the difference between getting found and getting skipped.

If you're not sure where your business stands online, REK offers free SEO audits for local businesses. No contracts, no pressure. Just a clear picture of what's working and what needs attention. Drop a comment or send us a message to get started.

12/22/2025

Did you know more than half of Google searches end without anyone clicking on ANYTHING? It's true. 61% of searches are now "zero-click." People search, get their answer from the Google results page, and never visit a website.

For local businesses in Orlando, this means something important:
Your Google Business Profile might be the ONLY thing a potential customer ever sees.

They search "AC repair near me," see your listing in the map, read a couple reviews, and tap the call button. Done.

So here's the question: Is your Google Business Profile complete enough to convert customers who never visit your website?

Quick self-check:
✅ Is every service listed with a full description?
✅ Are your business attributes (24/7, free estimates, etc.) selected?
✅ Do you have 50+ photos?
✅ Are you posting weekly?
✅ Is your Q&A section populated?

If you answered "no" to any of these, you're probably losing customers to competitors who have this figured out.

This is Part 3 of our 4-part series on getting ready for 2026:

1️⃣ AI Search ✅
2️⃣ Review Strategy ✅
3️⃣ Zero-Click Optimization
4️⃣ Micro-Market Domination

We wrote a full blog post on this, plus created a free guide on optimizing for zero-click success.

📖 Read the blog: https://www.rekmarketing.com/blog/zero-click-search-orlando-google-business-profile.html

📥 Download the guide: https://www.rekmarketing.com/guides/guide-3-zero-click.html
How complete is YOUR Google Business Profile? Be honest! 😄

61% of searches end without a click. Learn how to win customers directly from Google's search results through GBP optimization.

12/19/2025

⭐ Quick question for Orlando business owners:

When's the last time someone left you a Google review?

If it's been more than a few weeks, this might explain some things.

Google now cares as much about how RECENT your reviews are as how MANY you have. A competitor with fewer total reviews but more recent ones can actually outrank you.

Think about it from a customer perspective too: Would you trust a business whose last review was from 8 months ago?

Here's what the data shows:

📊 73% of consumers only trust reviews from the last 30 days
📊 Google removed 240+ MILLION fake reviews last year
📊 Review gating (only asking happy customers) is now illegal

The businesses winning with reviews aren't trying to hit some magic number. They're building simple systems for steady weekly reviews.

We wrote a blog about this and put together a free guide on what actually works for review strategy in 2026.

👇 Links are in the comments

What's your biggest challenge with getting reviews?

12/17/2025

📊 Part 1 of 4: Getting Your Business Ready for 2026
GUIDE 1: AI Search

Have you noticed Google search results look different lately?
That's AI Overviews, and it's changing how Orlando customers find local businesses.

When someone searches for "best HVAC company in Orlando" or "how much does AC repair cost," they're now seeing AI-written summaries BEFORE they see business listings.

Here's the thing: AI and LLMs pull from your Google Business Profile, your reviews, and your website to write those summaries.
If your information is incomplete or outdated? AI skips right over you.

📊 40% of searches now show these AI summaries
📊 99% of businesses don't appear in AI answers
📊 61% of searches end without anyone clicking to a website
The good news? Most businesses haven't caught on yet. There's still time to get ahead.

This is the first in a 4-part series on what your business needs to do NOW to be ready for 2026:

1️⃣ AI Search (this post)
2️⃣ Review Strategy
3️⃣ Zero-Click Optimization
4️⃣ Micro-Market Domination

We put together a free guide on what's actually happening with AI search and what Orlando businesses can do about it.

👇 Download link in comments
What questions do you have about AI and local search?

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05/21/2024

Content creation is a crucial aspect of SEO (search engine optimization), as search engines favor content that is both relevant and engaging for users. High-quality content not only attracts organic traffic but also encourages sharing and linking, while signaling expertise to the search engines. However, simply creating content is not enough. It also needs to be optimized for search engines in order to rank well and reach its full potential. Time and time again, we notice that most SEO companies are neglecting content building and not blogging for their clients. This is a big mistake that can greatly impact the success of an SEO campaign. At REK, we have an in house team of content writers taking care of the daily needs of our clients SEO campaigns. Did you know that content building can account for more than 30% of an SEO campaign? Many customers that switch to us from other providers that are paying thousands of dollars per month don't get any content writing done at all! Message us for more information on how we can help you grow!