Why SEO Still Works for Small BC Businesses in 2025

People still search for services on Google first — especially in communities like Langford, Kamloops, Nanaimo, and North Vancouver.
Gemini and AI search features still rely on real content — so if you don’t have optimized pages, you won’t show up in AI-generated answers.
Small businesses with consistent SEO outperform larger competitors who rely on brand recognition alone — especially when they publish local, helpful content.

At Van Isle SEO, we make sure BC businesses stay ahead — by blending smart content, local optimization, and technical SEO that keeps your website visible where it matters most.

If you’re a small business owner in British Columbia, you’ve probably heard the buzz: AI is taking over search. Google’s rolling out Gemini. TikTok is becoming the new search engine. And Instagram is selling ads like candy. So naturally, the question comes up:

“Is SEO still worth it?”

Short answer? Yes — absolutely.
Long answer? Yes, if you’re doing it the right way.

At Van Isle SEO, I work with small businesses every day — tradespeople, contractors, consultants, clinics, and service providers who don’t have time for guesswork. They need real results from their online presence. And while the tools are changing, Google still dominates when it comes to customers actually looking to book, call, or buy.

Whether you’re based in Victoria, Nanaimo, Kelowna, or a smaller spot like Parksville or Duncan, this post breaks down what’s working in 2025, what’s no longer enough, and how to stay visible when your competitors are either asleep or overspending.

How long does SEO take to show results in BC?

Let’s be real: SEO isn’t fast — and that’s a good thing. It means your competitors can’t just throw money at it and leapfrog you overnight.

Here’s what I usually tell my clients based on where they’re located:

Area Type	Typical SEO Timeline
Small towns (e.g. Qualicum, Courtenay)	3–4 months for initial ranking movement
Mid-size cities (e.g. Nanaimo, Kelowna)	4–6 months to reach the map pack and page 1
Big markets (e.g. Vancouver, Surrey)	6–12 months for competitive service terms

If you’ve never done SEO, it can feel like slow motion. But once it picks up, it becomes your best-performing channel — and it costs less per lead than anything else. I’ve seen local contractors double their monthly leads just from showing up for the right town + service combo.

You don’t need to be perfect — you just need to stay consistent.

Is SEO better than running Google Ads?

They’re different tools. I’d never tell you to ditch ads — but if you had to pick one foundation for long-term success, SEO wins every time.

Here’s how I usually explain it:

SEO	Google Ads
Takes longer to build	Works instantly
Long-term visibility	Visibility disappears when budget stops
Builds trust and authority	Good for testing new offers
Lower cost per lead over time	Cost per click increases over time

Many of my clients start with SEO, then layer in Google Ads when the budget makes sense. That way you’re not dependent on paid traffic, and you’re building something that compounds month over month.

Do I need to write blog posts for SEO to work?

You don’t have to — but if you’re serious about showing up in Gemini AI answers or ranking in smaller towns across BC, a monthly blog is one of the smartest moves you can make.

Here’s why: blog posts let you target specific questions that your service pages don’t cover. They help Google understand your expertise and your location focus. And they keep your site fresh — which Google loves.

Blog Focus	Why It Matters
Local questions (“cost of ___ in [city]”)	Attracts people with buying intent
Service comparisons	Positions you as the local expert
How-to guides or seasonal content	Builds trust and authority

If you’re in trades, real estate, landscaping, healthcare, or legal — blog posts give you the edge. One strong post can rank for dozens of long-tail keywords and bring in clients for months.

SEO in 2025 is less about keywords — and more about clarity, trust, and content that’s actually helpful. If you’re a small business owner in BC trying to stay ahead without throwing cash at ads every month, this is still your best bet.

You don’t need a big agency. You don’t need a five-figure budget. You need someone who gets what you do, where you do it, and how to turn that into visibility on Google. That’s exactly what I do at Van Isle SEO. If you’re based anywhere in BC and want SEO that’s built around your business — not a pre-made package — let’s talk.

I'm not here to lock you into a contract. I'm here to make Google notice you.

Focus on a holistic strategy

SEO isn’t the only way to grow your business. But it’s the backbone. Think of it as the long-term visibility layer that everything else connects to. Your social media can build awareness, your Google Ads can drive quick leads, and your referrals can close the loop — but none of it works as efficiently if your website can’t be found or doesn’t convert.

What you post on Instagram should support what you rank for on Google. Your blogs should reinforce your expertise when someone checks out your profile. And when someone hears about your business from a friend, they should be able to Google you and find exactly what they need.

In the early stages of building your brand — or rebuilding after a lull — SEO should be the priority. It helps build your digital foundation: your content, your trust signals, your search visibility, and your ability to scale traffic without scaling ad spend. The sooner you invest in it, the sooner your other channels start performing better too.