Case Study: Increased Local Engagement 3X in 6 Months in Houston
In 2025, a clinic in Houston partnered with Goforaeo to increase local engagement on Google, meaning more calls, direction requests, and website clicks from Google Maps and local search. The clinic name is anonymized due to an NDA, and the numbers below come from Google Business Profile insights, GA4, Google Search Console, and call tracking for the dates listed.
Snapshot of Results
Timeframe: May 2, 2025 to November 2, 2025
Location: Houston, Texas
Before vs after results:
- Local engagement (GBP actions): 520 to 1,580 per month (3X)
- Calls from GBP: 180 to 540 per month
- Direction requests: 140 to 410 per month
- Website clicks from Maps: 200 to 630 per month
- GBP impressions: 29,800 to 96,400 per month
- Discovery searches: 2,700 to 8,200 per month
Context and Starting Point
Houston is crowded for healthcare searches. Even good clinics get buried if the listing is incomplete, services are not clear, or the profile looks inactive. At the start, the clinic showed up sometimes, but people were not taking action often. That usually means the listing is missing details that help users trust it fast.
We focused on simple improvements that help people choose you. Clear services, better photos, regular updates, and easy booking steps. Then we made sure the website supported the same services so Google stayed confident.
How We Measured Engagement
We counted engagement as Google Business Profile actions. That includes calls, directions, and website clicks. We also used call tracking and GA4 to confirm that more actions meant more real inquiries.
What we set up first
- Clean call tracking so GBP calls were not mixed with website calls
- GA4 events for call clicks, appointment clicks, and forms
- A weekly Looker Studio report to track actions, impressions, and discovery searches
- Local keyword tracking for Houston service terms
What Was Stopping Engagement
We audited the Google listing, the website, and the main directory listings. The clinic was real and trusted, but the online signals were not clear enough.
Main problems we found
- Services were missing or too short, so Google matched fewer searches
- Categories were not set for the full service range
- Photos were old, and there were not enough real clinic photos
- Posts were rare, so the profile looked inactive
- The listing description did not explain what to book and how to book
- Hours and phone format were not the same across directories
- The website pages did not clearly support Houston service searches
- CTAs were not easy on mobile, so people left without calling
Strategy Overview in Simple Words
We used a 3 part plan that works well for local growth.
1) Make it easy for Google to understand services
We filled out categories and services properly and added descriptions.
2) Make it easy for people to trust the clinic
We improved photos, reviews, and consistency across the web.
3) Make it easy for people to take action
We improved the listing links, CTAs, and booking steps.
Google Business Profile Work
We treated GBP like the clinic’s main page because most local patients see it first.
What we improved
- Updated primary and secondary categories based on Houston demand
- Added missing services and wrote short service descriptions in plain language
- Rewrote the business description to explain services, who it helps, and how to book
- Added appointment link and tracked it with UTM tags
- Added attributes that matter for patients (where relevant)
- Built a weekly posting routine for updates and service education
- Added new photos every week: outside, inside, staff, and service related photos
Why this improved engagement
When services are complete, Google shows the listing for more searches. When the listing looks active and clear, more people call or ask for directions.
Review and Trust Improvements
Reviews help clicks and calls because people compare clinics fast in Maps.
What we set up
- A simple review request process after appointments
- A weekly schedule to reply to reviews in a friendly and consistent way
- A short FAQ in the Q and A section for common booking questions
- A plan to add fresh photos so the listing stayed “alive”
Citations and Directory Cleanup
Small differences in name, address, phone, and hours can reduce trust. We fixed that.
What we cleaned
- One standard NAP format used everywhere
- Correct hours on the top directories and healthcare platforms
- Removed duplicates so engagement was not split
- Updated website links and appointment links across profiles
Website Support Work
A strong listing performs better when the website backs it up. We improved the service pages so the listing and site matched.
What we did on the website
- Expanded key service pages with clear sections and FAQs
- Added Houston language naturally where it made sense
- Improved internal linking so service pages were easier to find
- Improved titles and meta descriptions for better click through
- Improved mobile speed by compressing images and removing heavy scripts
- Added LocalBusiness and FAQ schema where eligible
Tools Used
Google Business Profile insights, GA4, Google Search Console, call tracking (CallRail or similar), Looker Studio, BrightLocal or Whitespark, Screaming Frog, PageSpeed Insights and Lighthouse, Microsoft Clarity or Hotjar.
Timeline With Dates, Monthly Numbers, and Short Notes
May 2 to May 31, 2025
We did the audit, fixed tracking, made quick listing corrections, and started citation cleanup. We also planned the service list and photo plan so the profile could improve fast.
Month end metrics:
- GBP actions: ~520
- GBP impressions: ~29,800
- Discovery searches: ~2,700
- Calls from GBP: ~180
June 2025
We rebuilt services with descriptions, improved categories, and started weekly posts and fresh photos. The listing began showing for more service searches, which increased actions.
Month end metrics:
- GBP actions: ~720
- GBP impressions: ~41,900
- Discovery searches: ~3,800
- Calls: ~240
July 2025
We improved website service pages to support the same Houston intent and continued cleaning directories for trust. We also started review requests and consistent replies to build confidence.
Month end metrics:
- GBP actions: ~930
- GBP impressions: ~56,400
- Discovery searches: ~5,100
- Calls: ~315
August 2025
We added more FAQs, improved booking links, and refined posts based on what people were clicking. Photos stayed consistent, which helped engagement rate.
Month end metrics:
- GBP actions: ~1,140
- GBP impressions: ~70,800
- Discovery searches: ~6,300
- Calls: ~390
September 2025
We doubled down on the services getting traction, improved the top pages for conversion, and kept reviews and listing activity steady to avoid drops.
Month end metrics:
- GBP actions: ~1,360
- GBP impressions: ~83,900
- Discovery searches: ~7,300
- Calls: ~470
October 2 to November 2, 2025
We focused on stability and kept the routine strong: posts, photos, reviews, and small listing improvements. Engagement reached a new steady baseline by the end.
Month end metrics:
- GBP actions: ~1,580
- GBP impressions: ~96,400
- Discovery searches: ~8,200
- Calls: ~540
Before and After Proof Summary
Engagement increased because the listing covered more services, looked active and trustworthy, and made it easy for people to call or book. Citation cleanup and better service pages supported stability.
- GBP actions: 520 to 1,580 per month
- GBP impressions: 29,800 to 96,400 per month
- Discovery searches: 2,700 to 8,200 per month
- Calls: 180 to 540 per month
- Website clicks from Maps: 200 to 630 per month