Alright, Winnipeg small business owner — listen up. You don’t have time for complicated, jargon-heavy SEO manuals. You want simple, practical wins that put your business in front of local customers yesterday.

Here are 7 local SEO hacks Ninja Tuna recommends to get your website ranking better in Winnipeg search results — and fast.

1. Claim and Optimize Your Google Business Profile

Google Business Profile (GBP) is your golden ticket to appearing in the local map pack — those prime spots with addresses, phone numbers, and reviews.

Do this now:

  • Claim your listing at google.com/business
  • Fill out every detail: address, hours, phone, website
  • Upload photos that show off your business
  • Pick the right categories (e.g., “Web Designer” or “Bike Shop in Winnipeg”)
  • Ask happy customers to leave reviews (and reply to them)

Bonus: Update your profile regularly with posts or offers to keep Google happy.

2. Use Winnipeg-Specific Keywords

When people search, they often add “Winnipeg” or neighbourhood names. Don’t ignore it.

Try this:

  • Include “Winnipeg” in key spots like page titles, headers, and your homepage copy
  • Use nearby neighbourhood names if you serve specific areas (e.g., St. Boniface, Osborne Village)
  • Sprinkle these keywords naturally — Google hates keyword stuffing

3. Get Listed on Local Directories and Citations

Directories like YellowPages.ca, Yelp.ca, and local Winnipeg business directories help Google confirm you’re legit and local.

Your move:

  • Submit your business info to popular local directories
  • Keep your name, address, phone (NAP) consistent everywhere (don’t mix up numbers or abbreviations)

4. Make Your Website Mobile-Friendly and Fast

Winnipeg’s busy folks often search on the go — if your site’s slow or looks crap on phones, they bounce, and Google notices. We can help you if you’re time strapped.

Fix it by:

  • Testing your site on Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test tool
  • Using a lightweight theme and compressing images
  • Avoiding clunky plugins or scripts that slow your site

5. Add Local Content That Matters

Write blog posts or pages about things Winnipeg locals care about — like events, landmarks, or guides.

Examples:

  • “Best Mountain Biking Trails Near Winnipeg”
  • “How to Choose a Web Designer in Winnipeg”
  • “Top 5 Local Cafes for Remote Work in Winnipeg”

Google loves local relevance, and your visitors will too.

6. Build Local Backlinks

Backlinks from local websites boost your credibility with Google.

How?

  • Partner with local organizations, charities, or events and get listed on their sites
  • Sponsor a Winnipeg event or sports team and ask for a link
  • Write guest posts for local blogs or news outlets

7. Use Structured Data (Schema Markup) for Local Business

This sounds geeky but bear with me — adding schema markup helps Google understand your business info better and can earn you fancy rich snippets in search.

How to start:

  • Use a WordPress plugin like Yoast SEO or Schema Pro to add LocalBusiness schema
  • Make sure your address, phone, and hours are included in the code

Confused? We can kick start your SEO with some nerdy schema for you.

Nailing local SEO in Winnipeg doesn’t need to be rocket science or drain your time. Nail these 7 quick wins, and you’ll be well on your way to outranking your local competition and getting more customers knocking on your door (or clicking your site).

Need help? Ninja Tuna specializes in local SEO for Winnipeg small businesses — no BS, just results.

Give us a shout and let’s get your business found, fast.

Get your free SEO Audit