Client Overview
Commonwealth Landcare is a locally owned landscaping company based in Glen Allen, serving the greater Richmond, Virginia metro. They handle residential and commercial landscaping and grounds care. Capable and experienced, Commonwealth had the skills to win bigger work, but a weak online rating and low visibility were holding them back, especially with the commercial clients they wanted most.
Scope of Work
We ran three connected pillars:
- Google Business Profile & Reputation: to lift a weak 4.3-star rating and build trust.
- Local SEO: to climb from #9 for Richmond landscaping searches.
- Google Ads: to win high-value commercial and design-build work.
Objective
Commonwealth had a reputation problem and a visibility problem. Their 4.3-star rating, lower than competitors, and thin review count made homeowners and commercial clients hesitate. On top of that, they ranked around #9 for “landscaping Richmond VA,” buried where few people look. Their goal was to repair their online reputation, climb the rankings, and win more of the steady, high-value commercial landscaping contracts they were built to handle.
The Challenge
Commonwealth had the capability, but their online presence worked against them. Here’s where they were stuck:
- Weak reputation: A 4.3 rating with only about 20 reviews put them below competitors. In a business built on trust, that gap quietly sent clients elsewhere before Commonwealth ever got a call.
- Buried rankings: At #9 for “landscaping Richmond VA,” they were nearly invisible. Even capable companies lose work when they rank that low.
- Missing commercial work: The steady, high-value commercial contracts they wanted go to companies that look established and trustworthy online, exactly the impression a low rating and weak visibility undercut.
Strategy and Execution
- Google Business Profile & Reputation: Lifted the Rating. We optimized their profile and set up a system to consistently ask satisfied customers for reviews, steadily lifting their rating and review count. We also helped them respond professionally to past feedback, showing prospects a company that cares.
Key Tactic: We turned a steady flow of new, positive reviews into a rising rating that rebuilt trust over time. - Local SEO: Climbed From #9. We rebuilt their site around Richmond landscaping searches, created dedicated residential and commercial service pages, and added local content and schema so they could climb from page two into the results that get seen.
Key Tactic: We built a separate, optimized path for commercial work, the high-value clients Commonwealth wanted most. - Google Ads: Won Commercial Projects. We launched targeted Google Ads aimed at commercial and design-build searches, with call and form tracking, so Commonwealth could win premium contracts while their rankings and reputation grew.
Key Tactic: We pointed ad budget at the high-value commercial searches, not just one-off residential jobs.
The Results
Within a few months, Commonwealth’s online presence turned from a liability into an asset.
Reputation
A steady stream of new reviews lifted their rating above where it started and built the volume to compete, turning a weak spot into a trust signal.
Local Keyword Rankings
Commonwealth climbed from #9 into the visible results for “landscaping Richmond VA” and ranked for commercial and residential searches across the metro.
Profile & Reviews
Google Business Profile views jumped, as the stronger rating and rising review count pulled them up the map pack.
Calls & Leads
Tracked calls and leads both rose, including more of the high-value commercial contracts they were after.
The result: a capable company whose online reputation finally matches its work, and wins bigger jobs because of it.
Key Takeaways
- Reputation is repairable. A steady flow of new, positive reviews lifts a weak rating over time.
- Rating drives decisions. Clients compare star ratings before they call. A low one quietly costs you work.
- Respond to feedback. Professional replies show prospects a company that cares.
- Separate your commercial path. High-value B2B work needs its own optimized pages and ads.
- Visibility plus trust wins. Climbing from #9 only helps if the reputation backs it up, so we fixed both.
- Looking established wins bigger jobs. Commercial clients hire companies that look the part online.
Conclusion
Commonwealth Landcare had the skills but a weak 4.3 rating and a #9 ranking were costing them work. We repaired their reputation, climbed their rankings, and targeted the commercial contracts they wanted. Their profile views and calls are up, and their rating and visibility now work for them instead of against them. Today, Commonwealth wins the high-value Richmond work their capability always deserved.
