SearchLab Digital Wins at the 2025 US Search Awards

Search Labs celebrate and share their US Search Awards case study and what it means to them.

We’re excited to share some big news: SearchLab Digital has been named a winner at the 2025 US Search Awards for our work with Jim Burke Ford in Bakersfield, California.

Our team took home the award for Best Local Campaign (SEO), a recognition that means a lot to us as an agency that lives and breathes local search

Winning isn’t just about the trophy (though, let’s be honest, that’s pretty fun). It’s about what the award represents: the power of doing SEO differently.

Instead of chasing vanity metrics, we focused on solving real customer problems, building trust, and turning a dealership’s website into the go-to resource for its community.

About SearchLab Digital

At SearchLab, we’re a local SEO and PPC agency headquartered in Chicago, with additional offices in Texas and Florida. We specialize in helping businesses, especially auto dealerships, law firms, service-based businesses, and multi-location brands, get found in more local searches.

Our team combines deep expertise in SEO, creative content, and data-driven PPC strategies to drive measurable results.

But we’re also known for something less tangible: making search simple.

We believe in cutting through the noise, explaining what actually matters, and helping businesses put their marketing dollars where it counts.

You can learn more about us on our website, or connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter/X.

The Award-Winning Campaign: Jim Burke Ford

Now, let’s talk about this award-winning campaign.

Bakersfield is one of the most competitive auto markets in California. Jim Burke Ford is a trusted dealership offline, but their online presence didn’t reflect that reputation. With roughly 8,000 monthly site visits, most of which came from generic OEM content, they weren’t ranking for the queries that actually mattered or converting local shoppers into leads.

Our objectives were clear but ambitious:

• Increase site traffic by 25%
• Grow leads by 20%
• Transform the site into the most trusted Ford resource in Bakersfield

What We Did Differently

Customer-First Content
Instead of chasing keyword lists, we dug into the real questions drivers were asking:

• “How do I turn off Ford MyKey without the admin key?”
• “Ford Explorer vs. Hyundai Palisade: what’s the difference?”

By answering these questions with detailed, hyper-local content, we became the voice shoppers trusted.

Google Business Profile Overhaul
We cleaned up the dealership’s GBP, fixed tracking issues, and built out reviews and responses that actually reflected the brand’s voice and care for customers.

Site Experience That Converts
From better CTAs to improved navigation, the site became not just a place to browse, but a resource that guided people to book service, schedule test drives, and reach out directly.

The Results

• Traffic skyrocketed past the 25% goal
• Leads increased well above target
• Jim Burke Ford became visible, trusted, and competitive in one of California’s toughest auto markets

What Winning Means to Us

Entering awards isn’t just about recognition. It’s about taking a step back, reflecting on the work we’ve done, and celebrating the wins with our team

For us, this award validates the approach we take every day: SEO isn’t just about rankings, it’s about solving real problems for real people.

Team Testimonials

“Entering the US Search Awards gave us a chance to shine a light on the kind of work our team does every day, and to have the judges recognize it means the world. This campaign in particular showed what happens when you stop writing for Google and start writing for drivers. That’s what makes this win so extra special.” — Ashley Segura, Director of Marketing at SearchLab Digital

Thank You

We want to thank the US Search Awards team and judges for recognizing our work, and most importantly, our client Jim Burke Ford for trusting us to take a different path.

If you’re curious about how we can help your business stand out in local search, you can learn more about our SEO services or get in touch with us.