Mike Forgie, Local Marketing Specialist

Digital Marketing Specialist

Next Step Connect

Next Step Connect has a sole purpose: connect you to your audience. 
We use paid and organic Ad Strategies to deliver you qualified prospects for easier sales.

Owner

Mike Forgie

Hey! If you need a marketing strategy for better search engine results or social media exposure, it is time we talk.

Need help getting your business exposure online? I can help you with SEO, Google/Facebook/Instagram ads, and more!

My main clients include:
Agencies that need SEO and social media strategies developed and performed.
Experiential markets such as yacht rentals, supercar/exotic auto drives, helicopter tours, and more. For many of these markets, I can provide photo and video services.
Any company that needs local clients such a wedding equipment (tent, chair, table, etc) rental, contractors, construction equipment rental, medical practices, and more.

Marketing Strategist

M studio Design & Marketing

M studio is an amazing branding, marketing, design and communications agency. Their assets such a Public Relatiosn assists perfectly in the target marketing needed for effective off-page SEO. As for on-page SEO, I work with designers and developers to create websites that will perform on both search engines and as lead generating vehicles

SEO Specialist

PCG Digital Marketing

I started as a Content Writer and quickly moved my way up the ranks at PCG resulting in a Digital Marketing Specialist position. 
One of my main duties at PCG was to create a user journey throughout our new website in order to capture leads. Each page on the site was optimized for specific keywords, whether general or long-tail.

Evolution

I managed the Public Relations/Marketing team of four to reach target markets, developed promotional campaigns to increase search engine optimization and social media awareness, and organized the creation of copyright materials such as press releases, blog posts, and print/online advertisements.

Public Relations/Marketing Manager

Artist Arena

My duties as a freelance apprentice were to administer fan club websites for top pop bands (e.g. Paramore, Fall Out Boy, Green Day), organize and disperse promotional material, and promote the fan clubs.

Freelance

EMI Music Publishing

For college credit I interned for EMI Group, mainly Virgin and Capitol Records, in New York. Here I learned how to read Nielson Soundscan reports, develop and analyze press packets for musicians like Katy Perry, and analyze albums to match with products and/or organizations.

Intern

Excess dB Entertainment

As a member of the street team I handed out promotion materials, performed stagehand work, was the liaison for guests and artists, catered to artists, and attended events at least once a week.

Street Team

I help Local Businesses with SEO/SEM | Get your Free Site and Competitor Report below | Over $1,000,000 Generated From Local, Cash-In-Hand Customers

What most sounds like you and your business:

 1. Looking for effective marketing strategies (to get more clients and beat the competition)
 2. Need someone to run all your marketing so you can do what you enjoy

Or both of the above? I've been a freelancer for 15+ years, helping businesses grow to over $1,000,000. I've learned quite a bit in that time.   

Business owners hate marketing because: 
 X it costs money
 X takes time to learn
 X changes often
 X competition is fierce
 X they have hired bad services in the past

Cut through all that struggle. Either implement what I teach or hire me to take care of it all for you!

Using the latest tools, I refine my decade of experience in:
 - SEO
 - Content Creation
 - Social Media Outreach
 - Search Engine Advertising
 - Website Management

All to empower you to run your business leaner and scale quicker.

DM me for more info. I LOVE to chat via Google Meet or Zoom, provide guides, and sincerely help local businesses dominate their markets.

My dog and I almost got arrested on the boardwalk this week.
(Okay, not really arrested — but we definitely got kicked off and a threat of a fine.)

Here’s the story:

In my town, you can walk your dogs on the boardwalk and beach pretty much allyear — until tourist season hits. 

Then the “No Dogs Allowed” signs go up, and suddenly your daily routine changes. 

I’ve lived here 13 years. 
Out of habit, I was walking my dog on the boardwalk this week — and got stopped by the cops. 

Rules are rules, I get it. 
But she’s my best friend. 
She deserves her walks in the sun. 
And I’m not going to stop living my life (or hers) because of stupid rules.

So I found a workaround: a dog backpack.

We originally got it for hiking — she’s getting older, and sometimes those long, hot inclines are too much. 

Now it means we can still hit the boardwalk when we want, and she still gets her sunshine.

It got me thinking about how much clarity (or lack thereof) impacts where I spend my money when I travel — especially with my dog.

I’m always looking for dog-friendly businesses. 
I use sites like BringFido.com, but I also check Google Business Profiles obsessively. 

The problem? So many businesses say they’re “dog friendly” — but only on the patio...
or only during certain hours...
or only if your dog is under 10 pounds.

The rules are never clear.

If a business wants to earn my money, they need to be crystal clear about what they offer.

And that’s the lesson for every local business:

Is your Google Business Profile so clear and so optimized that your ideal customer knows exactly what they’re getting?

Are you answering their unspoken questions before they even ask?

Or are you making them guess — and risking they just go somewhere else?

Clarity wins. 

Especially when it comes to: 
- who you serve
- how you serve them
- what makes you worth choosing

Food for thought as we head into the weekend.

What’s one “hidden rule” or unclear offer you’ve seen that cost a business your money? Curious to hear your stories.

Helping Local Service Businesses Get Found and Get Sales — Not Just Clicks. | Google Maps, SEO, & High-Intent Ads

Exactly how I would beat your competition by the end of Q3

I pulled my research from just the last few weeks and here's the list of what I would do if I wanted to crush every competitor in my area by September 30th:

Google Business Profile Optimization:
- Claim and verify business
- Complete every field 
- Add all relevant categories and services
- Align website structure with GBP details
- Create expanded service pages targeting local needs
- Ensure NAP consistency across all platforms
- Add photos and videos
- Get reviews

Content Creation:
- Create localized content for every neighborhood served
- Develop engaging video content
- Share professional insights on LinkedIn
- Create educational blog posts for unaware customers
- Write informative guides for common challenges
- Develop comparison articles for solution-aware prospects
- Create detailed product descriptions and case studies
- Gather testimonials

Technical SEO:
- Add schema markup to website
- Review robots.txt file for crawlers
- Convert critical content to HTML format
- Integrate organization and article schema
- Improve internal linking structures
- Enhance content formatting with headings and bullet points
- Add TLDR

Link Building & Authority:
- Reach out to reputable sites for backlinks
- Develop high-quality linkbait content
- Create data studies and infographics
- Build quality external links from industry authorities
- Get contacts at local news outlets

AI Search Optimization:
- Research AI search algorithms
- Study user behavior changes due to AI
- Audit current website structure for AI alignment
- Analyze target audience AI usage habits
- Implement AI tracking tools for brand mentions
- Develop content adhering to EEAT principles
- Optimize content for semantic search
- Use AI tools for content generation and refinement

Multi-Platform Strategy:
- Conduct multi-platform audit 
- Evaluate content performance across platforms
- List on structured data platforms
- Update directory listings
- Create platform-specific content strategies
- Implement product listings and reviews

Performance Tracking:
- Track rankings and GBP performance
- Monitor website analytics and engagement
- Use Google Analytics 4 for behavior analysis
- Set up AI search result tracking
- Review performance data regularly
- Identify areas needing improvement

Paid Amplification:
- Implement targeted paid ads
- Drive traffic to key content
- Use budget-efficient platforms
- Enhance exposure during events

The reality? This is overwhelming for most business owners. You don't have time for ALL of this.

But your competitors probably aren't doing ANY of this.

That's the opportunity.

Would you rather spend the next 3 months trying to implement this massive list, or have me handle it while you focus on running your business?

Get the results without the overwhelm.

Ready to dominate by Q4?

📸 I compressed discs in my neck from being on the computer so much!

This week felt like a tidal wave of AI updates, client work, and just... noise.
Getting off calls, processing new information, trying to anticipate what's next felt relentless.

Last night, I took a moment to just... be.

Looking out at the ocean, the constant churn of the digital world feels a little less overwhelming.
Out here, it's just about the waves, the sand, and the quiet companionship of my best friend.

It's a powerful reminder that sometimes, the best way to see the path forward isn't by diving deeper into the chaos.
It's by stepping back.
By finding space to breathe.
By gaining a little perspective.

The same is true in business and marketing.
The algorithms dance, the tools change, the updates hit fast.
It's easy to get caught in the undertow.

But when I step back, take a breath, and look at the horizon...
The fundamentals become clear again.
- Focus on serving the customer.
- Build genuine trust.
- Ship great work.
- Communicate clearly.

Those are the anchors that keep you grounded when the digital seas get rough.

Finding that moment of calm – for me, it's here.
Find yours.
It's often where the clarity for your next big move actually emerges.

What helps YOU step back and find clarity when things feel overwhelming? Share your rituals in the comments. 👇

I'm typing this with hands that feel like they're asleep, and this accident revealed the AI shift businesses are ignoring.

Compressed discs in my neck mean my hands are constantly tingly, numb, like that pins-and-needles feeling when you sleep wrong.

It's been going on for weeks.

Since typing is now annoying as f*ck, I've been talking to my computer instead.
Voice-to-text or just voice notes for everything.

But the way I naturally talk to my computer?
That's exactly how people are starting to search.

"Hey Google, what's the best restaurant near me that has outdoor seating and takes reservations?"
Not: "restaurant outdoor seating reservations"

The AI overviews popping up in search results?
They respond to conversational queries.

The way you talk to ChatGPT, Siri, Claude...that's becoming how all search works.

Remember my post about the Ex-Google Business Profiles Director, Brad Wetherall last week?

If not, he slipped a good tip on optimizing for voice search algorithms.

So, I've been digging deeper into what AI overviews actually favor, and it's fascinating!

AI overviews are focusing on core fundamentals that people forgot 
(because we became so algorithm-forward). 

It's more "humanized" now.

As a result, I'm putting together a NEW checklist of what's working right now.

Are you seeing AI overviews in your search results?
And would you want early access to my AI overview optimization checklist?

Reality check, it's July 1st, and you aren't winning because you didn't start.
Here's some motivation to win in 2025... 

My client has a 5900% website click increase and 2000% phone call increase.
They're closing deals.
And they started late!

Maybe you had big plans with your New Year's resolution. 
You were going to hire a social media ads specialist, implement Google ads, or launch your new website.

If you missed your chance to start early, this is your last chance to win before the end of the year creeps up.

You can still dominate. 

My client started in Q2 and they're now racking in metrics like:
- Search Views: 503 (up 300%)
- Maps Views: 245 (up 500%)
- Phone Calls: 20 calls (up 2000%)
- Website Clicks: 359 (up 5900%)
- Direction Requests: 99 (up 9900%)
- Keyword rankings improved by 450% for two-bedroom apartments
- Now ranking in Top 3 for key searches

Would you want to see wins in the next 3 months so you're closing 2025 on top?

I can kickstart your local domination tomorrow. 
Within 3 months, we can see positive movement like above. 
Within 6 months, you could be the top choice in your area. 

By 2026, your business could be completely different.
You will have a marketing, content, and site management team.
You can focus on increasing your income, while I focus on scaling you online. 

Are you going to let the next 3-6 months slip by?

Stop guessing about AI search.

I joined a live session with an Ex-Google Business Profiles Director, Brad Wetherall, and experts to get answers.

Here's the most critical information you NEED to know about AI, Google, and ranking your local business today. 👇

I condensed the key takeaways - the insights you can act on right now - into this quick visual recap.

Swipe through to get the blueprint for staying ahead in this rapidly changing landscape.

Remember, my free guide and checklist in my featured section will help you achieve all of Brad's takeaways.

 What local businesses NEED to know about ranking in 2025+

Independence Day. That word - independence - means everything to me as a business owner.

247 years ago, our country fought for the right to break free from others controlling our destiny.

Today, business owners fight that same battle every single day.

Independence isn't just about fireworks and barbecues.

It's about the construction company owner who left his corporate job to build something his own way.

It's about the restaurant owner who risked everything because she believed in her vision.

It's about the real estate agent who chose commission over salary because he wanted control over his income.

Being a business owner in America is freedom.

Freedom to succeed. Freedom to fail. Freedom to try again.

But it's also work. Real work. The kind that keeps you up at night and gets you up early.

This is why I do what I do.

I believe in the independence that every local business owner deserves.

You shouldn't have to worry about whether people can find you online while you're busy providing the best service to your current customers.

That's why I try to be the marketing solution that lets you focus on what you built your business to do.

You handle the work you love. I ensure that your community finds you.

Because every small business owner who succeeds is proof that independence still works in America.

Happy 4th of July to every business owner fighting for their piece of the American dream.

Your independence matters.

📸 enjoying my independence by enjoying our oceans

Launched April 21st - Already signing leases!
This apartment building's website isn't even live yet....

Here is how my GBP + Smart Ads Blueprint delivers results.

A brand new luxury apartment building client.
Online presence before we started? Absolute zero.

Here is what happened in just over five weeks (4/21 - 5/31), using my Google Business Profile optimization strategy and finely-targeted search ads:

Search Views: 306 (a 30,600% increase from nothing)
Map Views: 141 (a 14,100% increase from nothing)
Ad Spend: Using under 50% of their allocated budget.
Outcome: Already signing leases for apartments, *before* the building is officially open.

Bonus: We are even getting organic ranking and serious interest from people in another STATE planning to move here.

This is not luck.
This is what happens when:
1. Your Google Business Profile is meticulously optimized (description, 20+ services, categories, photos, scheduled Q&As, updates, video, AI review links, keyword heatmaps – the works).
2. Your Search Engine Marketing (SEM) is laser-focused, working in perfect synergy with your organic visibility efforts.

This is proof of the power of owning your local visibility the right way, even before your main website launches and traditional organic SEO kicks in.

It is not just about ranking; it is about ranking for intent and converting that visibility into tangible business outcomes, fast.

My clients do not just see numbers go up; they see their business transform.
This is what dominating your local market looks like.

Want to see the system that makes these kinds of results possible for local businesses, even brand new ones, leveraging strategies that get you seen now? 

I can meticulously optimize your Google Business Profile and implement finely-targeted ads for your local business.

5 simple video cues that solved our commercial developer client's biggest content problem...

Our commercial development client had the same problem every business faces: 
"We know we need video content, but we never know WHAT to film."

Sound familiar?

Their team would walk through million-dollar properties with their phones in their pockets because they had no system for capturing content.

Here's the simple 5-cue system we gave them that changed everything:

1️⃣ Door cue: See a door? Open your phone, hit record, walk up and reveal what's inside. Creates natural anticipation.
2️⃣ Window cue: Every window = content opportunity. Film the view or how natural light transforms the space.
3️⃣ Corner cue: Find the best corner in each room for a smooth pan across the entire space. Shows scale instantly.
4️⃣ Threshold cue: Moving from one room to another? Perfect natural transition point for dynamic shots.
5️⃣ Elevation change cue: Stairs, ramps, level changes - creates dynamic movement that shows flow between spaces.

Bonus cues that worked:
✅ People interaction points (reception desks, conference areas)
✅ Technology features (smart building systems, modern fixtures)
✅ Outdoor-to-indoor transitions (entrances, patios, balconies)
✅ Detail shots (door handles, countertop patterns, dramatic lighting)

The results?
After our meeting, their agents IMMEDIATELY sent me 5 videos. 

This is an overflow in the content pipeline for social media, ads, and YouTube.

Local SEO gets a big boost from video content.

The real win: 
They went from "we don't know what to film" to "we have too much great content to choose from."

Why this works: 
Remove decision fatigue. 
Give people triggers, not creative assignments.

Save this post. Next time you're walking through your business space, try these cues. You'll have a week's worth of content in 20 minutes.

What's stopping your team from creating more video content? 
Usually it's not equipment - it's knowing what to capture.




📹 This video was shot by our commercial development client using the simple cue system we taught them. Notice how they used the door cue. No professional crew, no expensive equipment - just following the triggers we gave them.

The client contract ended. The website still wasn't launched. And I could feel their stress through emails and meetings....

Six months ago, we started working together with a simple plan: website launches in Month 3, SEO kicks into high gear, everyone's happy.

But you know how website projects go... Month 3 became Month 6.

From their perspective? They'd been paying monthly fees with nothing to show for it. 

I get it. I'd be stressed too.

When our contract ended, they said "we need to circle back." 
Translation: we might be done here.

Here's what I didn't do: 
panic, pressure them, or make excuses about the delayed launch.

Here's what I DID do (because I'm an organized, structured weirdo):
- Used their budget to stack months of content ready for launch 
- Built out link acquisition campaigns waiting to deploy 
- Allocated launch transition support (because that's what they paid for) 
- Gave them space to process without pressuring

When we finally talked Friday, they shared their concerns. 

But then something clicked.

They realized we hadn't been sitting idle for 3 months. 
We'd been PREPARING.

Those blogs they thought they'd missed? 
Already written and ready to publish. 

The launch support they were worried about? 
Built into our commitment. 

The "wasted" months? 
Actually strategic preparation time.

The result? 
"We want to discuss the next phase of our contract." 
(AKA - my team and I did a great job and they want to continue working with us)

3 lessons from almost losing a client:

1. Systems beat panic - Having structured processes means delays become opportunities, not disasters
2. Honor commitments regardless of external delays - We were paid for launch support, so we're delivering it
3. Give stressed clients space - Sometimes the best sales strategy is stepping back

The power isn't in never having problems. 
It's in how your systems handle the problems when they come.

What's a time when your preparation saved a client relationship?

📸 - this is me building an entire project management sheet cause I am fed up with Asana, Monday, Trello, etc. My team needed something simpler, straight forward, and that we controlled. I believe once Gemini can work between all of drive, this will be the best project management system.
🐶 Also my assistant is always sleeping on the job!

Admittedly, I love being on podcasts, and this one has some secret sauce in it.

Christopher Alarcon and I both live in New Jersey, so it was pretty awesome to talk with him about local businesses.

In the world of generative search optimization (geo) We need to remember that they are all search engines…

Ghostwriting that turns B2B service founders into thought leaders

“SEO ≠ Google,” Mike Forgie told me on the podcast.

Most buyers now ask AI, not a browser, who to hire.

Do this:

1. Sync your Google Business Profile with Bing Places (ChatGPT’s local data source).
2. Test it: ask ChatGPT “Who’s the best [niche] in [city]?” then ask why—the lists it cites are your roadmap.
3. Pitch every list owner until you’re on each one.
4. Match your name, category, and contact info everywhere—bots read consistency as credibility.

When next-gen search serves you in one click, prospects skip comparison shopping and head straight to your inbox.

Full convo with Mike in the comments.

Why my apartment developer client DOMINATES AI search results...
even though their website has not even launched yet!

I did a search for them in AI Mode, and the outcome was incredible.
Why?

Because AI Mode is pulling information directly from their Google Business Profile.

And their GBP is meticulously optimized to give Google exactly what it needs to recommend them.

Our hyper-focused GBP strategy for them included:

→ Getting new reviews regularly
→ Uploading new images weekly
→ Adding their services as products (a key AI data point)
→ Posting updates every few days
→ Connecting their social media accounts

They haven't even launched their main website yet, so traditional organic SEO isn't even in play.

This is concrete proof:
Your Google Business Profile is a MASSIVE resource for AI Mode search.
If it's optimized to feed AI the right information, you can rank and get seen, even against established competitors.

Forget waiting for your website SEO to kick in.
Focus on your GBP first.

Want the quick checklist I use to make sure a Google Business Profile is giving Google's AI exactly what it needs to recommend it?

Comment "GBP AI READY" below, and I'll send you the template.

My phone just asked me if I wanted to switch to "AI mode" for Google search.
It's here. And it's a bigger deal than most local businesses realize!

I have been talking about this shift for a while...
and Search Engine Journal just featured insights from SEO pro Navneet Kaushal that confirm what we are seeing...

Google's AI powered search is not a future concept; 
it is rapidly becoming the default.

(You can dive into Navneet's deconstruction and Google's own details on AI mode development in the articles I will link in the first comment – definitely worth the read.)

But what does this "AI mode" actually mean for your local business on a practical level?

Here is the no-fluff breakdown:

1. Your Google Business Profile IS your new homepage (often):
- When AI mode serves up local business options, the click often leads DIRECTLY to the GBP, bypassing websites. 
- If your GBP is not a conversion machine, you are losing out.

2. "Helpful content" gets a new definition:
- AI mode is designed to synthesize information and provide direct answers. 
- This means blog posts, FAQs, and service descriptions need to be incredibly clear, concise, and directly answer questions your ideal customers are typing (or saying) into search. 
- Thin content or keyword stuffed pages will fail harder than ever.

3. E-E-A-T (experience, expertise, authoritativeness, trustworthiness) is no longer negotiable:
- AI will heavily favor businesses that demonstrate deep expertise and are trusted sources. 
This means:
  → Genuine, detailed reviews (not just star ratings)
  → Mentions from other reputable local sites or publications
  → Content on your site that clearly proves you know your stuff.

4. Structured data and technical SEO are your AI's best friends:
- While content is king, the AI still needs to understand your content. 
- Clean site structure, schema markup, and technical soundness help AI accurately interpret and present your information.

The bottom line?
Google's AI mode is not just changing how results look; 
it is changing what Google values.

Businesses that adapt by treating their entire online presence as a source of clear, authoritative, helpful data for AI will win.

Those still relying on old-school keyword tactics alone are in for a rude awakening.

This is not about fear. 
It is about informed action.

Want to understand if your local business is truly "AI mode ready"?
Check out my featured section to get a local SEO checklist and prompts you can use on any AI to optimize your local business.

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