About Mike Allan, SEO Coach

I have been interested in SEO since the early days of the Internet. Back when there wasn’t any Google, but Yahoo, AskJeeves, AltaVista and a few other now-defunct search engines. It was 1998 when I came across an article on how search worked. The article said to implement these lines of code called “metadata” to give your site a title and description. So I bought a domain name and optimized it to the best of my ability with the limited knowledge available for SEO and Search Engine Optimization. Within weeks my site started climbing the old Yahoo directory ranks. Before long, I was in the top 10 on Yahoo for “SEO” and “Search Engine Optimization.”  

Armed with this victory, I set up a side business in SEO. I acquired a few clients, and for the next decade, I kept optimizing my sites and the occasional client.

In 2005 I set out on my own as a corporate video producer. I set up a website and had mediocre success. Then, in the fall of 2006, I noticed my corporate video clients started to drop off, and I was getting more calls from consumers to convert old VHS tapes to DVDs. So I rejigged my website to focus on consumer VHS to DVD transfers in Toronto. I shot up to number one and kept that spot for many years. 

I was asked how I got to be number one on Google for my keywords. I showed him the basics, and when he ran into trouble, I helped him out. Thus the idea behind being an SEO Coach came about. Then, he told a colleague, who told a colleague, and before I knew it, I was busier with SEO than with video production.

In 2008 I gave up the video business and started doing SEO full-time as an in-house SEO for Direct Energy. When that contract ended, I worked for several small agencies before joining Sapient Nitro as a Sr. SEO Manager.

I worked with top Canadian household brands such as Loblaws and Rogers and managed the US SEO for Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep and Ram Trucks. Other clients I have worked on include Amana, Claire’s, GameStop, Mercedes Benz, Party City, and USAA accounts. Over the last 12 years, I have conducted comprehensive SEO technical audits on sites with hundreds of pages, meticulously crafted thousands of title and description tags, written hundreds of pages of optimized copy, successfully migrated sites with a minimal loss of traffic and authored in-depth monthly analytics reports across multiple verticals. In addition, my expertise extends to boosting local SEO for national chains, ensuring maximum online visibility.

I am bringing these proven SEO strategies to your business, providing you with agency-quality results at affordable rates. From content creation to technical optimization, my holistic approach ensures that your website is visible to search engines and engaging for your customers.

In addition to SEO expertise, I’m well-versed in other digital marketing strategies, such as social media management, pay-per-click advertising, and affiliate marketing. This diverse skill set allows me to create a comprehensive online marketing plan that works cohesively to boost your brand’s visibility and attract potential customers.

Experience the benefits of my holistic approach to online marketing. Let my passion for creativity and commitment to excellence elevate your business to new heights. Together, we can unlock your online potential and create a bright future for your business in the thriving Toronto business landscape.