Executive Summary
Connesso has zero organic search visibility for any primary keyword in either the Raleigh or Columbus market. The company does not appear in search results for "home automation," "smart home installer," "home theater," "lighting control," or any related query in either city. This is not a ranking problem. This is a presence problem. Connesso's website, in its current form, is not competing.
This report identifies why competitors are winning local search, what Connesso is missing, and exactly what needs to change. The findings are organized into five areas: current website problems, keyword opportunities, content gaps, technical SEO requirements, and directory and citation strategy.
Current Website Problems
The Connesso website has several issues that directly contradict the Voice and Writing Guidelines and actively harm search performance.
Title Tag
Problems with Current Title
- "Welcome to" wastes the most valuable SEO real estate on the page. No one searches for "Welcome to."
- "Custom Integration" is industry jargon that homeowners do not search for.
- "Low Voltage Services" is legacy integrator language. The Voice and Writing Guidelines explicitly prohibit using "low voltage" in consumer-facing contexts.
- The title does not include either market city (Raleigh, Columbus).
- The title does not include the brand category ("Home Experience Design").
Why the Recommended Title Works: It leads with the brand, uses the defined category from the guidelines, and includes both market cities for local SEO. It is specific, differentiated, and searchable.
Homepage Copy
Current problems identified on the live site:
- "Technology solutions" appears on the homepage. This is a banned word per Part Three of the Voice and Writing Guidelines. "Solutions" is number ten on the banned word list.
- "Elevated connected experiences" is vague aspirational language that violates the specificity principle. What does "elevated" mean? What does "connected experiences" mean to someone who has never heard of Connesso?
- The homepage does not mention either market city by name.
- No structured data (schema markup) detected.
Meta Description
The homepage meta description needs to be specific, city-inclusive, and aligned with voice guidelines. It should tell a homeowner in 155 characters or fewer what Connesso does and where they do it.
Keyword Opportunities
Primary Keywords (High Intent, Local)
These are the terms homeowners search when they are actively looking for an integrator. Connesso is not visible for any of them.
| Keyword | Monthly Search Volume (Est.) | Current Connesso Ranking | Top Local Competitor |
|---|---|---|---|
| home automation raleigh nc | 100–250 | Not ranked | Neuwave (~#8) |
| home automation columbus ohio | 100–250 | Not ranked | Sound & Vision |
| smart home installer raleigh | 50–150 | Not ranked | Audio Advice |
| smart home installer columbus | 50–150 | Not ranked | Digital Home Designs |
| home theater raleigh | 100–300 | Not ranked | Audio Advice |
| home theater columbus | 100–300 | Not ranked | Genesis Audio |
| home theater installation near me | 500–1,000 | Not ranked | Varies by location |
| lighting control raleigh | 20–50 | Not ranked | None dominant |
| lighting control columbus | 20–50 | Not ranked | None dominant |
| whole home audio raleigh | 20–50 | Not ranked | Audio Advice |
| whole home audio columbus | 20–50 | Not ranked | Genesis Audio |
Secondary Keywords (Informational, Top-of-Funnel)
These are terms homeowners search when they are researching, not yet ready to buy. Content that ranks for these terms captures attention before the homeowner contacts any integrator.
| Keyword | Monthly Search Volume (Est.) | Content Type Needed |
|---|---|---|
| smart home ideas | 1,000–5,000 | Blog post, gallery |
| home automation cost | 500–2,000 | Guide with real price ranges |
| is home automation worth it | 200–500 | Blog post, case study |
| best smart home system 2026 | 500–1,500 | Comparison guide |
| home theater room ideas | 1,000–5,000 | Gallery, design guide |
| motorized shades cost | 200–500 | Guide with real price ranges |
| whole home audio system cost | 200–500 | Guide with real price ranges |
| smart home for new construction | 100–300 | Guide, builder partnership page |
| home automation for aging in place | 50–200 | Blog post, service page |
Uncontested Keywords (Low Competition, High Opportunity)
These terms have minimal or zero competition from named integrators in either market. Connesso can own these with targeted content.
| Keyword | Why It Is Uncontested | Connesso Opportunity |
|---|---|---|
| low voltage contractor raleigh | Primary integrators avoid this term (it's legacy language). Connesso should NOT use it in consumer copy, instead create a landing page targeting builders and trades who do search this term. | Trade-facing landing page |
| low voltage contractor columbus | Same as above. | Trade-facing landing page |
| home experience design | No competitor uses this category term. Connesso defined it. Own it. | Category page, blog content |
| smart home design partner raleigh | Nobody ranks for this. Connesso's positioning maps directly to it. | Service page, location page |
| home technology consultation columbus | No local results for this query. | Service page |
| pre-wire new construction raleigh | Builders search this. No integrator ranks locally. | Builder-facing content |
Content Gaps
Connesso publishes no blog content, no case studies, no educational guides, and no project narratives. This is the single largest barrier to organic search visibility.
What Competitors Publish That Connesso Does Not
Audio Advice publishes buying guides, product reviews, comparison articles, and design inspiration content. This captures top-of-funnel traffic from homeowners who are researching, not yet buying.
Sound & Vision maintains an active blog with project spotlights, technology explainers, and seasonal content. Their three showroom locations each have local landing pages that rank in the local pack.
Genesis Audio produces lifestyle video content, interactive design tools, and brand portfolio pages. Their visual content earns longer time-on-site and stronger engagement signals.
Neuwave has LocalBusiness schema markup that gives them a technical advantage in local search results even with limited content.
Content Connesso Should Create
Immediate Priority (Month 1–2):
- Location pages for Raleigh and Columbus. Each page should describe the market, mention neighborhoods, and include a Google Maps embed. These pages are the foundation of local SEO.
- Service category pages aligned with the Voice and Writing Guidelines service categories: Light and Shade, Sound and Screen, Comfort and Climate, Safety and Security, Control and Network, Design and Build, Care and Support. Each page targets specific keywords.
- Google Business Profile pages for both Raleigh and Columbus offices (if not already claimed). Complete every field. Add photos weekly. Post updates monthly.
Near-Term Priority (Month 2–4):
- Four. Three to five project case studies with photos, scope description, specific systems installed, and client quotes. Follow the Voice and Writing Guidelines format: lead with what the homeowner experiences, not the equipment list.
- Five. A "What Does Home Automation Cost?" guide. This is the highest-volume informational query in the category. Competitors avoid publishing pricing. Connesso's transparency principle (from the guidelines) makes this a natural fit. Include real price ranges by system type.
- Six. A "New Construction Technology Guide" targeting builders and homeowners building custom homes. This serves both the builder audience and the homeowner audience simultaneously.
Ongoing Priority (Monthly):
- Seven. Blog cadence of two to four posts per month covering: project spotlights, technology explainers, seasonal content (outdoor entertainment in summer, holiday lighting in winter), design inspiration, and "ask the designer" Q&A.
- Eight. Video content. Even one project walkthrough video per quarter would put Connesso ahead of most competitors in both markets. Video results earn prominent placement in search results.
Technical SEO Requirements
Structured Data (Schema Markup)
Connesso's website has no detectable structured data. This is a significant disadvantage. At minimum, the following schema types should be implemented:
LocalBusiness Schema (required for both Raleigh and Columbus locations):
Each location needs name, address, phone number, hours, service area, geo coordinates, and URLs. This is the single most impactful technical SEO action Connesso can take.
Service Schema:
Each service category page should include Service schema markup with service type, provider (Connesso), area served, and description.
FAQ Schema:
Any page with frequently asked questions should use FAQ schema. This enables rich snippets in search results, which significantly increase click-through rate.
Review/AggregateRating Schema:
Once Connesso has reviews on Google, the aggregate rating should be marked up for potential star display in search results.
Page Speed and Core Web Vitals
A full audit of page speed should be conducted. The key metrics are Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), First Input Delay (FID), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS). These are Google ranking factors. If the current site scores below 90 on Google PageSpeed Insights, remediation should be prioritized.
URL Structure
Service pages should use clean, descriptive URLs:
getconnesso.com/services/light-and-shade/getconnesso.com/services/sound-and-screen/getconnesso.com/raleigh/getconnesso.com/columbus/getconnesso.com/blog/what-does-home-automation-cost/
Avoid generic URLs like /services/1 or /page/about-us.
Internal Linking
Every service page should link to related case studies. Every case study should link back to the relevant service pages. Every blog post should link to relevant services. This creates a content web that distributes page authority and helps search engines understand topical relevance.
Mobile Optimization
Over 60% of local "near me" searches happen on mobile devices. The website must be fully responsive, fast-loading on mobile, and have click-to-call phone numbers on every page.
Directory and Citation Strategy
Connesso is missing from every major directory where homeowners search for home technology professionals. Each listing creates a citation (consistent name, address, phone number) that strengthens local SEO authority.
Required Directory Listings
| Directory | Priority | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Google Business Profile | Critical | Foundation of local pack rankings. Without this, Connesso cannot appear in map results. |
| Houzz | High | Homeowners planning renovations and builds use Houzz to find professionals. Project portfolios on Houzz drive qualified traffic. |
| Yelp | High | Review volume and rating on Yelp influence local search rankings even outside of Yelp itself. Zero presence means zero signals. |
| BBB | High | A+ ratings from competitors (Audio Advice, Digital Home Designs, Genesis Audio, Tiger Systems) are visible trust signals. Connesso should match or exceed this. |
| HomeAdvisor/Angi | Medium | Volume play. Many homeowners start here. The lead quality varies, so this is a citation play more than a lead gen play. |
| CEDIA Directory | Medium | Trade credibility. If Connesso holds or pursues CEDIA membership, the directory listing is valuable for SEO and trust. |
| HTA Directory | Medium | Similar to CEDIA. The Home Technology Association directory lends third-party credibility. |
| Nextdoor | Medium | Tiger Systems' Nextdoor Neighborhood Favorite status demonstrates the value of hyperlocal social proof. Connesso should be active on Nextdoor in both markets. |
| Thumbtack | Low | Lower-intent leads, so use primarily as a citation source. |
| Facebook Business | Medium | Ensure consistent NAP (name, address, phone) and post regularly. Social signals contribute to local search authority. |
Citation Consistency
Every directory listing must use the exact same business name, address, and phone number. Inconsistencies (such as "Connesso" vs. "Connesso LLC" vs. "Connesso Integration") confuse search engines and dilute citation authority. Standardize on one format and use it everywhere.
Review Strategy
Connesso needs a review generation system. Sound & Vision's 4.61 Google rating with meaningful volume is a competitive advantage. Tiger Systems' Nextdoor Favorite status is another. Connesso currently has no visible review presence on any platform.
Recommended Approach:
- After every completed project, send a follow-up email with a direct link to leave a Google review.
- Include a review CTA in the Care and Support service plan communications.
- Respond to every review, positive or negative, within 48 hours.
- Target 20+ Google reviews in the first six months as a minimum baseline.
Prioritized Action Plan
- Rewrite the title tag and meta description to comply with Voice and Writing Guidelines and include market cities.
- Claim and complete Google Business Profile for both Raleigh and Columbus.
- Create location landing pages for Raleigh and Columbus.
- Implement LocalBusiness schema markup on both location pages.
- Remove banned words from the homepage ("solutions," "elevated connected experiences").
- Submit listings to BBB, Houzz, and Yelp.
- Create seven service category pages (one per service category from the guidelines).
- Publish three project case studies with photos, scope, and client experience narratives.
- Write and publish the "What Does Home Automation Cost?" guide.
- Write and publish the "New Construction Technology Guide."
- Begin blog cadence: two posts per month minimum.
- Submit listings to HomeAdvisor, Nextdoor, and Facebook Business.
- Increase blog cadence to four posts per month.
- Produce one video project walkthrough per quarter.
- Build FAQ sections on service pages and implement FAQ schema.
- Launch review generation program targeting 20+ Google reviews.
- Create trade-facing landing pages for "low voltage contractor" keyword capture.
- Conduct quarterly competitive SERP audit to track ranking progress.
- Analyze content performance and double down on what ranks.
- Expand to long-tail keyword targeting based on actual search console data.
- Consider paid search (Google Ads) for high-intent local keywords to complement organic.
- Build backlink strategy through partnerships, sponsorships, and local press.
- Target featured snippets for informational queries where Connesso content ranks page one.
Key Metrics to Track
These metrics establish a baseline for measuring SEO progress over the next 12 months. Track monthly and report quarterly.
| Metric | Baseline (Today) | 6-Month Target | 12-Month Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Business Profile views | Unknown (likely zero) | 500/month | 2,000/month |
| Organic keywords ranking (any position) | 0 | 50+ | 200+ |
| Organic keywords ranking top 10 | 0 | 10+ | 50+ |
| Google reviews (each market) | 0 | 10+ | 25+ |
| Monthly organic traffic | Minimal | 500+ sessions | 2,000+ sessions |
| Blog posts published | 0 | 12+ | 30+ |
| Directory citations | 0 | 8+ | 12+ |
| Backlinks from external sites | Unknown | 20+ | 50+ |
The Bottom Line
Every competitor profiled in the Connesso Local Competitive Analysis has a head start in search visibility. Some have decades of it. The gap is real, so there is no point in minimizing it.
The advantage Connesso holds is that none of these competitors write well. None of them have a brand system as intentional as what the Voice and Writing Guidelines provide. None of them operate in both Raleigh and Columbus with a unified content strategy.
Search visibility is not bought with history. It is earned with consistent, specific, well-written content published on a technically sound website with proper local signals. Connesso has the brand foundation. Now it needs the content engine.
The action plan above is sequenced so that the highest-impact items come first. Fix the title tag. Claim the Google Business Profiles. Create location pages. Then build from there. Every piece of content should follow the Voice and Writing Guidelines. Every page should reinforce the same position: Connesso is the home experience design partner for Raleigh and Columbus.