For an established business, building an online presence often starts with making it easier for customers to find accurate information and get in touch.

That was the goal when IF Media worked with Clifford R Smith Trucking Co. Ltd., a trucking company based in Brooks, Alberta. With more than 40 years of experience at the time of the project, the company had built its reputation through reliable service, customer relationships, and word-of-mouth referrals.

Working with the late owner, Cliff, we helped the business regain access to its Google Business Profile and launched its first website.

Project note: This case study documents work completed under the company’s previous ownership. IF Media no longer manages the company’s website or Google Business Profile. The work and feedback described below relate to that earlier engagement.

An Established Business with Limited Online Visibility

Clifford R Smith Trucking served customers in agriculture and related industries, hauling bulk materials such as grain, fertilizer, and sawdust.

The company had an established customer base, but its online presence did not reflect the experience behind the business. There was no website where potential customers could learn about its services, and Cliff could not access the company’s existing Google Business Profile.

The profile, then known as Google My Business, had been created previously, but access had not been transferred to him. This made it difficult to maintain business information, respond to reviews, or manage how the company appeared on Google.

Cliff wanted to resolve those access issues and give customers a straightforward way to find the business online.

What the Project Needed to Achieve

We focused on four practical goals:

• Help Cliff regain control of the existing Google Business Profile.
• Update the profile with accurate business and contact information.
• Build a professional website explaining the company’s services.
• Connect the website and profile so customers could find more information and contact the business.

The aim was to bring the company’s established reputation online in a clear, accessible way.

Recovering Access to the Google Business Profile

Our first priority was helping Cliff regain access to the company’s profile.

We gathered the relevant business information and supporting documentation, contacted Google support, and worked through the ownership recovery process.

Once access was restored, Cliff could manage the company’s information and respond to customer reviews.

For this project, recovering access was an essential first step. Before we could improve the profile, the business needed control over it.

Updating the Business Information

With access restored, we reviewed and updated the profile’s core details, including its contact information, business hours, and website link once the new site was ready.

We also added photographs of the company’s premises to give customers a clearer impression of the business.

These updates helped create a more complete profile and made useful information easier to find.

Building the Company’s First Website

The next step was creating a website that reflected the company’s experience and explained its services to potential customers.

We secured the domain, arranged hosting, and built the website using WordPress. The design incorporated the company’s existing logo and colours to maintain a familiar identity.

The website focused on the information someone considering a trucking provider would need:

• The company’s background and experience.
• Its bulk hauling services.
• The industries it served.
• Clear contact information.

Rather than relying entirely on referrals or a Google listing, the company now had a dedicated place to introduce its services.

Connecting the Website and Google Business Profile

Once the website launched, we linked it to the Google Business Profile.

This gave people who discovered the company through Google Search or Maps a direct route to more detailed service information. The website and profile also presented consistent contact details, helping customers move between them without confusion.

Each served a practical purpose: the profile provided a quick introduction, while the website gave potential customers more context before making an enquiry.

The Results During Our Engagement

During the engagement, Cliff told us that the company was receiving more calls from potential customers. He reported that calls had increased to approximately three times their previous level.

This was feedback shared by the owner at the time, rather than an independently verified measurement of leads or sales. We cannot attribute every enquiry to a particular channel.

The project also delivered several concrete improvements:

• Access to the existing Google Business Profile was restored.
• Business information was updated.
• The company’s first website was launched.
• Customers gained another way to learn about its services and make contact.

These changes gave the business a more complete online presence and greater control over the information customers could find.

What Other Established Businesses Can Learn

A business can have decades of experience and still be difficult to research online.

This project illustrates the value of getting the foundations in place: control of business accounts, accurate contact details, and a website that clearly explains the services offered.

For Clifford R Smith Trucking, those foundations helped bring an established local business online. The work supported the reputation and relationships the company had already built over many years.

Make Your Business Easier to Find

IF Media helps businesses in Medicine Hat, Brooks, and across Alberta build professional websites and improve their Google Business Profiles.

If customers struggle to find your services or your business information needs attention, contact IF Media to discuss where to start.