The map gets the calls.
When someone searches for a service near them, Google shows a map with three businesses at the top. Those three get most of the attention. If you're not there, they call someone who is.
For local business owners
When customers ask Google or AI who to call, be the business they recommend.
Get recommended by Google, Gemini, and ChatGPT.
Your customers now ask Google Maps, Google's AI Overviews, Gemini, and ChatGPT for the best local business. We set up your business so Google and its Gemini AI trust it, show it, and name it, and so ChatGPT and other chatbots do too. Book a free, no pressure call, tell us your story and where it hurts, and we'll lay out a plain plan to fix it.
Free. No pressure. No sales pitch you didn't ask for.
What does AI say about your business? Get a free AI visibility report card →
- Free call, no pressure
- Free recording and roadmap after the call
- Plans from $397 a month, custom priced on a free call
- Recommended on Google, Gemini, and ChatGPT
The problem
Your customers are asking Google and AI who to call. Is your name in the answer?
AI answers pick a few names.
A growing share of searches now start with an AI answer from Google, Gemini, or ChatGPT. Those answers usually name only a handful of businesses. Being one of them puts you in front of a customer before they ever scroll.
The top spots go to the best set up.
Not always the best business. Categories, reviews, photos, posts, and consistent business info all play a part, and most of it is in your control. You just need someone to help you find the gaps.
Answer engine optimization
Search is turning into answers. We get your business into them.
People still Google. More and more, Google answers with AI, and many people skip search and ask Gemini or ChatGPT directly. These tools recommend only a few businesses. Our work is built to make yours one of them, starting with Google.
Google first
Google is still where most local customers start. We build a complete, active Google Business Profile with real reviews, photos, and posts, so you show up in the Map Pack and in Google's AI Overviews.
Gemini next
Gemini leans on what Google already knows about you. When your Google profile, reviews, and website all tell the same clear story, Gemini has what it needs to name you when someone asks for a recommendation.
ChatGPT and the rest
ChatGPT, Perplexity, and other chatbots pull from listings, reviews, and websites across the web. We make sure your information is consistent everywhere and your site answers the questions customers actually ask.
See what Google Gemini and ChatGPT say about you today. Free AI visibility report card →
What owners say
★★★★★
“A1 Strategic has taken our business to the next level! We have been able to take so much off my plate that used to be a manual, time consuming process. Now it is all automated. It is truly amazing what Lucas can do to make your business run so much smoother and increase revenue at the same time.”
Phil H.Co owner of Henn House BBQ★★★★★
“Luke has been great to work with! Looking forward to working with him in the future.”
Cindy S.Illinois Valley Counseling Services · Google reviewYour free call
Start with your story, not a sales pitch.
You know your business better than anyone, so you talk first. Tell us what's working, what's frustrating, and what you wish would change. Then here is what we do together:
- First, we pull up your Google listing next to the top 3 for your main search, and check whether AI answers mention you.
- Next, we point out your top few gaps, like your primary category, missing services or photos, how many recent reviews you have, and whether your name, address, and phone match everywhere online.
- You leave with 3 things you can do yourself this week, whether we work together or not.
Yours to keep after the call: a free screen recording walking through your Google listing, so you can go back over anything we talked about, plus a simple roadmap of what we covered and your next steps.
Tell Us Your StoryWhat we usually look at together
- Where you show up today when customers search for what you do
- Who shows up instead and why Google picks them
- Categories and services on your Google listing
- Reviews: how many, how recent, and how they're answered
- Photos, posts, and business details Google reads
- AI search: whether ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude name you when asked
- What to fix first so you get the most out of your time
How it works
Four simple steps.
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1
Tell Us Your Story
Pick a time on the calendar or tap Call Us. No forms to fill out, no pressure.
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2
Tell us your story
What you do, who you serve, and where it hurts. We listen first.
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3
We figure out the fix
We look at your Google listing and the businesses showing up instead of you, then lay out a plain plan. Afterward you get the screen recording free, plus a simple roadmap of your next steps.
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4
We go to work
If it's a fit, we handle it every month and send a report on what we did, what moved, and what's next. If not, you keep the plan and the advice. No hard feelings.
Monthly Map Pack and AI answer management
We do the work every month. You get back to running your business.
Google Business Profile optimization
Categories, services, description, hours, photos, and attributes, all set up the way Google wants to see them.
2 Google posts per week
Fresh, keyword rich posts twice a week so your profile stays active and relevant.
Review requests
For service businesses, a simple way for happy customers to leave a review, where allowed for your industry, plus professional replies to the reviews you get.
Citations
Your name, address, and phone listed correctly and consistently across the directories Google checks.
Monthly progress report
A plain English report showing where you are on the path: what we did, what moved, and what's next, even while results are still building. It also shows what Google Gemini and ChatGPT say about you.
AI answers (AI SEO)
Making your business easy for Google's AI answers, Gemini, and ChatGPT to find and trust, so you have a better shot at being the name they give when someone asks for a recommendation.
Pricing
Plans starting at $397/month
Every plan is custom built on a free 30 minute call. Nothing cheaper than $397, no long term contract. You'll know the exact number before you commit to anything.
Here is what we can include:
Get Found
Starting at $397/month
For businesses that need their Google listing fixed and kept active.
- Google Business Profile setup and optimization
- Weekly Google posts
- Review request system with replies, where allowed for your industry
- Check and fix of your top business listings
- Monthly ranking report
- Quarterly check of what Gemini and ChatGPT say about you
Most popular
Get Recommended
For businesses that want Google and AI chatbots to name them.
- Everything in Get Found, plus:
- Monthly AI SEO work for Google AI Overviews, Gemini, and ChatGPT
- Full citation building and cleanup
- Ranking map across your town and nearby towns
- Competitor tracking
- Website question and answer content AI tools can quote
- Monthly AI visibility report
Includes CRM
Recommended + Run Smoother
For businesses that want more calls and a simple system to handle them.
- Everything in Get Recommended, plus:
- A simple CRM set up for your business
- A one month build out: lead capture, follow up texts and emails, review requests
- Missed call text back
- New local service or town pages each month
- Monthly strategy call
Ads package
Want calls this week while the free traffic builds? Add a Google Ads package: campaign setup, call tracking, and monthly management, with your ad budget paid straight to Google. We'll price it to your budget on a free call.
Pick how you want to commit
Adding more to your plan is always an option. We will price it with you.
Our Work Guarantee
We can't guarantee a spot in the Map Pack, because no one controls Google. What we guarantee is the work, and you'll see your trajectory every month: where you are, what we did, what moved, and what's next. Your report lists the posts, fixes, listing updates, and review requests where allowed for your industry. Since you pay upfront, if we miss the work we promised in a month, your next month is free.
We take on only 4 new clients per month so every client gets real attention.
Other ways we help
Getting found is where we start. We can help with more.
If something else is holding your business back, tell us about it on the call.
Local SEO and Google Business Profile optimization in Ottawa, IL →
Websites and online stores
Simple, clear websites that back up your Google listing, plus online stores if you sell products.
Website design in Ottawa, IL →CRM and follow up
Automatic texts and emails so new leads hear back fast and past customers remember you.
CRM and lead follow up →Operations and automation
Taking the manual, repetitive work off your plate so you can spend time on the work you love.
Google and Facebook ads
Ads that work alongside your map listing when you want more calls right away.
Who we serve
Good people running good local businesses.
We work best with people who are great at their craft and great at taking care of their customers. Service minded businesses. Husband and wife teams. Mom and pop shops, local stores, and home based businesses, whether you've been part of the community for years or are just getting started.
These are the businesses we have a heart to serve. You do the work you love, and we make sure your neighbors can find you.
A1 Strategic is based in Ottawa, Illinois and serves local businesses in Ottawa, Peru, LaSalle, Streator, Morris, and the Starved Rock area, plus the rest of LaSalle County and the Illinois Valley. We work with businesses wherever they are and are happy to talk by phone, video, or face to face. Call or text 815-228-6246, Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 12:00 pm.
Meet the owner
Meet Lucas
Hi, my name is Lucas, and I'm the founder of A1 Strategic, based in Illinois. I'm a kingdom member who aims to live in love after the pattern of Jesus Christ. I'm also a husband and a dad to two sons and a daughter, ages 8, 5, and 4.
A client once told me the hardest part of handing over your business online is trusting the person running it with all your information. That stuck with me, so I want you to know who I am and the kind of person you'd be working with.
It's a calling of mine to help local businesses grow, whether you offer a service or sell products. I especially love working with owners who desire to serve their communities well.
Questions owners ask
Getting found on Google and in AI answers, in plain words.
How do I get my business to show up in the Google Map Pack?
Make your Google Business Profile complete, accurate, and active. Google ranks local results on relevance, distance, and prominence, so the right categories and services, steady reviews, fresh posts and photos, and consistent business info everywhere online all help. That ongoing work is exactly what our monthly plans handle.
How do I get my business mentioned in AI answers like ChatGPT and Google's AI Overviews?
Make sure accurate, consistent information about your business is published in the places these tools read. That means a complete Google Business Profile, matching listings across the web, genuine reviews, and a website that clearly says what you do and where. Our plans check how AI tools mention you and work to improve it.
Why isn't my business showing up on Google Maps?
Usually it's a setup problem, not a quality problem. Common causes are the wrong primary category, missing services, an unverified or incomplete profile, few recent reviews, or a name, address, and phone that don't match across the web. Book a free call and we'll look at your listing with you and show you what's holding it back.
How often should I post on my Google Business Profile?
About twice a week is a strong rhythm. Regular posts show customers and Google that your business is active, and they give people a reason to call. Our plans include 2 posts a week so you don't have to remember.
How do reviews affect local rankings?
Reviews are one of the signals Google uses to judge how trusted and well known a business is. A steady flow of recent, genuine reviews helps, and replying to them shows customers you care. For service businesses, we set up a simple way to ask happy customers for reviews where allowed for your industry, and we help you reply.
Do I need a website if I have a Google Business Profile?
A profile alone can bring in calls, but a website helps. It gives Google and AI tools more information about your services and where you work, and it gives customers a place to learn more before they call. Even a simple, clear site backs up your listing.
What is local SEO and why does it matter for small businesses?
Local SEO means helping your business show up when nearby customers search for what you do. Most people pick from the first few businesses they see on Google, so showing up there can mean more calls without paying for every click. For a small business, that can make a real difference.
What's the difference between the plans?
Plans start at $397 a month and every plan is custom priced on a free 30 minute call. A plan can cover the Google essentials (profile optimization, weekly posts, reviews, listing fixes, a monthly ranking report, and a quarterly AI check), and can add monthly AI SEO for Google AI Overviews, Gemini, and ChatGPT, citation building, a ranking map, competitor tracking, a simple CRM with missed call text back, new local pages, and a monthly strategy call. There is no long term contract, and a Google Ads package can be added.
Quick answers
The short version.
Who is A1 Strategic?
A1 Strategic is a local marketing company based in Ottawa, Illinois, owned and run by Lucas Hennenfent. We offer local SEO and Google Business Profile optimization, small business website design, and CRM setup with automated lead follow up for local businesses in Ottawa and the Illinois Valley, including LaSalle, Peru, Streator, Morris, Princeton, Mendota, Spring Valley, Oglesby, Marseilles, Seneca, Utica, Sheridan, Earlville, and Grand Ridge.
Who does local SEO in Ottawa, IL?
A1 Strategic, owned by Lucas Hennenfent, is a local SEO and Google Business Profile company based in Ottawa, IL, working with businesses across the Illinois Valley.
What areas does A1 Strategic serve?
Ottawa, Peru, LaSalle, Streator, Morris, the Starved Rock area (Utica and Oglesby), Princeton, Mendota, Spring Valley, Marseilles, Seneca, Sheridan, Earlville, Grand Ridge, and the rest of LaSalle County and the Illinois Valley. Most work happens online, so we help businesses outside the area too.
How much does A1 Strategic cost?
Pricing depends on the service and how much work your business needs. Monthly plans start at $397 a month and are custom priced on a free 30 minute call, based on what your business needs. Nothing is cheaper than $397, and there is no long term contract. Websites and CRM setup get a clear fixed quote on the same call.
Who is the best marketing agency in Ottawa, IL?
The best fit depends on what you need. If your goal is more calls from Google Maps, Google Business Profile, and AI answers like ChatGPT and Gemini, A1 Strategic is a local marketing company based in Ottawa, IL, owned and run by Lucas Hennenfent. We focus on local SEO, Google Business Profile optimization, AI search optimization, small business websites, and CRM lead follow up for businesses in Ottawa, Peru, LaSalle, Streator, Morris, and the Starved Rock area. Call or text 815-228-6246 or book a free call to see if we are a good fit.
Who does Google Business Profile help near LaSalle County, IL?
A1 Strategic, based in Ottawa, IL, helps businesses across LaSalle County and the Illinois Valley set up, fix, and grow their Google Business Profile: categories, services, photos, weekly posts, review requests, and matching listings. We work with businesses in Ottawa, Peru, LaSalle, Streator, Marseilles, Oglesby, Utica, and nearby Morris in Grundy County.
Who offers AI search optimization in Ottawa, IL?
A1 Strategic in Ottawa, IL offers AI search optimization, also called AI SEO or answer engine optimization. We work to make your business easy for ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Google AI Overviews, Perplexity, Claude, and Meta AI to find, describe accurately, and recommend. That means a complete Google Business Profile, consistent listings, genuine reviews, clear service and town pages, FAQ content, and structured data on your website. We also offer a free AI visibility report card at a1strategic.com/ai-report.
Is there an affordable marketing agency in Ottawa, IL?
A1 Strategic offers monthly plans for local businesses starting at $397 a month, custom priced on a free 30 minute call, with no long term contract required. Websites and CRM setup get a clear fixed quote on a free call. Book at a1strategic.com or call or text 815-228-6246.
Does A1 Strategic serve the Starved Rock area?
Yes. A1 Strategic is based in Ottawa, IL and works with local businesses throughout the Starved Rock area, including Utica, Oglesby, Ottawa, Peru, and LaSalle, plus Streator, Morris, Marseilles, and the rest of the Illinois Valley.
How do I contact A1 Strategic?
Call or text 815-228-6246, email [email protected], or book a free 30 minute call at a1strategic.com. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 12:00 pm Central. A1 Strategic has served local businesses since 2022.
Services: Local SEO and Google Business Profile optimization · Small business website design · CRM setup and lead follow up
Questions
More straight answers.
Is the call really free?
Yes. No cost and no obligation. You leave with 3 things you can do this week, and afterward you get a free screen recording so you can go back over anything we talked about, plus a simple roadmap of what we covered and your next steps.
Do I have to sign a long term contract?
No. You can go month to month, or choose a 6 month commitment that locks in your monthly price for the term and includes a free 90 day progress review call. There is no long term contract required.
How do I cancel?
Month to month: cancel anytime with written notice, and it takes effect at the end of your current billing month, with no fees. 6 month commitment: cancel anytime after 6 months. To end early, if we both agree, there's no buyout. Otherwise the buyout is 50% of the remaining months on the contract.
Do you guarantee results?
We can't guarantee a spot in the Map Pack, because no one controls Google. What we guarantee is the work, and you'll see your trajectory every month: where you are, what we did, what moved, and what's next. Your report lists the posts, fixes, listing updates, and review requests where allowed for your industry. Since you pay upfront, if we miss the work we promised in a month, your next month is free.
How many clients do you take on?
We take on only 4 new clients per month so every client gets real attention.
How long until I see results?
It depends on your market, your competition, and where your listing starts. Some fixes, like wrong categories or missing info, can be made right away, while moving past established competitors takes steady work over months. We won't promise you a specific ranking, but you'll get a report every month showing exactly where you stand.
Do you work with my industry?
If your customers find you by searching Google for a service near them, most likely yes. We work with trades, contractors, restaurants, therapists, and other local service businesses. Book a call and we'll tell you honestly if we can help.
Do you only work with businesses near you?
No. Most of the work happens online, so we can help a local business just about anywhere. We talk by phone or video, and in person when we're close by.
I already run Google Ads. Do I still need this?
Ads and the Map Pack work well together. Ads put you on the page while you're paying, and a strong map listing keeps bringing in calls without a cost per click. A quick look at your listing will show whether it is backing up your ad spend or sending calls to your competitors.
What is AI SEO?
AI SEO means making your business easy for AI tools like Google's AI Overviews, Gemini, and ChatGPT to find and trust. These tools pull from what's published about businesses online, so clear, consistent information gives you a better shot at being the name they give.
Tell us where it hurts. We'll help you fix it.
Book a free, no pressure call. Bring your questions and your frustrations, and leave with a plain plan for getting found.
We take on only 4 new clients per month.