Local SEO Courses + Community

Build stable income, deliver for clients, be supported the whole way.

Steal the framework I used to generate $400K for my agency in 3 years (from scratch). Learn to sell higher-ticket SEO deals ($1K+/m).
Get coaching from me and my team.

Steal the framework I used to generate $400K for my agency in 3 years (from scratch). Learn to sell higher-ticket SEO deals ($1K+/m). Get coaching from me and my team.

Join The Academy

Join The Academy

+81 designers & SEOs

+81 designers & SEOs

  • I've learned so much about SEO and from Sam in here that I now actually feel confident to offer it to my clients as a paid service.

    Jamie Cottam

    Bear Roots Studio

  • Before joining, I felt overwhelmed by all the noise in the SEO industry. So many terms, tools, and conflicting advice. But Local SEO Academy gave me clarity!

    Johnny McWilliams

    Key Lime Web Design

  • Sometimes we just need that little extra boost of knowledge, of experience, of encouragement. And you can definitely find that through this group.

    Liz Jimenez Agudelo

    Marketing Strategist

  • I went from knowing almost nothing about local SEO to feeling completely confident in offering it as a service after going through the Local SEO Academy.

    Alyssa Todd

    Key Lime Web Design

  • I've learned so much about SEO and from Sam in here that I now actually feel confident to offer it to my clients as a paid service.

    Jamie Cottam

    Bear Roots Studio

  • Before joining, I felt overwhelmed by all the noise in the SEO industry. So many terms, tools, and conflicting advice. But Local SEO Academy gave me clarity!

    Johnny McWilliams

    Key Lime Web Design

  • Sometimes we just need that little extra boost of knowledge, of experience, of encouragement. And you can definitely find that through this group.

    Liz Jimenez Agudelo

    Marketing Strategist

  • I went from knowing almost nothing about local SEO to feeling completely confident in offering it as a service after going through the Local SEO Academy.

    Alyssa Todd

    Key Lime Web Design

Why Local SEO Academy?

Step-By-Step Local SEO Training
Step-By-Step Local SEO Training
Step-By-Step Local SEO Training

Learn a simple, repeatable SEO system that shows you exactly what to do for real clients.

Learn a simple, repeatable SEO system that shows you exactly what to do for real clients.

Learn a simple, repeatable SEO system that shows you exactly what to do for real clients.

Done-For-You Client Templates
Done-For-You Client Templates
Done-For-You Client Templates

Use proven audits, reports, and workflows so you can deliver results without guessing.

Use proven audits, reports, and workflows so you can deliver results without guessing.

Use proven audits, reports, and workflows so you can deliver results without guessing.

Weekly Coaching & Support
Weekly Coaching & Support
Weekly Coaching & Support

Get personalized feedback on your client projects so you always know your next move.

Get personalized feedback on your client projects so you always know your next move.

Get personalized feedback on your client projects so you always know your next move.

A Community To Grow and Thrive In
A Community To Grow and Thrive In
A Community To Grow and Thrive In

Join a group of designers leveling up together with shared wins, advice, and referrals.

Join a group of designers leveling up together with shared wins, advice, and referrals.

Join a group of designers leveling up together with shared wins, advice, and referrals.

Join The Crew Now

Join The Crew Now

Join The Crew Now

"Local SEO Academy gave me the clarity I needed. Thanks to LSA, I now feel confident in delivering value to my clients and growing their local presence. Sam is such a great teacher!"
"Local SEO Academy gave me the clarity I needed. Thanks to LSA, I now feel confident in delivering value to my clients and growing their local presence. Sam is such a great teacher!"

Johnny McWilliams

Johnny McWilliams

Marketing Waves

Marketing Waves

"Sam has extensive knowledge on SEO… within 30 minutes he turned things around on my website. I highly recommend Sam!"
"Sam has extensive knowledge on SEO… within 30 minutes he turned things around on my website. I highly recommend Sam!"

Maggie Phiri

Maggie Phiri

Imprint Creations

Imprint Creations

Here's The Real-Real:

Most SEO courses kinda SUCK.

Most SEO courses
kinda SUCK.

Most SEO courses
kinda SUCK.

Trust me, I know. Here’s what happened when I tried:

I’d learn all the SEO basics.

I’d learn all the SEO basics.

I’d learn all the SEO basics.

I'd learn all the terminology but still have no idea how to apply any of it to a real client project. It feels like studying for a test instead of building a skill that makes you money.

I'd learn all the terminology but still have no idea how to apply any of it to a real client project. It feels like studying for a test instead of building a skill that makes you money.

I'd learn all the terminology but still have no idea how to apply any of it to a real client project. It feels like studying for a test instead of building a skill that makes you money.

1

I never really got a process.

I never really got a process.

I never really got a process.

Even if I got a Notion dashboard, they’d never really explain what I did after getting started, or wayyy down the road.

Even if I got a Notion dashboard, they’d never really explain what I did after getting started, or wayyy down the road.

Even if I got a Notion dashboard, they’d never really explain what I did after getting started, or wayyy down the road.

2

I didn’t feel confident to charge more.

I didn’t feel confident to charge more.

I didn’t feel confident to charge more.

Even when I started to get some SEO results, I didn’t feel confident enough to charge more than $300/m.

Even when I started to get some SEO results, I didn’t feel confident enough to charge more than $300/m.

Even when I started to get some SEO results, I didn’t feel confident enough to charge more than $300/m.

3

I was looking for a course that would increase my confidence.

I was looking for a course that would increase my confidence.

What I found did nothing but confuse me.

SEO Courses

That’s why I decided to create everything.

That’s why I decided to create everything.

Google Business Profile Masterclass

Google Business Profile Masterclass

This course shows you how to turn a Google Business Profile into a real growth engine for local clients. You’ll learn the exact steps to optimize, maintain, and leverage GBP so your clients rank higher and get more leads. It’s designed to make GBP simple, repeatable, and a service you can confidently sell every month.

This course shows you how to turn a Google Business Profile into a real growth engine for local clients. You’ll learn the exact steps to optimize, maintain, and leverage GBP so your clients rank higher and get more leads. It’s designed to make GBP simple, repeatable, and a service you can confidently sell every month.

Complete walkthrough of every GBP optimization setting
Complete walkthrough of every GBP optimization setting
Step-by-step process for posting, updates, and maintenance
Step-by-step process for posting, updates, and maintenance
A repeatable monthly workflow you can deliver as a service
A repeatable monthly workflow you can deliver as a service

The Local SEO Masterclass

The Local SEO Masterclass

This is the full A-to-Z training on local SEO, built for designers who want to deliver real results. You get practical, repeatable steps instead of theory or endless “best practices.” By the end, you’ll know exactly how to rank a local business and show the proof.

This is the full A-to-Z training on local SEO, built for designers who want to deliver real results. You get practical, repeatable steps instead of theory or endless “best practices.” By the end, you’ll know exactly how to rank a local business and show the proof.

Complete understanding of the local SEO ranking factors
Complete understanding of the local SEO ranking factors
Technical SEO steps anyone can execute
Technical SEO steps anyone can execute
On-page and content strategy that drives local visibility
On-page and content strategy that drives local visibility

Local SEO Delivery

Local SEO Delivery

This course shows you how to deliver local SEO in our proven 3 Phase system that remvoes the guesswork. You’ll know what to do first, what to ignore, and how to structure SEO delivery so clients see momentum fast. This turns SEO into a predictable, repeatable service you can confidently sell every month.

This course shows you how to deliver local SEO in our proven 3 Phase system that remvoes the guesswork. You’ll know what to do first, what to ignore, and how to structure SEO delivery so clients see momentum fast. This turns SEO into a predictable, repeatable service you can confidently sell every month.

A plug-and-play framework for client delivery
A plug-and-play framework for client delivery
Phased action plans for audits, keywords, content, and backlinks
Phased action plans for audits, keywords, content, and backlinks
A system that becomes your recurring monthly service model
A system that becomes your recurring monthly service model

Local SEO Sales Course

Local SEO Sales Course

This course helps you sell SEO without relying on technical talk or pressure-based tactics. You’ll learn how to explain SEO in a way clients instantly understand and value. It’s designed to help you confidently pitch, price, and close SEO as a service.

This course helps you sell SEO without relying on technical talk or pressure-based tactics. You’ll learn how to explain SEO in a way clients instantly understand and value. It’s designed to help you confidently pitch, price, and close SEO as a service.

Pricing models that create stable recurring revenue
Pricing models that create stable recurring revenue
Messaging frameworks that make SEO feel obvious and valuable
Messaging frameworks that make SEO feel obvious and valuable
A sales process you can repeat with every new client
A sales process you can repeat with every new client

Revamped

Local SEO SOPs

Local SEO SOPs

This is your operations library: the EXACT process we used to hit our first six figures at our local SEO agency. Every checklist and workflow is here so you stop reinventing the wheel. It’s designed to make you faster, more organized, and more confident.

This is your operations library: the EXACT process we used to hit our first six figures at our local SEO agency. Every checklist and workflow is here so you stop reinventing the wheel. It’s designed to make you faster, more organized, and more confident.

Step-by-step SOPs for every stage of SEO
Step-by-step SOPs for every stage of SEO
Client onboarding and communication workflows
Client onboarding and communication workflows
Reporting systems you can hand off or delegate
Reporting systems you can hand off or delegate

AI Search Crash Course

AI Search Crash Course

Search is changing fast, and this course keeps you ahead of it. You’ll learn how AI-driven search impacts visibility for local businesses and what to do right now to stay competitive. The goal is simple: protect your clients and future-proof your skills.

Search is changing fast, and this course keeps you ahead of it. You’ll learn how AI-driven search impacts visibility for local businesses and what to do right now to stay competitive. The goal is simple: protect your clients and future-proof your skills.

Clear understanding of how how AI visibility affects local rankings
Clear understanding of how how AI visibility affects local rankings
Frameworks for protecting client visibility as algorithms shift
Frameworks for protecting client visibility as algorithms shift
Ongoing insights as new AI SEO search features roll out
Ongoing insights as new AI SEO search features roll out

Bonus Course

Testimonials

What students say about my courses

What students say about my courses

SEO Community

But courses are only the beginning. Here’s how The Academy works…

01

Actionable, Step-by-Step Courses

Simple lessons that turn into client-ready results.

Simple lessons that turn
into client-ready results.

Every course is practical. Every lesson is designed to be digestible and broken down in a manner any designer can handle.

You’ll learn on-page SEO, local SEO, ranking signals, keyword strategy, content strategy, and link-building for small businesses - all packaged in workflows you can copy and sell. No jargon. No overwhelm. Just clarity.

02

Weekly Live Sessions

Direct guidance from Sam and
other designers leveling up.

Feedback and learning from your peers is important.

It’s honest, specific, and rooted in actual SEO practice. You can ask questions, share client scenarios, and get real answers - not guesswork. Sam and his team is active, available, and invested in helping you understand how to apply this to your business.

03

Community Support

Ask questions, share wins,
and build confidence.

The community is focused and supportive — no busywork, no ego, no noise. Just web designers at your level learning the same things, facing the same challenges, and growing together through real conversations. 





You won’t get lost. You’ll get supported.

04

Stop guessing. Start implementing.

Templates, scripts, and every
workshop included.

You get all of Sam’s proven templates - client emails, proposals, audits, reports - plus every current and future workshop he creates. Everything you need to sell, deliver, and scale SEO is already built for you, so you can implement fast without guessing or overthinking.

05

Stay Ahead in Local Search

Help clients show up in Google, AI Overviews, and ChatGPT.

Local Search is changing faster than most designers realize. The designers who adapt will own their markets. The ones who don’t will lose clients to anyone who understands AI SEO. The game hasn’t completely changed yet, but it’s better to hang with a gang that has their ears to the streets, and is trying to stay ahead.

06

Learn From Experts

Monthly Trainings on SEO, Social, Pricing, Niching, and More

We have a growing library of trainings from industry experts dropping knowledge on client acquisition, conquering social media, overcoming pricing mindset, niching down, short form video dominance, PPC and AI SEO breakdowns, and many more schedule for the coming months.

"To be able to connect with other people in the marketing field from different niches and swap out ideas, and run things past other people is great. So that alone has a ton of value."

"To be able to connect with other people in the marketing field from different niches and swap out ideas, and run things past other people is great. So that alone has a ton of value."

Liz Jimenez Agudelo

Handshake Marketing

Testimonials

What members say about the academy

What members say about the academy

Pricing

Choose the investment option
that's right for you

Choose the investment option
that's right for you

Choose the investment option that's right for you

COURSES

$49/mo

or $490 yearly (2 months free)

COURSES

GBP Expert Course
The Local SEO Masterclass
Delivering Local SEO to Clients
Local SEO Sales Course
Local SEO SOPs

COMMUNITY

Local SEO Academy Community
Weekly Calls & Bootcamps
Expert Trainings
DM Access to Sam

Get Started

Get Started

Get Started

Instant access to courses trusted by 100+ designers

COURSES + COMMUNITY

$99/mo

or $990 yearly (2 months free)

COURSES

GBP Expert Course
The Local SEO Masterclass
Delivering Local SEO to Clients
Local SEO Sales Course
Local SEO SOPs

COMMUNITY

Local SEO Academy Community
Weekly Calls & Bootcamps
Monthly Expert Trainings
DM Access to Sam and his team

Join The Academy

Join The Academy

Join The Academy

Join 50+ designers making $$$ with SEO

Most Popular

Our web design studio is going to cross $200k in revenue... and Sam has taught me everything I know about SEO since day 1.

Our web design studio is going to cross $200k in revenue... and Sam has taught me everything I know about SEO since day 1.

Our web design studio is going to cross $200k in revenue... and Sam has taught me everything I know about SEO since day 1.

Andy Milligan

MMG Design

Meet your SEO coach 👋🏻

A little about what we’re building

I help web designers build stable income by feeling confident about the system they use to deliver local SEO to clients.

I didn’t come from an agency background. I taught myself WordPress and SEO late at night after my 9–5, slowly taking on small projects and figuring things out the hard way. I quit my job with zero paid clients. A few years later, I’d grown Thencan into a multi–six-figure business and developed a Local SEO system that that my team uses to consistently rank small businesses across Bend and Central Oregon.

Today, between my trainings, content, and courses, my work has reached hundreds of thousands of designers across YouTube, social, and online communities. Inside the community, I bring the same approach: clear, honest guidance from someone who’s in the trenches doing the work every day.

More about me:

6x course creator

I’ve developed six courses that give web designers the exact processes I use to run a multi–six-figure SEO business.

Founder of two brands

Thencan Designs (agency) and Local SEO Academy (community) both exist to help small businesses and web designers.

Trusted community builder

I’ve been invited to teach Local SEO frameworks inside other leading communities.

$400K+ revenue

Starting from scratch — no agency background, just real client work and repeatable systems.

SEO Surge Summit Host

Host an annual SEO summit that helps web designers, small agencies, and freelancers build stable income by delivering better SEO.

Teacher & mentor

After teaching myself SEO and growing from scratch, I give other web designers the training and clarity I wish I had!

FAQ's

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between the two tiers?
What makes this program different than other SEO courses?
What's the difference between the two tiers?
What makes this program different than other SEO courses?
Should I wait for all the courses to drop?
What makes this program different than other SEO courses?
Should I wait for all the courses to drop?
Why is there a community?
Should I wait for all the courses to drop?
Why is there a community?
Why is there a community?
Why is there a community?
What if I don’t like it?
What if I don’t like it?
What if I don’t like it?

Grow your SEO biz with an
expert in your corner

Grow your SEO biz with an
expert in your corner

Grow your SEO biz with an
expert in your corner

Learn from someone who actually does this work, not just talks about it
Learn from someone who actually does this work, not just talks about it
Delivery frameworks that make SEO feel obvious and valuable
Delivery frameworks that make SEO feel obvious and valuable
A sales process you can repeat with every new client
A sales process you can repeat with every new client

Join The Academy

Join The Academy

Join The Academy

Join 50+ designers making $$$ with SEO