Ep.98 Ferhan Janjua | How to Optimise Your Local Digital Presence for Real Growth

This episode features Ferhan Janjua, owner of Reading Web Agency, discussing his transition into tech-based digital marketing, his philosophy on website design, and the integration of AI and local SEO.

The conversation explores the practical realities of building a modern digital presence. Ferhan outlines his work with local SEO, explaining how optimising Google Business Profiles with high-quality imagery and consistent reviews delivers quick, tangible results for service providers and shops.

The discussion also delves into the strategic use of AI, highlighting how business owners can leverage AI for back-end planning and coding while emphasising the importance of keeping customer-facing assets authentic and unreplicable. Ferhan details his methodology for avoiding generic overcrowded markets by anchoring AI outputs in personal brand vision.

Finally, Ferhan highlights the enduring power of offline relationships, explaining how community engagement and real-world networking often provide greater business stability and long-term momentum than online presence alone.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Highlight What Makes You Unreplicable: Put on your website the parts of your business that are really hard to replicate. Use high-end photography of your actual space or products, showcase strong customer reviews, and highlight your unique local community engagement so competitors cannot easily copy your distinct value.

Lead AI with Brand Self-Awareness: To use AI effectively, you need to be deeply self-aware about your brand, tone of voice, and core vision. Because AI naturally pulls from average market data, you must lead it with your own distinct opinions to avoid blending into overcrowded, generic markets.

Audit and Align Your Multiple Touchpoints: Recognise that your website is part of a broader network of multiple touchpoints (online and offline, such as shop signage, social media, and your Google Business Profile). Conduct a regular audit to ensure all these touchpoints are aligned. If you're a business that serves a local audience, prioritise getting a strong, active Google Business Profile up and running first.

TIME CODES

00:00 Welcome to Ferhan!

00:18 How Ferhan got started with his business

01:38 How Ferhan's business has developed