Who writes
Island Rank
My name is Michael Perks. I'm a web designer, managed hosting provider, and local SEO advisor based in Duncan, BC. I've been building websites for over 15 years and working with Vancouver Island small businesses long enough to know that generic SEO advice usually doesn't account for how this market actually works.
About Michael
"Most small businesses on Vancouver Island aren't losing to competitors with bigger budgets — they're losing to ones with better-configured Google listings."
I started Island Rank because most of the local SEO advice I was giving Design Menu clients was the same stuff, over and over: claim your Google Business Profile, get it properly set up, understand what your customers actually search for, and make sure your site signals the right location. Not complicated in principle. But nobody had written it down specifically for a Vancouver Island business.
So I did. Island Rank is where I explain what I actually do for clients, written plainly enough that you can do it yourself if you'd rather. The articles are free. The advice is specific. I don't run ads or take affiliate money, so there's no incentive to recommend something I wouldn't use myself.
I'm also low vision, which means accessibility on the web is not an abstract compliance concern for me — it's something I encounter every day. That perspective shows up in how I think about site structure, mobile usability, and what actually makes a website work for real people.
Why Island Rank Exists
Local SEO advice that's actually local
Written from real client work
Every article on this site comes from something I've done for an actual client or something I get asked about regularly. It's not repurposed SEO content from a content farm — it's the stuff that moves results on the Island.
No affiliate links or sponsored posts
Island Rank doesn't run ads and doesn't take money for recommending products or services. The only thing linking from here to Design Menu is the fact that I own both. If I recommend a tool, it's because I use it.
Island-specific, not generic
The Cowichan Valley, the Comox Valley, and the Gulf Islands don't have the same search landscape as a major city. I write about the market I know — and that specificity is the point.
Other Projects
Also by Michael
Web design and managed hosting for Vancouver Island small businesses. Hand-coded sites built for speed, local SEO, and long-term reliability — managed by one person who knows your site.
Visit designmenu.ca ↗Plain-English web guides for Canadian businesses — covering hosting, accessibility law, PIPEDA, CASL, web design costs, and more. Free articles, no affiliate content.
Visit iwebserve.ca ↗Get in Touch
Want help with local SEO?
Send me a message and I'll give you an honest look at where your business stands in local search.