Case Study: From Craftsman to Scaling Business Owner

Aadle (Adel) Faqiryar
11 Jan 2022
5 min read
Pattern

How Angel City Armory Became Los Angeles’ #1 Ranked Custom Firearms Specialist

Every now and then, a project comes along that perfectly illustrates what SEO can do when the right strategy meets the right business. Angel City Armory was one of those projects.

When they first approached us, they weren’t lacking skill, craftsmanship, or demand—far from it. Their custom firearm work was already earning admiration within niche circles in Los Angeles. The real issue was visibility. If you typed anything remotely related to gun customization LA, custom Glock mods, firearm cerakote near me, or dozens of other high-intent searches, Angel City Armory was buried so deep that even motivated customers struggled to find them.

In a city as competitive—and as saturated—as Los Angeles, that’s the equivalent of having a workshop hidden in an alley with the lights off. The product was great. The discoverability was nonexistent.

Diagnosing the Problem

Our initial audit showed three major issues:

  • A fragmented online footprint
  • Almost zero keyword optimization
  • Competing shops dominating the page-one real estate
  • Google had essentially no understanding of who they were or why they mattered

The talent was there. The authority wasn’t.

Rebuilding Their Digital Presence From the Ground Up

We approached the campaign with one goal: own the first page for every keyword that mattered in their niche. Not just “show up”—dominate.

This required a full-stack strategy:

1. Industry-Specific Keyword Framework

Instead of chasing generic terms, we built a hyper-targeted keyword map centered around:

  • “Custom gun modifications Los Angeles”
  • “Glock customization LA”
  • “Cerakote services near me”
  • “Custom firearm milling LA”
  • “Slide cuts Los Angeles”

And nearly a hundred other terms that showed strong buyer intent.

2. On-Page Reinforcement

We rebuilt and reorganized their content so Google understood:

  • What they do
  • Who they serve
  • Why they are the most relevant choice for firearm customization in Southern California

When Google has clarity, it rewards you with positioning.

3. Local SEO Expansion

Los Angeles is a massive metro. We optimized them for hyper-local neighborhoods and high-population pockets:

  • Burbank
  • Glendale
  • Van Nuys
  • Santa Monica
  • Downtown LA

This put Angel City Armory directly in front of customers searching in their immediate radius.

4. Authority Building

We strengthened their online reputation with verified citations, brand consistency, and trust signals that demonstrated legitimacy in an industry Google scrutinizes heavily.

The Results: Page-One Domination

Within months, the needle moved—and then it skyrocketed.

Today, Angel City Armory holds #1 rankings in nearly every major keyword category related to gun customization in Los Angeles. Not top 10. Not top 3.
Number one.

They now appear above long-established competitors, above national brands, and in many cases above firearm forums and review sites.

Foot traffic increased. Inquiries increased. Their backlog grew. Their brand became the go-to resource for firearm customization across LA.

Visibility turned into authority. Authority turned into trust. Trust turned into revenue.

What This Case Proves

Angel City Armory’s rise isn’t just a success story—it’s a clear example of how SEO can transform a business that’s “good but hidden” into an industry leader.

People can’t buy from a business they can’t find.
And once they can find you—consistently, repeatedly, and in the exact moments they’re ready to act—everything changes.

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