Ben Silverberg
Co-owner · Placeholder
Your next client.Not just your next click.
Client acquisition and SEO for local businesses. Built around the enquiry that becomes a customer.
Start a conversation
Our approach
- 01
Get found
- 02
Start a conversation
- 03
Win the right client
Local business. Real ambition.
An agency by Ben Silverberg & James Ranks · Canada
You know your business. We help the right people find it and give them a reason to get in touch.
Placeholder brings client acquisition and SEO together around one question: what helps a local business turn attention into a new customer?
That starts with an introduction. Tell us what you do, who you want to reach, and where you want to go next.
Introduce your businessWho we are.
We’re Ben Silverberg and James Ranks, the two people behind Placeholder.
A Canadian digital marketing agency with a shared focus: helping local businesses get found, start conversations, and turn enquiries into clients.
James Ranks
Co-owner · Placeholder
James is an SEO operator and SaaS founder who builds and ranks local service websites across Canada, New Zealand and the United States. He founded LocalPBN and Expired GMB Domains, and builds the tracking and lead delivery systems behind his portfolio.
More about JamesFrom being found
to being chosen.
Visibility matters. What happens next matters just as much.
Client acquisition
Give potential customers a clear path from discovering your business to starting a conversation. Bring your message, website, and next step into focus.
- A message built around your customers
- A clearer route to an enquiry
- Attention on the leads that fit your business
Local SEO
Help people looking for what you do find your business in search. Connect your services and locations with the questions your next customer is asking.
- Service and location-focused content
- A website search engines can understand
- Useful answers for people ready to choose
The right starting point depends on your business. Let’s work that out together.
Before we talk.
Who is Placeholder for?
Local businesses looking to attract potential customers and turn more of that interest into enquiries. We’re based in Canada; tell us about your business and market so we can discuss the fit.
Can we start with SEO?
Yes. SEO can be the starting point. We’ll discuss what people search for, how your business appears today, and what your website needs to help them take the next step.
How soon will we see results?
That depends on your starting point, market, and scope. SEO is longer-term work, not an overnight switch. We’ll discuss expectations before agreeing on a plan rather than promise a result we can’t substantiate.
What should I bring to the first conversation?
Your website, a little about your services, the areas you serve, and what you’d like to improve. You don’t need a finished marketing brief.
Your next chapter
starts here.
Tell us a little about your business.
Let’s start with a conversation.
Ben Silverberg & James Ranks
Placeholder · Canada