Lloydminster SEO Showdown: Alberta vs Saskatchewan on Google Maps

Lloydminster is a city with a rare twist—it straddles the Alberta–Saskatchewan border. That unique setup makes it the perfect arena for a local SEO face-off. Welcome to a mini SEO Showdown! Our full Showdowns dive deep into websites, content, and backlinks, but this lighter version focuses only on Google Business Profiles (GBPs)—the listings you see on Google Maps. Instead of testing one city’s businesses against each other, we’ve set up a border battle: which side of Lloydminster does a better job at optimizing their GBPs? Alberta or Saskatchewan?
To find out, we picked four everyday, foot-traffic industries—bakeries, mechanics, barbers, and yoga studios—then matched one local, small business from each side of the city. Here’s what happened when we put them head-to-head.

How We Judged Google Business Profiles

This is a mini showdown, so we focused on what really matters on Google Maps. To build our scoring rubric we leaned on our guide How to Optimize Your Google Business Profile for Improved Local Visibility―you’ll find all the GBP basics there. In mid-September 2025, we visited every business’ GBP and scored them.

Bakeries: On The Border Bakeshop (AB) vs With Love Cakes & Desserts (SK)

Alberta – On The Border Bakeshop
This bakeshop has the basics covered: business info is filled out, links work, and social media presence is connected. That creates a reliable starting point for Google and customers alike. Where it falls short is in visuals—only a handful of photos are uploaded by the owner. Without fresh pictures of products or the shop itself, the listing feels static and less inviting than it could be.

Saskatchewan – With Love Cakes & Desserts
This bakery shows how powerful photos can be. The profile is loaded with high-quality customer and product images, which gives a strong sense of what to expect before visiting. The mobile site is fast, and customers clearly interact with the business online. The one gap is owner-uploaded media—Google likes to see a business actively curating its profile, not relying entirely on customers.

Winner: Saskatchewan

Mechanics: All Out Repair (AB) vs Station Auto & Lube (SK)

Alberta – All Out Repair
This profile leaves a lot on the table. It’s barebones—no photos, no posts, no review engagement. That makes it hard for both customers and Google to trust the business is active. A shop can’t just rely on word-of-mouth when competitors are showing signs of life online.

Saskatchewan – Station Auto & Lube
The Saskatchewan shop takes the lead by actively responding to reviews. That kind of engagement sends two signals: one to customers that their voice matters, and one to Google that the profile is being maintained. The profile would still benefit from more photos, posts, and service details, but the commitment to replying to reviews already puts it ahead.

Winner: Saskatchewan

Barbers: Jo’s Barbershop (AB) vs Lloydminster Barber Shop (SK)

Alberta – Jo’s Barbershop
This shop stands out for one key reason: it actually posted an update in early 2024. That’s not frequent, but compared to competitors it’s proof of life. Jo’s could go further with photos, services, and Q&A, but at least the profile isn’t frozen in time. That little bit of activity sets it apart.

Saskatchewan – Lloydminster Barber Shop
The profile includes services and products, which helps customers know what’s available before stepping in. But the listing hasn’t been nurtured beyond that—no posts, few photos, and little sign of active management. Without ongoing updates, the profile risks looking abandoned.

Winner: Alberta

Yoga Studios: Pure Vibe Studios (AB) vs Oasis Hot Yoga & Spin (SK)

Alberta – Pure Vibe Studios
NAP (name, address, phone) details are consistent across platforms, which is good for SEO. But the profile suffers from bigger problems: a non-functioning website, missing phone info on GBP, and no strong set of photos. Those issues make the business harder to trust online, even if locals already know it.

Saskatchewan – Oasis Hot Yoga & Spin Studio
This studio uses its GBP description well, weaving in relevant keywords that help with local search visibility. The profile also links to a working website that loads properly on mobile, which Google rewards. Add to that answered Q&A and a clean presentation, and you’ve got a strong local SEO showing.

Winner: Saskatchewan

Overall Local SEO Scoreboard

Total Scores (out of 48 possible, 12 per business):

• Alberta: 13
• Saskatchewan: 19

The relatively low scores for all Lloydminster small businesses mean there’s plenty of room for improvement across both sides of the border!

Overall Winner of the Lloydminster Mini SEO Showdown: Saskatchewan!

What Lloydminster Businesses Can Learn

Local SEO isn’t complicated, but it takes consistency. Here are a few things that stood out from this mini showdown:

• Complete your profile – Fill out every field Google gives you. Hours, services, attributes, Q&A.
• Post updates regularly – Even one post a year shows more life than zero. Aim for monthly. Learn more about GBP Posts
• Upload photos—lots of them – Google rewards profiles with visual proof that a business is active.
• Respond to reviews – Whether they’re glowing or grumpy, replies matter for ranking and trust.
• Check your website health – If your link doesn’t work or your site loads slowly, customers leave and Google notices.
• Use keywords smartly – Work your main service and your city name into your GBP description.

Need Help?

At SilverServers, we help small businesses like yours get found. From full website SEO services to Google Business Profile optimization, consultation, and ongoing management—we’ve got you covered.

Want to win your side of the border in Lloydminster? Get in touch with us.