Top 9 SEO Practices for Quebec

Key Takeaways

• Quebec is a major market with 25% of Canada’s population, and 93% of Quebecers speak French, making bilingual marketing essential.
• SEO in Quebec requires a localized approach, including French-language Google My Business listings, local citations, and hreflang tags for bilingual sites.
• Geo-targeting is crucial—Montreal is highly bilingual, while Quebec City, Gatineau, and Sherbrooke lean more French.
• Legal compliance matters—Bill 101 and Bill 96 require French-first content in ads, landing pages, and customer interactions.
• Cultural adaptation improves engagement—simply translating content isn’t enough; businesses should localize messaging to fit Quebec’s unique French flavors.

Introduction

With looming US tariffs and trade restrictions, interprovincial commerce has become a smart growth strategy for Canadian businesses. Expanding into Quebec presents a massive opportunity—but only if you get your SEO strategy right. With nearly 25% of Canada’s population and a strong preference for French-language content, Quebec requires a localized approach to digital marketing.

Over 93% of Quebecers speak French, and local laws—such as Bill 101 and Bill 96—require businesses to use French in their marketing. Ignoring these factors can hurt your brand’s visibility and even lead to compliance issues.

In this post, we will explore how to optimize your SEO strategies to rank higher, attract local consumers, and ensure compliance with Quebec’s language laws.

Why Localized SEO Matters for Quebec

Quebec’s online market is distinct from the rest of Canada, and businesses that don’t tailor their SEO strategy risk missing out on a major customer base. With over 93% of Quebecers speaking French, the majority of online searches in the province are conducted in French, making bilingual or French-first optimization essential for ranking in search results.

Search Behavior in Quebec

While many Quebecers understand English, they prefer to engage with businesses that market in French. Websites, blog posts, and product descriptions written in English-only can alienate local consumers and limit organic search visibility. Studies show that French content in Quebec consistently outperforms English content in click-through rates and engagement.

According to a recent survey, 69% of newcomers say that they pay attention to ads in their own language and connect with brands reflecting their culture​. Similarly, Quebec’s longtime residents respond to marketing that reflects their culture and French-language pride. Highlighting local success stories or using testimonials from Quebec customers (in French) is important to build relatability.

Google Ranking Factors & Local Competition

Google prioritizes localized and relevant content. A business that optimizes its website with Quebec-specific SEO—such as French-language keywords, bilingual Google My Business listings, and local backlinks—has a significant advantage over competitors who rely on generic Canadian SEO strategies.

Another key factor is competition. Many national brands focus their digital marketing efforts on English-speaking Canada, which means French search queries in Quebec often have lower competition. This presents an opportunity for businesses to rank higher in search results by investing in high-quality, French-language content.

By prioritizing localized SEO, businesses can reach more Quebec consumers and improve their search rankings. In the next section, we’ll cover how to optimize your website for Quebec’s local search ecosystem.

Local SEO Best Practices for Quebec

Now that we addressed why localizing in Quebec is important for growth, let’s look at the best SEO practices for 2025 that will help your business rank higher and attract Quebec consumers. From bilingual Google My Business listings to locally relevant content, here’s what you need to focus on.

1. Optimize Your Google My Business (GMB) Profile in French and English

Your Google My Business (GMB) profile is one of the most important tools for ranking in local Quebec searches. Businesses that provide bilingual or French-first profiles perform better in local SEO.

Best practices:

• Write your business description in both French and English (with French first).
• Use geotagged photos that include Quebec-specific details (e.g., Montreal landmarks, French signage).
• Ensure NAP consistency (Name, Address, Phone number) across all directories.

Google does not automatically translate GMB listings, so businesses must manually input content in both languages to maximize visibility.

2. Build Local Citations and Backlinks on Quebec-Specific Websites

To strengthen your local search authority, businesses should get listed on Quebec-focused directories and websites. These backlinks signal to Google that your business is relevant to Quebec consumers.

Recommended citation sites:

• YellowPages.ca
• Canada411
• TourismeMontreal.org
• Local Logic
• Québec Original

Of course, the best citation sites depend on your industry. A tourism-related business might benefit from being featured on Québec Original, while a Montreal-based tech company might prioritize backlinks from local startup directories. Identifying the right local directories for your business can improve search rankings and brand credibility.

3. Use French Keywords for Better Search Visibility

Many businesses make the mistake of translating English keywords instead of researching native French search terms. The way Quebecers search online differs from English-speaking Canadians.

For example, a Quebec user looking for IT jobs in Montreal might search for "emploi TI Montréal" instead of "IT jobs Montreal".

Here are the best ways to find trending French keywords:

• Check Google.ca auto-suggestions for commonly searched French phrases.
• Use Google Keyword Planner with Quebec as the target location.
• Analyze Search Console data to see what French queries bring traffic to your site.

4. Create Quebec-Specific Landing Pages & Content

Businesses that create localized pages for different Quebec regions perform better in local searches. Instead of a single “Canada” page, optimize for major Quebec cities and regions like:

• Montréal
• Québec City
• Gatineau

Each page should include region-specific keywords and references to local culture. For example, a Montreal page could mention “Plateau Mont-Royal” or “Vieux-Montréal” to capture hyper-local searches.

5. Implement Hreflang Tags for a Bilingual Website

If your business has both French and English pages, you need hreflang tags to tell Google which language version to show to Quebec users (source).

Place this snippet on your site:
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="fr-CA" href="https://example.com/fr/" /> <link rel="alternate" hreflang="en-CA" href="https://example.com/en/" /> ß This prevents duplicate content issues and ensures Quebec searchers see the correct language version of your site.

6. Get More Reviews in French

Online reviews are a key factor in Google’s local ranking algorithm. Encourage customers to leave reviews in both English and French.

Best practices:

• Politely ask French-speaking customers to leave reviews in French.
• Respond to reviews in the language they were written in.
• Use Google Q&A to answer common customer questions in both languages.

7. Optimize for Mobile & Voice Search

With over 60% of Quebecers using mobile search, businesses should ensure their mobile SEO is strong.

Top 3 best SEO mobile practices:

• Fast-loading mobile pages (use Google’s PageSpeed Insights to check).
• Conversational French content optimized for voice search (e.g., “Où trouver un bon restaurant à Québec?”).
• Google Business Profile updates with mobile-friendly content like Q&A and reviews.

8. Stay Compliant with Quebec’s Language Laws

Quebec’s Bill 101 and Bill 96 require that all business websites, digital ads, and customer-facing content be available in French.

To comply:

• Make sure your French content is equal in quality to English content.
• Provide French versions of landing pages, checkout processes, and support pages.
• Avoid machine-translation tools, like Google Translate or DeepL—use professional translation tools or services to ensure quality localization.

9. Work with Local Marketing Agencies

Partnering with local marketing agencies can provide you with the in-depth, region-specific expertise that is often hard to replicate in-house. Local agencies understand Quebec’s unique consumer behavior, regulatory landscape, and cultural nuances—factors that are crucial for successful SEO. They can help you:

• Develop tailored strategies for your businesses needs
• Ensure regulatory compliance in Quebec and other regions
• Leverage their media and influencer networks
• Access in-depth market insights for your industry

For example, agencies like Bofu specialize in creating SEO-optimized landing pages and websites that are specifically designed for the Quebec market. They bring a wealth of local knowledge, allowing your business to stand out in a competitive digital landscape.

Conclusion

Expanding into Quebec requires more than just translating content—it’s about building a localized strategy that aligns with how Quebecers search, shop, and engage online. With over 93% of Quebecers speaking French and local regulations mandating French-language marketing, businesses that invest in proper localization will see stronger engagement and better rankings.

To succeed in Quebec, businesses should:

• Optimize for local SEO, ensuring bilingual Google Business listings, local citations, and Quebec-specific keywords.
• Geo-target strategically, adjusting bids and messaging based on the region and language preferences.
• Ensure legal compliance, directing Quebec users to French landing pages and following Bill 101 & Bill 96 guidelines.

Quebec is a unique market with huge growth potential. Companies that take the time to understand the culture, tailor their messaging, and invest in bilingual marketing** will gain a competitive advantage over businesses that treat Quebec as just another part of Canada.