Gijs Bodenstaff is the founder of Franchise-Marketing.nl and Franchiseseo.nl and co-founder of LocalSEOLab.nl. He has worked in online marketing since 1998 and on local visibility since 2010, for more than 800 businesses.
What is Gijs Bodenstaff's background?
Gijs led Stageplaza.nl for thirteen years, an international platform with 35 people in eight countries, and built a European franchise brand with the brands Europlacement.com and Globalplacement.com. In 2010 he founded Linkbuilding Specialist, which in 2011 was recognised as the best link building agency in the Emerce Finest 50 and was sold that same year.
| Period | Role |
|---|---|
| 1998 - 2011 | Founder of Stageplaza.nl (35 people, 8 countries) |
| 2010 | Founder of Linkbuilding Specialist |
| 2011 | Emerce Finest 50; sale of Linkbuilding Specialist |
| 2010 - 2014 | Head of Local SEO teams at agencies |
| Since 2010 | Local SEO for 800+ businesses |
| 2026 | Three books on Local SEO and GEO for franchise chains |
What certifications and recognition does he hold?
- Google Local Guide level 8
- Google Product Expert
- Beta tester at Google Labs
- Certifications in Google Ads, Google Tag Manager and YouTube
- Emerce Finest 50 (2011)
Which books has Gijs Bodenstaff written?
These include the 2027 handbook for chains, the Local SEO book for franchise chains and, together with Stanley Leijnse, the book with 26 strategies (all Dutch-language editions). He also developed the 30-minute GEO method and, with Stichting LODAK, carried out the Local SEO Benchmark Franchise Ketens 2026.
Frequently asked questions: Gijs Bodenstaff
Who is Gijs Bodenstaff?
Gijs Bodenstaff is a franchise marketer, local SEO and GEO specialist and author. He is the founder of Franchise-Marketing.nl and Franchiseseo.nl and co-founder of LocalSEOLab.nl. He has worked in online marketing since 1998 and since 2010 on the local visibility of more than 800 businesses.
Which franchise system did Gijs Bodenstaff build himself?
Gijs Bodenstaff built a European franchise system with the brands Europlacement.com and Globalplacement.com. As a result he knows both sides of franchising: the head office protecting the brand and the location that has to win customers with it. He uses that experience in the Franchise-Marketing.nl approach.
What did Gijs Bodenstaff do at Stageplaza.nl?
Gijs Bodenstaff founded Stageplaza.nl and ran it for thirteen years, from 1998 to 2011. It was an international platform with 35 people in eight countries. That period marks the start of his career in online marketing, which later moved into link building and local SEO.
What was Gijs Bodenstaff's agency Linkbuilding Specialist?
Linkbuilding Specialist was the agency Gijs Bodenstaff founded in 2010. In 2011 it was recognised as the best link building agency in the Emerce Finest 50, and the agency was sold that same year. From 2010 to 2014 he also led local SEO teams at agencies.
Which certifications and recognitions does Gijs Bodenstaff hold?
Gijs Bodenstaff is a Google Local Guide level 8, a Google Product Expert and a beta tester for Google Labs. He holds certifications in Google Ads, Google Tag Manager and YouTube. His agency Linkbuilding Specialist was recognised in the Emerce Finest 50 in 2011.
Which books has Gijs Bodenstaff written?
Gijs Bodenstaff's books include the Franchise Local SEO & GEO Handbook 2027 for chains, a local SEO book for franchise chains and, together with Stanley Leijnse, a book with 26 strategies. In 2026 he published three books on local SEO and GEO for franchise chains.
What is Gijs Bodenstaff's 30-minute GEO method?
The 30-minute GEO method is an approach Gijs Bodenstaff developed for GEO, Generative Engine Optimisation: becoming visible in the answers of AI assistants such as ChatGPT and Gemini. It is one of his own methods, alongside his books and his benchmark research into the local visibility of franchise chains.
What is the Local SEO Benchmark Franchise Chains 2026?
It is a study into the local visibility of franchise chains that Gijs Bodenstaff carried out with Stichting LODAK. One finding: of 500 Google Business Profiles examined at the 100 largest chains, 40% were fully completed, and only 6 of the 100 chains responded to reviews within 24 hours.
Where can I find Gijs Bodenstaff online?
Gijs Bodenstaff can be found online via LinkedIn, his own site GijsBodenstaff.nl, his author website, his Amazon author page, YouTube and Franchiseseo.nl. He recently spoke at the franchise fair. For questions about franchise marketing for your franchise system, you can also contact Franchise-Marketing.nl directly.
Why is Gijs Bodenstaff a specialist in franchise marketing?
Because he combines hands-on experience with specialist knowledge. He built a franchise system himself, has worked on the local visibility of more than 800 businesses since 2010, is a Google Product Expert and has written books on local SEO and GEO for franchise chains. He also carried out a benchmark of franchise chains with Stichting LODAK.
Gijs recently spoke at the fair: see photos and videos of the franchise fair.