Sober Living Facility
Case Study

Client Background

A leading sober living and outpatient facility in the northeast suburbs of Houston, TX, built a strong reputation for its innovative approach to addiction recovery. One key differentiator set this facility apart—allowing residents to live with their pets. This unique offering significantly improved long-term sobriety rates, as no other sober living facility in the area provided this option.

The Challenge

In 2017, the facility partnered with Rehabmarketing.io to manage its Google Ads campaigns while relying on a separate agency for SEO. However, a major setback occurred when Google introduced new policies restricting addiction treatment facilities from advertising on its platform. As a result, the facility’s entire Google Ads campaign was shut down, cutting off a crucial lead generation source. Meanwhile, its SEO efforts were not yet mature enough to sustain the necessary visibility and traffic.

Rehabmarketing.io was brought in to navigate Google’s policy changes, identify compliant advertising strategies, and ensure the facility’s continued growth.

The Solution

Through extensive research, Rehabmarketing.io uncovered policy-compliant keywords and ad copy that allowed the facility to maintain a digital presence despite the restrictions. By implementing a strategic mix of conversion tracking, analytics-driven insights, and optimized ad content, the campaign remained effective for six months—until Google introduced LegitScript certification, a requirement for addiction treatment advertising.

Rehabmarketing.io guided the facility through the LegitScript certification process, restoring full advertising capabilities. Additionally, the facility transitioned its SEO and Google Business Profile (GBP) strategy from the previous agency to Rehabmarketing.io. By leveraging insights from paid search data, Rehabmarketing.io optimized the facility’s organic presence for maximum visibility and lead generation.

The Results

First-page rankings

The facility now ranks on the first page of Google for all major long-tail keywords related to its services, including:


Houston Sober Living

Pet-Friendly Sober Living

Sober Living Near Me

Outpatient Addiction Rehab Houston

Dominance in Google Maps Pack

The facility’s visibility expanded beyond Houston into all major suburbs, capturing a wider audience.

Sustained profitability

The Google Ads campaign continues to drive high-quality leads, maintaining over 90% occupancy.

Business expansion

With a strong digital presence, the facility successfully launched residential treatment services, providing a seamless transition from inpatient care to outpatient and sober living programs.

Conclusion

By combining expert digital advertising strategies, SEO optimization, and policy compliance, Rehabmarketing.io helped this sober living facility overcome Google’s ad restrictions, regain visibility, and expand its services. Today, the facility remains one of Houston’s most trusted recovery centers, continuing to make a lasting impact in the community.