Guide · Local SEO · 7 min read
The local SEO checklist.
Want to show up when people nearby search for what you do? Work through this checklist. Most of it you can do yourself, and every item makes a difference.
1. Google Business Profile
- Claim and verify your profile (video verification is common now).
- Choose the most accurate primary category, then add relevant secondary categories.
- Add every service with a short description, and your service areas.
- Keep hours accurate, including holidays and storm closures.
- Upload real photos regularly: team, work, vehicles, premises.
- Post updates or offers every week or two.
- Do not stuff keywords into your business name.
2. Your website
- Your name, address (or service area) and phone match your Google profile exactly.
- A clear page for each main service.
- Pages for the main towns you serve, each with genuinely local, useful content.
- Fast loading on phones, which is a ranking factor and a conversion factor.
- LocalBusiness structured data (schema) on your homepage.
- A tap-to-call phone number and a simple contact or booking form on every page.
- An XML sitemap submitted in Google Search Console.
3. Reviews
- Ask every happy customer, every time.
- Make it one tap with a direct review link or QR code.
- Automate a friendly text or email after each job.
- Reply to every review, good and bad, politely and quickly.
- Never buy or fake reviews; Google removes them and can suspend profiles.
4. Citations and listings
- Consistent business details on Apple Maps, Bing Places, Yelp, Facebook, Nextdoor and industry directories.
- Local chambers of commerce and associations in your area.
- Fix old listings with outdated addresses or phone numbers.
5. Track what works
- Google Search Console for search performance.
- Analytics on your website, with forms and calls tracked as conversions.
- Your Google Business Profile insights: calls, directions and website clicks.
Southwest Florida tips
Seasonality is real here. Update hours and offers for snowbird season and summer, and use posts for storm-season updates. Many searches come from visitors, so include directions, parking and landmarks people recognise.
If you would rather hand it off, we set up local SEO as part of every website we build, and offer it as a standalone service.
Questions
Good to know.
What is the most important local SEO factor?
For most businesses, a complete, verified Google Business Profile with plenty of genuine reviews, backed by a fast website with clear service and location information.
How many reviews do I need?
There is no magic number. Aim to steadily earn more recent reviews than your top competitors.
Should I make a page for every town?
Only for the towns you genuinely serve and can write useful, specific content about. Thin copy-paste pages can hurt more than help.
Can you do local SEO for me?
Yes. We set up local SEO with every site and offer ongoing local SEO as a service.
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