Free Interactive Checklist
The Local SEO Checklist to Rank in the Map Pack and Beyond
Local SEO requires ongoing effort – top-ranking businesses use more signals than most checklists mention. Work through 44 checks across 8 areas, from your Google Business Profile to reviews, citations, and platforms beyond Google. Mark each one To Do, Needs Work, or Done.
0%
0 / 44 done
NAP consistency everywhereBusiness name, address, and phone number exactly the same on your website, Google Business Profile, and all directories — including suite numbers, abbreviations, and phone formats.
Specific primary and secondary categoriesPick the most detailed primary category instead of a broad one, add all relevant secondary categories, and re-check yearly as Google adds new ones.
Clear, natural profile descriptionExplain what you do, where you serve, and what makes you different — written for people, mentioning your location naturally, no keyword stuffing.
All attributes and services completeEvery applicable field filled: accessibility, payment methods, health and safety, service offerings, and price ranges.
New original photos every monthYour team, location, work, and recent projects — regular photo updates boost engagement, a positive local ranking signal.
Posts at least once a weekOffers, seasonal tips, recent projects, or answers to common questions — posts appear in search results and your knowledge panel.
Q&A section actively managedNew questions answered fully and quickly, plus common questions pre-seeded with helpful answers.
Messaging on with fast repliesAim to reply within one hour during business hours — fast responses earn the “Responds quickly” badge Google factors in.
Website NAP matches your profile exactlyName, address, and phone in the footer and contact page, formatted identically to your Google Business Profile and directories.
A page for every service areaLocally specific content referencing landmarks, services, and notable projects — not templates.
LocalBusiness schema markupName, address, phone, hours, service area, coordinates, and category — on the homepage and contact page at minimum, ideally every location page.
Core Web Vitals checked monthlySearch Console and PageSpeed Insights on your main landing pages — scores affect both organic and local rankings.
Complete contact page with embedded mapFull address matching your profile, phone, hours, and an embedded Google Map reinforcing your geographic presence.
Tested on real mobile devicesMost local searches happen on mobile — test on actual devices at different speeds, not just simulators.
Internal links between area and service pagesSpread local relevance across the site and help visitors find services from each location page.
Core five platforms claimed and completeGoogle Business Profile, Yelp, Facebook, Bing Places, and Apple Business Connect — all claimed, accurate, and actively managed.
Industry-specific directories listedThe top 2–4 for your field (Angi/Houzz for home services, Avvo/FindLaw for legal, Healthgrades/Zocdoc for healthcare) kept complete and accurate.
Identical NAP formatting in every citationUse BrightLocal, Whitespark, or Moz Local to find inconsistencies — fix the biggest platforms first.
Duplicate listings removed or mergedDuplicates split your reviews and weaken authority — request removal or merging on Google, Yelp, and Facebook.
Data aggregators submitted accuratelyNeustar Localeze, Foursquare, and Data Axle distribute your info to hundreds of downstream directories — one fix propagates everywhere.
Competitor review benchmark setKnow the review counts and recency of the top three ranking businesses — use their numbers as your goal.
Systematic review requests after every jobEvery completed job, appointment, or transaction triggers a request — automated text, email, or verbal-plus-link, consistently.
Every review answered within 48 hoursPublic responses to positive and negative reviews — solution-focused replies to complaints demonstrate accountability.
Reviews encouraged to mention specificsService received, staff involved, and results — detailed reviews help Google understand your business and convert future customers.
Reviews built beyond GoogleYelp, Facebook, Nextdoor, and industry-specific platforms your customers actually use.
Content calendar with 2+ local pieces per monthProject case studies, service area pages, seasonal guides, cost guides, or customer FAQ answers — each one a permanent local search entry point.
Content answering pre-hire questionsWhat people search while researching, problem-solving, or comparing — e.g. “how to tell if you need a new roof or just repairs.”
Case studies with specific locationsCity or neighborhood, property type, and locally specific context so project pages rank for geo-targeted searches.
FAQ content from real customer questionsThe questions your phone and sales team hear most, turned into pages that capture search traffic.
Seasonal content published earlyA few weeks before demand peaks — Google needs time to find and rank it.
Chamber of commerce / business association listedMembership listed online for the directory link — plus referrals and community visibility.
Sponsorships include a website linkEvents, school programs, community groups — make the link part of the sponsorship agreement.
Local press relationshipsPitch genuinely newsworthy stories — milestones, community involvement, launches — to local papers, blogs, and business journals.
Nextdoor Business Page activeShow up when neighbors search or ask for referrals; post offers and updates for your area.
Referral links with complementary businessesReciprocal mentions with subcontractors, suppliers, and adjacent providers — links from relationships that already exist.
Apple Business Connect claimed and completeThe default on every iPhone — accurate info, hours, categories, photos, and services. Most competitors haven’t done it.
Bing Places matching your Google profileImportant for desktop, Windows users, and AI Copilot — low effort to keep current.
Yelp complete where your category mattersRestaurants, home services, retail — fresh photos, accurate info, review responses; Yelp profiles often rank in Google.
TikTok presence for younger audiencesShort location-tagged videos if you serve categories where discovery happens on TikTok — restaurants, salons, fitness, entertainment.
Profile insights reviewed monthlyHow people find you, photo views, direction requests, calls, and website visits — tracked against your goals.
Local keyword rankings tracked monthlyMain services and locations in BrightLocal, Whitespark, or Semrush — catch drops before they cost leads.
Citation audit every quarterCatch new inconsistencies from platform changes or business updates before they hurt authority.
Reviews monitored weeklyGoogle, Yelp, and other key platforms — every response within 48 hours.
Competitors reviewed monthlyTop 2–3 competitors’ profiles, review counts, and website updates — see where they’re gaining ground.
Falling short in a few areas?We build and manage local SEO programs end to end — profile management, citations, reviews, and local content. No long-term lock-ins.
Let’s Talk