The Ultimate Local SEO Checklist
This is the exact checklist we use when onboarding new clients. Follow these 50 points, and you'll dominate your local market.
Google Business Profile (GBP) - 15 Points
Profile Completeness
- [ ] Business name matches exactly (no keyword stuffing)
- [ ] Primary category is most specific possible
- [ ] All relevant secondary categories selected
- [ ] Business description is 750 characters, keyword-rich
- [ ] All services listed individually
- [ ] Business hours accurate and up-to-date
- [ ] Phone number is local (not 800 number)
- [ ] Website URL is correct and working
- [ ] All attributes selected (Wheelchair Accessible, etc.)
Visual Assets
- [ ] Logo uploaded (high quality)
- [ ] Cover photo uploaded
- [ ] At least 20 photos (interior, exterior, team, work)
- [ ] Photos added weekly (shows active business)
- [ ] Video uploaded (optional but powerful)
Engagement
- [ ] Responding to all reviews (within 24 hours)
- [ ] Posting 2-3 times per week
Website Optimization - 10 Points
Technical SEO
- [ ] NAP (Name, Address, Phone) on every page
- [ ] NAP matches GBP exactly
- [ ] Schema markup added (LocalBusiness)
- [ ] Mobile-responsive design
- [ ] Page speed under 2 seconds
- [ ] SSL certificate installed (HTTPS)
Content
- [ ] Location-specific landing pages created
- [ ] Service pages optimized for local keywords
- [ ] About page mentions service areas
- [ ] Contact page has map embed
Citations & Directories - 10 Points
Major Directories
- [ ] Google Business Profile (claimed & optimized)
- [ ] Yelp (claimed & optimized)
- [ ] Bing Places (claimed)
- [ ] Apple Maps (claimed)
- [ ] Facebook Business Page (created & linked)
Industry Directories
- [ ] BBB (Better Business Bureau)
- [ ] YellowPages
- [ ] Angi (if applicable)
- [ ] HomeAdvisor (if applicable)
- [ ] Industry-specific directories (find 3-5)
Local Directories
- [ ] Chamber of Commerce
- [ ] Local business associations
- [ ] City/town business listings
Reviews & Reputation - 8 Points
Review Generation
- [ ] Review generation system set up
- [ ] Direct review links created
- [ ] Automated review requests configured
- [ ] Review velocity: 3-5 per month minimum
Review Management
- [ ] All reviews responded to
- [ ] Negative reviews handled professionally
- [ ] Review diversity (Google, Yelp, Facebook)
- [ ] Review content is detailed (not just stars)
Content & Backlinks - 7 Points
Content Strategy
- [ ] Blog posts targeting local keywords
- [ ] Location-specific content (city pages)
- [ ] Service area content
- [ ] Customer testimonials on site
Link Building
- [ ] Local news/press mentions
- [ ] Local business partnerships
- [ ] Community involvement content
- [ ] Local backlinks from reputable sites
How to Use This Checklist
Week 1-2: Complete GBP and Website sections (25 points) Week 3-4: Build citations and set up reviews (18 points) Week 5-8: Content creation and link building (7 points)
Goal: work through all 50 points methodically — most owners tackle them over a few months.
What to expect
This checklist covers the signals Google actually weighs for local ranking: your Google Business Profile, reviews, on-page work, citations, and content. Work them and you're building the things that move you up the map pack and keep you there. You watch it happen in your own Google Business Profile insights and Search Console — the point is that every item is listable and verifiable, not a promise on a slide.
Need Help?
This checklist is comprehensive, but execution matters. Get a free audit and we'll show you exactly where you stand and what needs to be done first.