Local SEO Checklist

A practical list for checking where a business's local search presence actually stands.

Google Business Profile

• Profile is claimed, verified, and fully filled out
• Correct primary category, plus any accurate secondary categories
• Photos are real, current, and show the actual location or team
• Hours are accurate, including holiday hours
• Posts and Q&A are used, not left empty

Citations and Listings

• Business name, address, and phone number match exactly across every directory
• Old or duplicate listings from a previous address or name are cleaned up
• Core directories (Google, Bing, Apple Maps, Yelp, industry-specific directories) are all claimed

On-Site Local Signals

• City or service-area pages exist and are genuinely distinct, not templated duplicates
• Contact information is easy to find on every page, not buried in the footer alone
• Structured data (LocalBusiness schema) is present and accurate

Reviews

• A consistent process exists for asking happy customers for reviews
• Reviews are responded to, both positive and negative
• No review-gating or incentivized reviews that violate platform policies

How to Use This

Work through each section and flag what is missing or weak. Fix the items most likely costing map pack visibility first, not just whatever is easiest.

Next Step

If this checklist surfaces more gaps than expected, get in touch for a direct read on what to prioritize.