Local SEO Checklist for Small Businesses

Showing up in local search results doesn't happen by accident. Work through this 20-point checklist across five key areas — Google Business Profile, reviews, on-page SEO, citations, and social — and see exactly where your local presence is strong and where it needs attention. Each item includes a plain-English tip explaining why it matters and what to do about it.

Google Business Profile0 / 5
Google Business Profile is claimed and verified
Essential — without this you won't appear in Maps or local pack results
Business name, address and phone (NAP) are correct
Must match exactly across your website and all directories
Business category and services are fully filled out
Choose the most specific primary category — add secondary ones too
Profile has at least 5 photos (interior, exterior, team)
Profiles with photos get significantly more clicks and direction requests
Posts published at least once per month
Regular GBP posts signal an active business and improve local ranking
Reviews0 / 3
You have 10+ Google reviews
Volume and recency both affect local ranking — aim for a steady stream
You respond to all reviews (positive and negative)
Responding to reviews is a confirmed local ranking factor
Reviews mention your services and location naturally
Keywords in reviews help Google understand what you do and where
On-Page SEO0 / 5
Page titles include your target location
e.g. "Web Design Koh Samui" not just "Web Design"
You have a dedicated location or contact page with your full address
Google uses this to confirm your service area — embed a Google Map too
LocalBusiness schema markup is implemented
Structured data helps Google display your business details in search results
NAP details match your Google Business Profile exactly
Inconsistencies confuse Google and reduce local ranking confidence
Your site is mobile-friendly and loads quickly
Most local searches happen on mobile — speed is a ranking factor
Citations & Directories0 / 3
Listed on major directories (Facebook, Yelp, TripAdvisor, etc.)
Consistent citations across directories reinforce your local authority
NAP is consistent across all directory listings
Even small differences (St. vs Street) can hurt local ranking
Listed on industry-specific or local directories
e.g. local chambers of commerce, tourism boards, niche directories
Social & Content0 / 4
Social media profiles link back to your website
Social signals and backlinks from profiles add local authority
You produce local content (area guides, local tips, case studies)
Location-specific content targets long-tail local search queries
You have inbound links from local websites or press
Local backlinks (news sites, partners, sponsors) are a strong ranking signal
Google Analytics / Search Console is set up and monitored
You can't improve what you don't measure — track local keyword performance
Local SEO score
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Answer each item to see your local SEO score.
By category
GBP
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Reviews
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On-Page
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Citations
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Social
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Work through each item to see how your local SEO stacks up.
0 of 20 answered