2023 Local SEO Guide with Tested Checklist

When someone looks for a local business that can fix their favorite pair of shoes, bake a spaceship-themed cake for their kids’ birthday, or sell the bestselling aisles of books, how do they do it? They do it online! 

Around 46% of Google searches are local, which makes nearly half of 8.5 billion searches per day, or 99,000 searches per second.
Source: https://www.oberlo.com/blog/google-search-statistics#:~:text=We%20know%20that%20there%20are,Internet%20Live%20Stats%2C%202022). 
https://localiq.com/blog/google-my-business-benefits/ 

If you are missing out on local SEO, there are chances that you might be missing out on tons of potential prospects because around 80% of local mobile searches convert. Whether you just want to drive your audience to your landing page to get more clicks or get the contact information of your potential customers, local searches can help you achieve those profitable and valuable goals. Wondering how to do local SEO right? Here’s a local SEO checklist to improve your local outreach substantially. 
Source: https://www.searchenginewatch.com/2014/04/09/80-of-local-searches-on-mobile-phones-convert-study/

1. Google Business Profile (GBP) Optimization

Google My Business is the cornerstone of any local SEO strategy. To ensure your business stands out on the GMB listings, follow these steps:

• Claim and Verify Your GMB Listing: Claim ownership of your listing and verify it with Google to gain control over the information displayed.
• Complete Your Profile: Fill in all the required information, including business hours, location, contact details, and high-quality images.
• Consistent NAP Data: Ensure your Name, Address, and Phone Number (NAP) information is consistent across all online platforms.
• Customer Reviews: Encourage customers to leave reviews and respond promptly to positive as well as negative feedback.

2. On-Page SEO

You can optimize your website for local search with the following on-page SEO techniques:

• Keyword Research: Conduct thorough keyword research to identify relevant keywords for your business and location.
• Optimize Meta Tags: Use location-specific keywords in your title tags, meta descriptions, and header tags.
• Local Schema Markup: Implement schema markup because search engines use these as a source of structured data for your business, such as your address, phone number, and opening hours.
• Content Localization: Create high-quality, localized content that addresses the needs and interests of your target audience.

3. Mobile Optimization

If you want your website to reach a large pool of people who use mobile devices, mobile optimization is imperative. Mobile optimization can make your site more responsive for your users, which is why Google prioritizes it as well. Wondering how to optimize your site for mobile devices? Here you go! 

• Responsive Design: Ensure your website is responsive and adapts seamlessly to various screen sizes.
• Page Speed: Optimize your website’s loading speed by compressing images, minimizing HTTP requests, and leveraging browser caching.
• Mobile-First Indexing: Prioritize mobile usability, as Google predominantly uses the mobile version of websites for indexing and ranking.

4. Local Link Building

Quality backlinks from authoritative local websites can significantly boost your local SEO efforts. For local link building, you can follow this local SEO checklist:

• Local Citations: Create and maintain consistent business listings (citations) across online directories and platforms.
• Guest Blogging: Contribute guest posts to local blogs and websites, including a link back to your site.
• Local Partnerships: Forge partnerships with other local businesses and organizations, and collaborate on cross-promotional efforts.

5. Social Media Presence

You can amplify your local SEO strategy with a profound social media presence by following these tips: 

• Consistent Posting: Regularly update your social media profiles with relevant content and engage with your audience.
• Local Hashtags: Use local hashtags in your posts to increase your visibility within the local community.
• Google Posts: Use Google Posts to share updates, promotions, and events directly on your Google My Business listing.

6. Online Reputation Management

Your online reputation can make or break your local SEO efforts, which is why you need to:

• Monitor Online Mentions: Use monitoring tools to keep track of mentions of your business across the internet.
• Manage Reviews: Respond promptly to both positive and negative reviews, demonstrating your commitment to customer satisfaction.
• Address Negative Feedback: Address negative feedback professionally and work towards resolving any issues raised by customers.

7. Local SEO Analytics

Measuring the effectiveness of your local SEO efforts is vital for ongoing optimization, and if you want to track the progress of your local SEO, here’s what you need to do:

• Google Analytics: Track website traffic, user behavior, and conversions to gauge the performance of your local SEO strategy.
• GMB Insights: Monitor GMB Insights to gain insights into how users find your business and interact with your listing.
• Ranking Tracking: Use tools like Moz or SEMrush to track your keyword rankings in local search results.

8. Voice Search Optimization

With the rise of voice-activated devices like Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant, optimizing for voice search has become indispensable. Here’s how you can adapt with a local SEO guide:

• Conversational Keywords: Optimize your content for conversational keywords and long-tail phrases that people are likely to use when speaking to voice assistants.
• FAQ Content: Create an FAQ page on your website that addresses common questions your audience might ask through voice search.
• Local Voice Queries: Incorporate location-specific keywords in your content to capture local voice search queries, such as “best Italian restaurants near me.”

9. Video Content for Local Engagement

Video content continues to dominate the digital landscape. Use it for local engagement with these tips:

• Local Business Videos: Create videos showcasing your products, services, and the local community to connect with your audience on a personal level.
• Live Streaming: Host live streaming sessions to interact with your audience in real-time, such as Q&A sessions, behind-the-scenes glimpses, or local event coverage.
• Local Video SEO: Optimize your video titles, descriptions, and tags with local keywords to enhance visibility in local search results.

10. Online Local Directories and Review Platforms

In addition to Google My Business, leverage other online directories and review platforms to expand your local presence:

• Yelp: Claim and optimize your Yelp listing, encouraging customers to leave reviews and provide accurate business information.
• TripAdvisor: If you are in the hospitality or tourism industry, ensure a strong presence on TripAdvisor, as travelers often use this platform for local recommendations.
• Industry-Specific Directories: Depending on your niche, consider joining industry-specific directories to connect with a more targeted local audience.

It’s a wrap!

According to HubSpot, 72% of consumers who did a local search, visited a store within five miles, and around 97% of people learn more about a local company online than anywhere else.  Believe it or not, people aren’t discovering businesses in the Yellowpages anymore (hello, blast from the past!). Although some people might walk into a business before conducting any prior research, most people turn to the web to find info on any business they are looking for.
Source: https://www.hubspot.com/marketing-statistics?hubs_post=blog.hubspot.com/marketing/local-seo-stats&hubs_post-
cta=HubSpot%20Marketing%20Statistics&_ga=2.127669133.1413406477.1695135947-945499829.1695135947&_gl=1*1pi9a7b*_ga*OTQ1NDk5ODI5LjE2OTUxMzU5NDc.*_ga_LXTM6CQ0XK * MTY5NTEzNTk0Ny4xLjAuMTY5NTEzNTk0Ny42MC4wLjA.
https://localiq.com/blog/google-my-business-benefits/

If this local SEO guide came in handy for you, it’s high time you think about switching to professionals to enhance your local outreach.

Searching for seasoned SEO experts to help your website get more foot traffic? Contact the SEO team at Forix SEO today!