Free Resource
The Complete Local SEO Checklist for Small Businesses
47 action items across 6 categories — covering Google Business Profile, on-page SEO, citations, reviews, AI search, and link building. Free to use and reference.
✓ 47 action items✓ 6 categories✓ Includes AI search optimization✓ Updated 2025
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Google Business Profile
12 itemsClaim and verify your Google Business Profile
Choose the most accurate primary category
Add all relevant secondary categories
Write a keyword-rich business description (750 chars)
Upload at least 10 high-quality photos
Add your business hours including holidays
Enable messaging and set a response time
Add all products or services with descriptions
Post at least once per week (updates, offers, events)
Respond to every review — positive and negative
Add your service area or physical address
Enable Q&A and answer common questions yourself
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On-Page SEO
12 itemsInclude city + service in page title tags
Include city + service in H1 heading
Write a unique meta description for each page
Add local schema markup (LocalBusiness)
Embed a Google Map on your contact page
List your full NAP (Name, Address, Phone) in footer
Create a dedicated page for each city you serve
Create a dedicated page for each core service
Include customer testimonials with city/neighborhood mentions
Add FAQ section with locally relevant questions
Use structured data for reviews and ratings
Ensure site loads in under 3 seconds on mobile
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Citations & Directories
10 itemsSubmit to Yelp with complete profile
Submit to Apple Maps / Apple Business Connect
Submit to Bing Places for Business
Submit to Facebook Business Page
Submit to the Better Business Bureau (BBB)
Submit to industry-specific directories (Avvo, Healthgrades, etc.)
Ensure NAP is identical across all directories
Audit existing citations for inconsistencies
Build citations on local chamber of commerce sites
Get listed in local newspapers and city guides
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Reviews & Reputation
8 itemsHave at least 10 Google reviews
Maintain a 4.0+ star average rating
Set up a system to ask customers for reviews
Respond to all reviews within 48 hours
Include keywords naturally in your responses
Address negative reviews professionally and helpfully
Monitor review mentions with Google Alerts
Showcase top reviews on your website
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AI Search Optimization
10 itemsAdd FAQ schema markup to key pages
Write clear "What is X?" and "How does X work?" content
Structure content in short, answer-formatted paragraphs
Use conversational headers that match natural language queries
Create a comprehensive About page with entity signals
Add author bios with credentials and local expertise
Ensure your site is crawlable by AI bots
Include your city and services in natural language throughout content
Add "People Also Ask" style Q&A content
Build topical authority with blog posts in your niche
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Link Building & Authority
5 itemsGet featured in local press or news articles
Sponsor a local event or organization (get a link back)
Partner with complementary local businesses for cross-links
Submit guest posts to industry blogs
Get listed on local resource pages
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