Local SEO checklist for small businesses

1. Claim and complete your Google Business Profile

Verify your profile, choose accurate primary and secondary categories, add services, opening hours, photos and a description that mentions what you do and where. Keep it updated.

2. Keep your name, address and phone consistent

Your business name, address and phone number should be identical on your website, Google profile, social media and directories. Inconsistencies confuse search engines and customers.

3. Earn and answer reviews

Ask happy customers for reviews and make it easy with a direct link. Reply to every review, positive or negative, politely and promptly. Recent, genuine reviews are one of the strongest local signals.

4. Create pages for your services and areas

Give each main service its own page, and create location pages only where you genuinely serve customers, with useful local information rather than copied text.

5. Add local schema markup

Structured data such as LocalBusiness, opening hours and FAQs helps search engines understand your business and can improve how your listing appears.

6. Make your website fast and mobile-friendly

Most local searches happen on phones. A slow or hard-to-use website loses customers even if you rank well.

7. Build local links and citations

Get listed in reputable local and industry directories, chambers of commerce and partner websites. Sponsorships and local press can also earn valuable links.

8. Track calls, forms and directions

Measure what matters: calls, enquiries and direction requests from your Google profile and website, so you know which efforts bring customers.