LOCAL SEO CHECKLIST: 40 THINGS TO CHECK ON YOUR BUSINESS
Aaron Carmen, https://aaroncarmen.com/blog/local-seo-checklist/

GOOGLE BUSINESS PROFILE (12)
[ ] The profile is verified. See Google Business Profile verification (https://aaroncarmen.com/blog/google-business-profile-verification/).
[ ] The business name matches your signage exactly, with no added keywords or locations.
[ ] The primary category is the most specific one for your main business. See choosing categories (https://aaroncarmen.com/blog/google-business-profile-categories/).
[ ] Additional categories cover only real departments or services.
[ ] The address is correct, or hidden if you serve customers at their location. See service-area businesses (https://aaroncarmen.com/blog/service-area-business-google/).
[ ] The service area lists only places you actually serve.
[ ] Opening hours are correct, including special hours for holidays.
[ ] The phone number is a local number you control, the same one used everywhere.
[ ] The website link goes to the right page on your site.
[ ] Services are listed, with short descriptions.
[ ] The description explains what you do, where, and for whom, with no links or promotions.
[ ] Real, recent photos of your work, team and premises are uploaded. See photo sizes (https://aaroncarmen.com/blog/google-business-profile-photo-sizes/).

REVIEWS (6)
[ ] You have a direct review link and QR code. See how to create a Google review link (https://aaroncarmen.com/blog/google-review-link/).
[ ] Every customer is asked for a review, the same way, with no incentives. See how to get more Google reviews (https://aaroncarmen.com/blog/how-to-get-more-google-reviews/).
[ ] No review gating: you don't filter who gets asked based on how happy they are.
[ ] Every review gets a reply, especially negative ones. See responding to negative reviews (https://aaroncarmen.com/blog/respond-to-negative-google-reviews/).
[ ] Replies never reveal private customer information. Health care replies never confirm someone is a patient.
[ ] Fake or policy-breaking reviews have been reported. See removing fake reviews (https://aaroncarmen.com/blog/remove-fake-google-reviews/).

WEBSITE (10)
[ ] Each main service has its own page.
[ ] Each main town or area you serve has its own page, if you cover several.
[ ] Every page has a unique, clear title and meta description.
[ ] URLs are short and descriptive.
[ ] Your business name, address (if shown) and phone number are on the site and match your profile.
[ ] Important content is in text, not only in images or sliders, and images have descriptive alt text.
[ ] The site loads fast on a phone. See how to speed up a WordPress site (https://aaroncarmen.com/blog/speed-up-wordpress-site/).
[ ] Pages link to related services, areas and guides.
[ ] Calls and contact forms work, and the phone number is tappable on mobile.
[ ] The site is verified in Google Search Console.

CITATIONS AND LINKS (5)
[ ] The top directories for your country list you, with details that match exactly. See local citations (https://aaroncarmen.com/blog/local-citations/).
[ ] Old addresses, phone numbers and business names have been corrected everywhere.
[ ] Duplicate listings have been removed or merged.
[ ] Industry directories and associations relevant to your trade list you.
[ ] You've earned links from real local relationships: suppliers, associations, sponsorships or local press.

TRACKING (4)
[ ] You check Business Profile performance monthly: calls, direction requests and website clicks.
[ ] You check where you rank for your main searches from several points around your service area, not just your office.
[ ] You track leads from the website (calls and form submissions).
[ ] You review Search Console's Performance report for your important pages and queries.

AI SEARCH (3)
[ ] Your robots.txt doesn't block Googlebot or OAI-SearchBot. See how to rank in ChatGPT (https://aaroncarmen.com/blog/how-to-rank-in-chatgpt/).
[ ] Key pages answer common customer questions directly, near the top. See Google AI Overviews (https://aaroncarmen.com/blog/rank-in-ai-overviews/).
[ ] You've asked ChatGPT and Google the questions your customers ask, and noted which sources they cite.