The local SEO checklist for small businesses
This is a checklist you can work through in an afternoon, then come back to each month. It covers the things that matter most for showing up when people nearby search for what you do. It’s the short version of our local SEO guide, which explains the reasons behind each step.
You don’t need to be a client, and nothing here needs a sign-up.
1. Make sure customers can reach you
- Call your own phone number from the website. Does it connect to the right place?
- Submit your own contact form. Does the email arrive, and not in spam?
- Check that the phone number is a tap-to-call link on mobile.
- Check that your address and opening hours are visible without hunting.
A visit that can’t turn into an enquiry is wasted, so we start here.
3. Your website
- Your business name, address and phone number appear on the site, and match your profile exactly.
- Every main service has its own page, written in plain words.
- Each page says where you work, naturally and without a list of towns stuffed in.
- The title and first heading on each page say what the page is about.
- The site loads quickly on a phone. Test it with Google’s PageSpeed Insights.
- The site uses HTTPS (the padlock).
- Your Google Business Profile links to the right page.
4. Listings (citations)
- Your details are written down once, in a single master record. Template here
- Google, Bing and Apple listings are claimed, in that order of importance.
- A handful of relevant, trusted listings are accurate and match the master record.
- Duplicates and old addresses are cleaned up.
6. Content
- You’ve written down the questions customers ask you most.
- Each question has a clear answer on your site, near the top of the page.
- You add or improve one useful page a month.
7. Measure it
- Google Search Console is set up. Guide
- You note each month: calls, form enquiries and direction requests from your profile.
- You write down where you appear on Google Maps for your main search, from a few streets around you.
What this checklist doesn’t do
It won’t guarantee rankings. Nothing will. It gives you a sound base, and the rest comes from steady work against your competitors. If you’d rather have someone do it, see how we work.
FAQs
How long does local SEO take?
Often two to three months before you see first movement, longer in competitive areas.
Is this enough on its own?
For a quiet area, it can be. In a busy one, content and listings will take more time than most owners have.
Do I need a physical address?
It helps a lot. If you work from home, the address can stay hidden on your profile if you serve customers at their location.
Want us to look at your profile and website for you? Book a free discovery call and we’ll send you an audit within 48 hours of the call.