Last updated: February 2026
A local SEO checklist is a systematic, step-by-step list of optimization tasks that businesses complete to maximize their visibility in local search results, including Google Maps and the local pack. A thorough checklist covers every ranking signal category — from Google Business Profile setup and on-page SEO to citation building, review management, content creation, technical health, and ongoing performance tracking.
Having a structured checklist prevents missed opportunities and ensures your local SEO efforts are comprehensive rather than piecemeal. Use this checklist as a living document: revisit it monthly, check off completed items, and tackle new tasks each cycle. For the full strategic context behind each section, see our complete local SEO guide.
How Do You Use This Local SEO Checklist?
You use this local SEO checklist by working through each section in order, checking off tasks as you complete them. Start with the Google Business Profile section since it has the most immediate impact on local rankings, then move to on-page, citations, and reviews. Revisit the checklist monthly to maintain optimization over time.
Each task is marked with a checkbox (☐) that you can track in your project management tool or printed worksheet. We recommend copying this checklist into a spreadsheet or project management tool where you can assign owners, set deadlines, and mark completion dates for each task.
The checklist is organized in priority order. The GBP section has the most immediate impact on local rankings and should be completed first. On-page and citations form your foundation, reviews and content drive ongoing growth, and technical SEO and tracking ensure everything runs smoothly over time.
Google Business Profile Setup Checklist
Your GBP listing is the foundation of local search visibility. Google Business Profile signals account for roughly 32% of local pack ranking influence, making this the single most impactful section of the entire checklist. Complete every task in this section first.
- ☐ Claim and verify your Google Business Profile
- ☐ Choose the most accurate primary category
- ☐ Add all relevant secondary categories (up to 9)
- ☐ Write a keyword-rich business description (750 characters)
- ☐ Set accurate business hours, including special hours for holidays
- ☐ Add your complete NAP (name, address, phone) — matching your website exactly
- ☐ Add your website URL and appointment link
- ☐ Upload at least 25 high-quality photos (storefront, interior, team, products)
- ☐ Add your logo and cover photo
- ☐ Complete all applicable attributes (accessibility, amenities, etc.)
- ☐ Add your products or services with descriptions and prices
- ☐ Set up messaging if appropriate for your business
- ☐ Seed your Q&A section with common questions and answers
- ☐ Publish your first Google Business post
- ☐ Set a recurring reminder to post weekly updates
Tip: Use GBP Rank Tracker's Profile Health Score to instantly see which fields need attention.
On-Page Local SEO Checklist
Your website provides critical supporting signals for local rankings. While your GBP listing drives local pack visibility, your website determines your organic rankings and provides the conversion path for customers who want more information before contacting you. On-page optimization also reinforces your GBP signals by confirming your business information across a different source. Ensure these elements are optimized:
- ☐ Include city + state in your homepage title tag
- ☐ Write a unique meta description with your primary local keyword
- ☐ Add your full NAP in the website footer (consistent with GBP)
- ☐ Implement LocalBusiness schema markup (JSON-LD)
- ☐ Embed a Google Map on your contact or location page
- ☐ Create a dedicated page for each service you offer
- ☐ Create location pages for each area you serve (if multi-location)
- ☐ Optimize H1 tags with local keywords on key pages
- ☐ Add alt text with local context to images
- ☐ Include internal links between service pages and location pages
- ☐ Add a clear call-to-action on every page
- ☐ Make your phone number click-to-call on mobile
What Citations Should You Build First?
You should build citations on the major aggregators and core directories first, then expand to industry-specific platforms. The priority order is: Google, Apple Maps, Bing Places, Yelp, Facebook, and the four major data aggregators (Data Axle, Localeze, Foursquare, Factual). These foundational citations feed data to hundreds of smaller directories.
- ☐ Verify listings on Google, Apple Maps, and Bing Places
- ☐ Create or claim your Yelp listing
- ☐ Create or claim your Facebook business page
- ☐ Submit to the four major data aggregators
- ☐ Submit to your industry's top 10 directories
- ☐ Submit to your city or regional business directories
- ☐ Submit to your local Chamber of Commerce
- ☐ Audit all citations for NAP consistency
- ☐ Remove or merge duplicate listings
- ☐ Set a quarterly reminder to re-audit citations
For more on this topic, read our local SEO tips article.
Review Management Checklist
Reviews influence both rankings and conversions, making them one of the most powerful local SEO signals. Review signals account for approximately 16% of local pack ranking influence, and businesses with higher review counts and better ratings also convert more searchers into customers. The key is building a systematic process rather than relying on occasional manual requests:
- ☐ Create a direct Google review link to share with customers
- ☐ Set up an automated post-purchase or post-service review request (email/SMS)
- ☐ Train front-line staff to ask for reviews in person
- ☐ Respond to every new Google review within 48 hours
- ☐ Respond to every negative review professionally and with empathy
- ☐ Flag and report any fake or spam reviews
- ☐ Monitor review sentiment for recurring complaints
- ☐ Diversify review requests across Yelp, Facebook, and industry sites
- ☐ Add a reviews or testimonials page to your website
- ☐ Display review schema markup on your site
Content and Link Building Checklist
Content and links build long-term authority for your local presence. Unlike GBP and citation tasks that deliver quick wins, content and link building are investments that compound over months and years:
- ☐ Publish at least one locally relevant blog post per month
- ☐ Create a resource page for your community (local events, guides)
- ☐ Pursue guest posting on local news or community blogs
- ☐ Sponsor local events, charities, or teams for link opportunities
- ☐ Seek partnerships with complementary local businesses
- ☐ Reclaim unlinked brand mentions by reaching out to site owners who mention your business without linking
- ☐ Create locally focused infographics or data studies using local statistics
- ☐ Submit press releases for newsworthy business events (new location, award, partnership)
- ☐ Build relationships with local journalists and bloggers for ongoing coverage
- ☐ Create shareable local content (neighborhood guides, cost-of-living comparisons, seasonal tips)
- ☐ Participate in local forums and community groups (without spamming links)
Each local link you earn reinforces your geographic authority with Google while driving referral traffic from community members who are likely to become customers.
What Technical SEO Tasks Matter for Local?
Technical SEO tasks that matter most for local search are mobile-friendliness, site speed, secure HTTPS, and proper crawlability. Google uses page experience signals for all results, and mobile performance is especially critical since the majority of local searches originate from mobile devices. A technically sound website ensures that all your other local SEO work can be properly discovered and indexed.
- ☐ Ensure your site loads in under 3 seconds on mobile (test with Google PageSpeed Insights)
- ☐ Verify your site uses HTTPS everywhere — mixed content warnings can erode trust
- ☐ Submit an XML sitemap to Google Search Console that includes all location and service pages
- ☐ Fix any crawl errors in Google Search Console, prioritizing location and service pages
- ☐ Check for and fix broken links (404 errors) using a crawling tool or Search Console
- ☐ Ensure your robots.txt is not blocking important pages from being crawled
- ☐ Implement hreflang tags if you serve multiple languages or regions
- ☐ Set up and monitor Google Search Console and Google Analytics
- ☐ Verify Core Web Vitals pass for all key pages (LCP, FID/INP, CLS)
- ☐ Ensure proper canonical tags on all location pages to prevent duplicate content issues
- ☐ Test your site's mobile usability using Google's mobile-friendly test
Tracking and Reporting Checklist
Measurement turns effort into strategy. Without tracking, you cannot determine which checklist items are driving results and which need adjustment. Set up these tracking mechanisms before you begin optimizing, so you have a clear baseline to measure against:
- ☐ Set up baseline audit before starting optimizations
- ☐ Track local pack rankings with a geo-grid rank tracker across your entire service area
- ☐ Monitor GBP Insights (searches, views, actions) monthly and record trends
- ☐ Track website traffic to location and service pages separately in Google Analytics
- ☐ Monitor review count and average rating monthly for your business and top competitors
- ☐ Track phone calls, direction requests, and form submissions as conversion metrics
- ☐ Build a monthly reporting template that covers all key metrics in one view
- ☐ Review and update your local SEO strategy quarterly based on performance data
- ☐ Set up Google Alerts for your business name to catch new mentions and potential citation opportunities
- ☐ Track competitor ranking positions monthly to identify shifts in the competitive landscape
Tip: The most effective way to track local rankings is with a geo-grid rank tracker that shows your position from dozens of points across your service area. Single-point rank checks can be misleading because local rankings vary significantly by location.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I go through this local SEO checklist?
Perform a full review of this checklist quarterly and a partial review monthly. Some tasks like posting to GBP and responding to reviews should be done weekly. Set calendar reminders to keep your cadence consistent. Annual tasks include a comprehensive competitor analysis and a full citation re-audit to catch any new inconsistencies that may have crept in.
What is the most important section of the local SEO checklist?
The Google Business Profile section delivers the fastest and most significant impact on your local rankings. If you are starting from scratch, focus there first, then move to on-page SEO and reviews. GBP signals account for the largest share of local pack ranking factors, and most GBP tasks are straightforward to implement even without technical expertise.
Can I use this checklist for multiple locations?
Yes. Apply the GBP and citation sections to each location individually, since each location needs its own verified listing and unique citation profile. On-page and content tasks should be adapted per location with unique content to avoid duplication issues. Create separate location pages on your website with content specific to each area rather than using templates with only the city name changed.
Do I need to complete every task to see results?
No. Even completing the top 15 to 20 tasks will produce measurable improvements in your local search visibility. Prioritize the GBP and on-page sections first, then work through the remaining categories over time. The checklist is designed to be comprehensive so nothing is missed, but results come from consistent progress rather than completing everything at once.
How do I track my progress through the checklist?
Use a project management tool like Trello, Notion, or a simple spreadsheet. Copy the checklist, assign tasks to team members, and mark completion dates. This also helps you identify which tasks are recurring versus one-time. Add columns for the responsible person, deadline, and completion status to create an accountability system for your team.
Should I hire someone to complete this checklist?
It depends on your bandwidth and expertise. Many small businesses complete the foundational sections themselves (GBP, basic citations, review management) and hire specialists for advanced tasks like schema markup, link building, and technical SEO. Agencies are most valuable in competitive markets where the margin between ranking and not ranking is determined by advanced optimization techniques.