44 lines
2.0 KiB
Markdown
44 lines
2.0 KiB
Markdown
# Local SEO
|
|
|
|
## Google Business Profile
|
|
- Claim and verify your listing — unverified profiles don't rank
|
|
- Complete ALL fields: hours, services, attributes, products
|
|
- Primary category: choose the most specific match (not generic "Business")
|
|
- Photos: businesses with photos get 42% more direction requests
|
|
- Posts: weekly updates show activity, appear in Knowledge Panel
|
|
- Q&A: seed with common questions, monitor for spam
|
|
|
|
## NAP Consistency
|
|
- NAP = Name, Address, Phone — must be IDENTICAL everywhere
|
|
- Format matters: "Street" vs "St." is a mismatch to Google
|
|
- Check major directories: Yelp, Yellow Pages, Facebook, Apple Maps, Bing Places
|
|
- Use local phone number — toll-free looks non-local
|
|
- Update NAP when moving — inconsistency tanks rankings for months
|
|
|
|
## Local Keywords
|
|
- "[Service] + [City]" pages for each location served
|
|
- "near me" queries: proximity + relevance + prominence
|
|
- Neighborhood/district names for dense metros
|
|
- Location in title tag: "Plumber in Austin, TX | Company Name"
|
|
- Service area pages: one per city, unique content each
|
|
|
|
## Reviews
|
|
- Quantity + recency + rating: all three matter for local pack
|
|
- Respond to ALL reviews — especially negative, shows engagement
|
|
- Never buy fake reviews — Google detects patterns, leads to suspension
|
|
- Review velocity: steady flow better than sudden burst
|
|
- Ask at point of transaction — "leave a review" links in receipts/emails
|
|
|
|
## Citations
|
|
- Structured citations: business directories with NAP
|
|
- Unstructured citations: mentions in articles, blogs, news
|
|
- Industry-specific directories: lawyers on Avvo, restaurants on TripAdvisor
|
|
- Chamber of commerce and local business associations
|
|
- Data aggregators (Factual, Localeze) push to multiple directories
|
|
|
|
## Local Content
|
|
- Location pages with unique content — not just NAP + map
|
|
- Local news/events coverage — shows community involvement
|
|
- Case studies with local clients — builds local relevance signals
|
|
- Embed Google Maps — helps Google verify location
|