The things that help a local business show up in nearby searches. Work the sections top to bottom — Google Business Profile first — tick what's done, and come back for the rest. This is a starting point, not an exhaustive list; what matters most depends on your business and where you operate.
Google Business Profile
Profile is claimed and verified.
Primary category is the most precise match for what you do.
Relevant secondary categories added (only ones that truly fit).
Every field filled: services, hours, attributes, description.
Hours accurate, including holidays.
Real, current photos added — exterior, interior, products, team.
Google Posts used regularly to keep the profile active.
Q&A section seeded with your own real questions and answers.
Reviews
A system for asking happy customers at the right moment.
Your Google review link saved and easy to share (text, email, QR, card).
Every review responded to — positive and negative.
No incentivizing, gating, or fake reviews.
Asking is a habit, not a once-a-quarter scramble.
NAP & Citations
Name, Address, Phone identical on your website and Google profile.
The same NAP consistent across every directory and listing.
Listed on major directories (Google, Bing, Apple Maps, Yelp, Facebook).
Listed on directories that matter for your specific industry.
Old or duplicate listings cleaned up or corrected.
On-Page & Technical
Location and service area stated clearly on the website.
Location/service pages for areas you genuinely serve (no doorway pages).
LocalBusiness schema added to your site.
Site loads fast, especially on mobile.
Site is easy to use on a phone.
Clear contact info and a click-to-call number on mobile.
AI Search Readiness
Content answers the real questions local customers ask.
Business info clear and consistent enough for AI tools to trust and repeat.
Plain-language FAQ content on key pages.
Checked how your business shows up in AI answers for local queries.
Track & Maintain
A simple way to check local rankings periodically.
Profile reviewed regularly for accuracy and new fields.
Reviews monitored and responded to consistently.
Listings re-checked whenever anything changes.
A starting point, not a guarantee. This is a general local SEO checklist, not a complete list of everything that could matter for your specific business — and no checklist guarantees a particular ranking. Search engines decide rankings based on many factors. The Digital Back Office builds and manages websites; this is practical guidance, not a promise of results.