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Local SEO Checklist 2025: Complete Guide for Local Businesses

Everything you need to rank in local search results. From Google Business Profile to local citations, this checklist covers it all.

Web Vello Team
January 27, 2025
15 min read

46%

of Google searches have local intent

88%

of consumers trust online reviews

78%

of local mobile searches lead to purchase

Local SEO is essential for any business that serves customers in a specific geographic area. This comprehensive checklist covers everything you need to optimize for local search in 2025.

Google Business Profile Optimization

GBP Checklist

  • Claim and verify your Google Business Profile
  • Complete all business information fields
  • Choose primary and secondary categories
  • Add high-quality photos (exterior, interior, team, products)
  • Write a compelling business description with keywords
  • Add all services with descriptions
  • Set accurate business hours (including holidays)
  • Enable messaging and Q&A
  • Post weekly updates (offers, events, news)
  • Add products or services menu

NAP Consistency

NAP (Name, Address, Phone) consistency is critical for local SEO. Your business information must be identical everywhere it appears online.

NAP Checklist

  • Document your official NAP format
  • Add NAP to website header/footer
  • Include NAP on Contact page
  • Audit existing citations for consistency
  • Fix any inconsistencies found
  • Use schema markup for structured NAP

Local Citations

Citation Checklist

  • Submit to major data aggregators (Data Axle, Factual, Neustar)
  • Claim Yelp, Bing Places, Apple Maps
  • Submit to industry-specific directories
  • Claim local/regional directories
  • Join local Chamber of Commerce
  • Submit to BBB (if applicable)

Review Strategy

Review Checklist

  • Create a review generation process
  • Set up review request emails/SMS
  • Respond to all reviews (positive and negative)
  • Flag and report fake reviews
  • Diversify review platforms (Google, Yelp, industry-specific)
  • Add review schema markup to website

On-Page Local SEO

On-Page Checklist

  • Include city/location in title tags
  • Add location to meta descriptions
  • Create location-specific landing pages
  • Embed Google Map on Contact page
  • Implement LocalBusiness schema markup
  • Create location-specific content (area guides, local news)

Local Link Building

Local Link Checklist

  • Partner with local businesses for cross-links
  • Sponsor local events and organizations
  • Get featured in local news and publications
  • Join local business associations
  • Create linkable local resources

Adding GEO to Your Local Strategy

In 2025, local SEO isn't complete without GEO. Many local searches are now happening through AI:

  • "Best plumber near me" asked to ChatGPT
  • "Recommend a restaurant in [neighborhood]" asked to Perplexity
  • "What dentist should I see for [procedure]" asked to Claude

Adding GEO to your local strategy means optimizing your local presence for AI systems, not just search engines. This includes structured data, FAQ content, and entity optimization.

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