seo-local — Local SEO Optimization

Local SEO Framework

Dimension A: Google Business Profile (GBP) Optimization

Profile Completeness Checklist

GBP Post Strategy

GBP Optimization Rules

• Never add keywords to business name (violates Google guidelines, risks suspension)
• Respond to ALL reviews within 24-48 hours
• Upload new photos monthly (minimum)
• Keep hours accurate — incorrect hours damage trust signals
• Use UTM parameters on GBP website link for tracking

Dimension B: Local Ranking Factors (2026)

The Local Pack Ranking Triad

Local Organic vs Local Pack

Key Local Ranking Signals

1. GBP signals: Category, keywords in description, completeness, activity
2. Review signals: Quantity, velocity, diversity, keywords in reviews, responses
3. On-page signals: NAP on website, local keywords, city/state in title tags
4. Citation signals: NAP consistency, citation volume, quality of citation sources
5. Link signals: Local links (chambers, newspapers, directories), DR of linking domains
6. Behavioral signals: Click-through rate, mobile clicks-to-call, driving directions requests
7. Personalization: Searcher's location, search history

Dimension C: NAP Consistency & Citations

NAP Audit Process

1. Define canonical NAP (exact format to use everywhere):

   Name: [Exact Business Name LLC]
   Address: [123 Main St, Suite 100, City, ST 12345]
   Phone: [(555) 123-4567]

2. Audit all existing citations for consistency
3. Prioritize fixes by citation source authority

Core Citation Sources (Must-Have)

Industry-Specific Citations

Citation Consistency Scoring

Dimension D: Review Management & Reputation

Review Acquisition Strategy

Review Response Templates

Positive review (4-5 stars):

• Thank by name, reference specific service, invite back
• Keep unique — don't copy-paste same response

Neutral review (3 stars):

• Thank for feedback, acknowledge concern, offer resolution
• Move detailed conversation offline

Negative review (1-2 stars):

• Apologize, don't be defensive, offer offline resolution
• Never argue publicly — potential customers are watching

Review Metrics to Track

Review Schema Implementation

{
  "@type": "LocalBusiness",
  "aggregateRating": {
    "@type": "AggregateRating",
    "ratingValue": "4.8",
    "reviewCount": "127",
    "bestRating": "5",
    "worstRating": "1"
  }
}

Note: Only use AggregateRating from legitimate, verifiable review sources.

Dimension E: Local Content Strategy

Service Area Pages

For businesses serving multiple locations:

Quality Gates for Location Pages

• Warning: 30+ location pages → enforce 60%+ unique content per page
• Hard stop: 50+ location pages → require user justification (doorway page risk)
• Never create thin location pages with only city name swapped
• Each page must provide genuine value to someone in that location

Cross-reference: references/quality-gates.md for content thresholds.

Local Content Types

Local Schema Markup

Required for local businesses:

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "LocalBusiness",
  "name": "Business Name",
  "address": {
    "@type": "PostalAddress",
    "streetAddress": "123 Main St",
    "addressLocality": "Austin",
    "addressRegion": "TX",
    "postalCode": "78701"
  },
  "geo": {
    "@type": "GeoCoordinates",
    "latitude": "30.2672",
    "longitude": "-97.7431"
  },
  "telephone": "+1-555-123-4567",
  "openingHoursSpecification": [],
  "areaServed": {
    "@type": "GeoCircle",
    "geoMidpoint": {"@type": "GeoCoordinates", "latitude": "30.2672", "longitude": "-97.7431"},
    "geoRadius": "50 mi"
  }
}

Multi-Location Management

For businesses with multiple physical locations:

1. Unique GBP per location (never share listings)
2. Location-specific landing pages with unique content
3. Store locator page with structured data (if 5+ locations)
4. Consistent branding but locally relevant content
5. Individual review management per location
6. Location-specific social profiles if resources allow

Scoring

Output Format

Generate LOCAL-SEO-REPORT.md with:

1. Local SEO Score (0-100)
2. GBP Audit (completeness checklist, optimization opportunities)
3. NAP Consistency Report (citations audited, issues found, fix priorities)
4. Review Analysis (rating, count, velocity, response rate, competitor comparison)
5. Local Ranking Assessment (Local Pack visibility, local organic rankings)
6. Content Recommendations (service area pages, local content plan)
7. Priority Action Plan (Critical → High → Medium → Low)