Hey, y’all. Are you a small biz owner trying to make sense of all the marketing advice out there, like local search engine optimization (SEO)? We get it. You’re probably juggling 500 things a day, operating with limited resources, and trying to figure out how to show up in search results when someone searches “best [your industry here] near me.”
This blog is for you—the business owners who are trying to do it all, but who are smart enough to know when it’s time to learn some new tricks or call in the pros (that’s us! The Mad Banana marketing team!)
In this blog, we’ll explain how to perform a local SEO audit that actually moves the needle and helps your local audience find your services. And don’t worry—we’ll keep it simple, friendly, and totally doable.
Let’s dive in to give you our Local SEO Audit 101 info!
First things first: what is a local SEO audit, really? Why is it so important??
In plain English, a local SEO audit is a deep dive into how your business shows up in local search results. We’re talking:
Basically, a local SEO audit helps you figure out what’s working, what’s not, and what you need to fix to make sure people can actually find you online.
Once you improve your local SEO, you’ll see benefits like:
In fact, recent local search statistics show that:
Still not fully convinced? Learn whether SEO is worth it for small businesses. (Spoiler: it is.)
Ready to roll up your sleeves and dig in? Here’s your local SEO audit checklist.
Your GBP is where you manage your online presence in Google. It includes your business name, location, hours, phone number, photos, and customer reviews. You’ll need to claim it, fill it out fully, and verify that all information is correct.
Your info needs to be the same across Yelp, Facebook, BBB, and industry-specific directories. Inconsistencies confuse Google and lower your chances of showing up in local results.
Got Google reviews? Awesome. Are they recent? Even better. Do they mention specific services or keyword phrases you want to show up for? That’s the best.
Here are a few recent stats to prove that online reviews aren’t just “nice to have”:
Once you get some reviews, be sure to respond to all of them—yes, even the spicy ones. Keep it professional. Never assign blame or get into a public argument.
Make sure your website homepage and service pages mention your location (city, state, neighborhood, etc.) naturally. Add a contact page with your full address, phone number, and an embedded Google Map if you have a brick and mortar location.
You’ll also need to double-check that your website loads fast and looks great on mobile. Google PageSpeed Insights is a super helpful tool to help you prioritize optimizations.
And if you ever need help, we’re only an email away here at Mad Banana marketing to help with your web optimization!
Do you have blog posts, FAQs, or landing pages that talk about your services in your service areas?
(If not, guess what… we can help with that too!)
Do you have backlinks—links from other local websites that point to yours—from quality sites? Think local magazines, directories, and even partnerships with other businesses. Backlinks signal to search engines that your website and service are relevant to your area, which increases your search visibility.
You can build local backlinks by:
If you come across unlinked mentions of your brand online, reach out to the site and politely request a link.
If this checklist feels like a lot, don’t stress—just start with one section at a time. You’ve got this.
(And if you don’t, you’ve got us. We’re Mad Banana marketing, and we offer tons of customizable SEO programs, like SEO audits, local SEO, on-page/off-page SEO, backlinking strategies, and more.)
Let’s be honest: you can’t fix what you can’t see. That’s where handy local SEO audit tools come in. Here are a few of our faves (and yes, we use these too):
Some tools are free, some are paid, but all will help you spot red flags and hidden gems in your local SEO efforts.
Want us to use our tool belt and run a full local SEO audit for you? Let’s chat!
We’ve seen a thing or two when doing local SEO site audits for our clients. Here are the most common mistakes—and how to fix them:
Fix: Head to Google Business Profile and follow the steps to verify and optimize your listing.
Fix: If you don’t have any reviews, it’s high time to start asking happy customers to leave feedback. Respond to each one like the wonderful human that you are. :p
And remember: don’t ignore negative reviews. If a customer is unhappy, do your best to express empathy. Offer a solution or invite the reviewer to talk to you about their issue offline.
Did You Know? In 2021, Google’s John Mueller confirmed that customer ratings impact local search results and rankings.
Fix: Start by optimizing your title tags and meta descriptions. Use local keywords naturally on your key pages. (Or send us an inquiry if you need a professional SEO tune-up).
Here’s the tea: if you love digging into data, organizing listings, and getting your hands dirty with web stuff, you can totally DIY your local SEO audit using this blog + the tools we listed.
BUT… if all this feels overwhelming or you just want to be sure it’s done right, that’s when it’s time to call in your marketing besties (that’s us!).
At Mad Banana marketing, we do this day in and day out. We serve all kinds of small biz clients—chiropractors, pool designers, occupational health clinics, florists, and more—and we’d love to help you connect, convert, and conquer locally.
We’ve got your back, whether you need a full-blown SEO program, a website revamp, or just someone to make sure your info is actually showing up where it should.
TL;DR – Ready to skip the headache and let the pros handle it? Let’s chat!
If you’ve made it this far, you now know:
The bottom line? If your local business isn’t showing up when people search for services in your area, you’re missing out on major opportunities. Take your local SEO audit one step at a time to get your biz the visibility it deserves.
Keep creative friends!
– Anna Jo & Madison Leigh
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