Dominate local search in 2025 with this battle-tested checklist from Position Punisher Agency. Follow these steps to outrank competitors, attract more customers, and grow your business.
✅ Google Business Profile (GBP) Optimization
- Claim & verify your GBP listing
- 100% complete profile (NAP, hours, attributes)
- Primary + secondary categories selected
- Keyword-rich business description (500+ chars)
- Professional photos (10+ minimum, update monthly)
- Weekly Google posts (promos/events/updates)
- Q&A section populated with common queries
📈 Pro Tip: Businesses with 100+ photos get 42% more profile views
🌍 Local Citations & NAP Consistency
- NAP identical across all directories
- Listed in top 50 local directories (Yelp, Yellow Pages, etc.)
- Industry-specific citations (e.g., HomeAdvisor for contractors)
- Chamber of commerce listing
- Local news site mentions
🔍 Check: Use BrightLocal’s Citation Builder
🔗 Local Link Building
- Sponsor 1+ local event (with link)
- Guest post on local blog
- Get featured in “Best [Industry] in [City]” roundups
- Harvest competitor backlinks (Ahrefs/SEMrush)
💡 Power Move: Get .gov/.edu local links for maximum trust
📱 On-Page Local SEO
- City + service keywords in title tags (e.g., “Miami HVAC Repair”)
- Dedicated location pages (with unique content)
- Local schema markup implemented
- Embedded Google Map on contact page
- Mobile-friendly design (Google’s #1 ranking factor)
⚡ Speed Tip: Aim for <1.5s load time (use Cloudflare)
⭐ Reviews & Reputation
- 100+ Google reviews (with 4.8+ avg rating)
- Review response rate 100% (especially negatives)
- SMS/email review campaign running monthly
- Video testimonials uploaded to GBP
📊 Stat: 88% of consumers trust reviews as much as personal recommendations
📅 2025-Specific Upgrades
- Optimized for Google’s AI Overviews (FAQ-rich content)
- Google Bard compatibility (natural language Q&A)
- Short-form video content on GBP (TikTok-style clips)
- AI-generated local content (weekly neighborhood updates)
🚀 Execution Plan
Phase 1 (Week 1-2): GBP + Citations
Phase 2 (Week 3-4): Link Building + On-Page
Phase 3 (Ongoing): Reviews + AI Optimization