The local SEO checklist for service-area businesses

1. Google Business Profile

• Profile is verified and you control the owner account.
• Primary category is the most specific match for your main service.
• Secondary categories cover only real services.
• Services and service areas are complete and accurate.
• Hours, holiday hours, phone and website link are correct.
• Business name matches your real-world name, with no added keywords.
• Real photos of your team, vehicles and work are added regularly.
• Common questions are answered in the Q&A section or on your website.

2. Website

• Each core service has its own page with a clear H1 and plain explanation.
• Areas you serve are described with real local detail, not copy-paste city pages.
• Name and contact details match your Business Profile.
• Pages load fast and work well on phones.
• Every page has a unique title and meta description.
• Pages link to related services and to your contact or booking page.
• Schema markup matches what's visible on the page.

3. Citations and listings

• Name, address or service area and phone are identical across major directories.
• Duplicate and outdated listings are removed or merged.
• Industry-specific directories and associations list your business.
• Bing Places and Apple Business Connect are claimed where eligible.

4. Reviews and reputation

• Every happy customer gets a review request with a direct link.
• Every review gets a reply within a few days.
• Replies never share private customer details.
• No incentives in exchange for positive reviews, and no fake reviews.

5. Tracking

• Google Search Console and Google Analytics are set up.
• Calls and form submissions are tracked by source.
• Map rankings are checked with a geo-grid across your service area.
• A monthly review compares rankings, calls and leads with the previous month.