Local SEO Blueprint for Small Businesses
Local SEO Blueprint for Small Businesses
How I help small businesses dominate local search, step by step, no fluff, no BS
⭐ Watch This First
Frank the Local SEO Guy, Local SEO Blueprint
If you’re tired of hearing SEO talk that doesn’t help you get more customers, watch this video. I walk you through exactly what this page is, who it’s for, and how to use it.
What This Is
This page breaks down everything you need to do to rank in the local map pack and show up when people in your area search for what you sell. It’s not a course, it’s not a pitch, and it’s not a theory. It’s the real process I use every day for clients, stripped of the fancy talk.
If you want someone to just tell you what the hell to do, keep reading.
Step by Step Blueprint
1. Claim or Fix Your Google Business Profile
Go to business.google.com, sign in with a Google account, and search your business name. If it’s listed already, claim it. If not, click to add your business. Use your real business name, your real address, and your real phone. Google will mail you a postcard or offer other verification options. Follow through. No shortcuts.
2. Set Real Categories
Your primary category defines your entire business. Don’t guess. Google “[your industry] Google Business Profile categories” to see what others use. Add a few secondary categories that fit your services, not every single thing you’ve ever done. More is not better.
3. Add Services and Hours
List out every service you offer under the Services section. Type in a service, select the closest match, and then write a short, real description. Don’t keyword stuff. Just say what you do. Fill in your hours. Set special hours for holidays too. These should match what’s on your website and your front door.
4. Add Photos and Videos
Add at least 10 TO 15 photos: exterior, interior, team, equipment, work in progress, before/after if relevant. Add short videos, under 30 seconds, showing your service or team. You can upload directly from your phone. Geo tagged is helpful, but don’t stress it, just be active and real.
5. Post Weekly (or More)
You should be posting at least once a week on your GBP. Updates, offers, events, service highlights, photos of your latest job. If you’re stuck, search your industry and see what others are doing. Or answer a question customers ask you all the time. You can use AI to help you draft, just make sure it sounds like something you’d actually say to a customer.
6. Build and Clean Up Citations
Use tools like Moz Local, BrightLocal, or do it manually. Make sure your Name, Address, Phone (NAP) are the same everywhere. Search your business name + phone, see what pops up. Fix outdated or incorrect listings. Add yourself to big directories like Yelp, BBB, Facebook, Apple Maps, and local industry specific sites.
7. Get Reviews, The Right Way
Ask in person after a job well done. Send follow up emails with a direct link. Text your customers a thank you with a review link. Print a QR code and put it at your register, front desk, or on business cards. Google allows all of this now.
Use this review response script format:
Positive Review: “Thanks so much for the review, [Customer Name]. We’re glad you had a great experience with [specific service or product], and we really appreciate you taking the time to share it. Hope to see you again soon.”
Neutral Review: “Thanks for your feedback, [Customer Name]. We’re always looking to improve, and we appreciate you pointing out [mention the specific comment]. If you have more to share, we’d love to hear from you.”
Negative Review: “Thanks for your honest review, [Customer Name]. We’re sorry your experience with [service/product] wasn’t what it should have been. We’d like to make it right, please reach out so we can fix this.”
Always respond. Always stay professional. Always mention the specific product or service in your response. Even when the review sucks.
8. Fix Your Website Basics
Your homepage should say what city or cities you serve. Use real titles like “Plumber in Fort Wayne” not “Home.” Put your address and phone in the footer. Use a contact page with your NAP. Every service and every city should have its own page if you want to rank.
9. Write Local Content That Makes Sense
Don’t blog just to blog. Instead, write pages that answer real questions people ask. Use Google autocomplete. Type in “how much does [service] cost in [city]” and see what pops up. Those are the pages you write. That’s what your customers want. That’s what Google will rank.
10. Trigger Local Signals (On Your GBP)
All of this comes down to activity and engagement. When people click your phone number, get driving directions, view your photos, or visit your site through your GBP, Google sees that. The more that happens, the more you show up. Get customers to interact. Keep your GBP fresh. Add new photos. Respond to reviews. Post regularly. That’s how you stay visible.
If your hours change, post it. If you’re closing early, post that too. Got a holiday coming up? Let people know. Back to regular hours? Post it again. Google pays attention. Keep posting to your GBP. An inactive GBP is a dead GBP in Google’s eyes.
Who This Is For
- Small business owners sick of getting ripped off
- People trying to DIY their SEO but getting nowhere
- Local pros who know they’re better than their competition, but still can’t outrank them
If that’s you, keep reading.
Want Help With This?
If you want me to do this for your business, book a strategy call. No pressure, no contracts, no fluff. Just a real call to figure out if I can help and if we’re a fit.
Know Someone Struggling With Local SEO?
Share this page with them. Don’t keep it to yourself.