Is Your Business Invisible Online? Do a Local SEO Audit Now

A lot of customers use the “search near me” function on Google to find businesses and services that are close to them, as they are driving, walking, or biking. Google tells us that 76% of people who conduct a local search on their smartphones visit a physical place within 24 hours and 28% of those searches result in a purchase.

Whether you run a local coffee shop, a law firm, or a home service company, if potential customers can’t find you online, you’re missing out on valuable leads and revenue.

A local SEO audit helps you assess your current online visibility, identify weaknesses, and take action to improve your ranking in local search results.

If your business isn’t appearing in search engine results when customers in your area are looking for services like yours, it’s time to conduct a local SEO audit. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you evaluate and optimize your online presence.

1. Verify Your Google Business Profile (GBP) Listing

One of the most important factors in local SEO is your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business). It’s what helps your business appear in Google Maps and local search results.

• Search for your business name on Google. Does your profile show up in the right location?
• Ensure your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) are accurate.
• Add relevant business categories to describe your services.
• Include high-quality photos of your storefront, products, or services.
• Regularly update your profile with posts, offers, and events.
• Monitor and respond to customer reviews to boost engagement.

Quick Fix: If your GBP listing is incomplete or inaccurate, update it immediately. This is one of the fastest ways to improve local SEO.

2. Analyze Your Website for Local SEO

Enhance online presence by focusing on your website. If it’s not optimized for local searches, you’re losing potential customers.

• NAP Consistency: Your business name, address, and phone number should be the same on every page of your site.
• Title Tags & Meta Descriptions: Use location-based keywords (e.g., “Best Coffee Shop in Chicago”).
• Local Content: Write blog posts, service pages, or FAQs that target your community.
• Mobile-Friendliness: More than 50% of searches (Search Engine Land) happen on mobile devices; a slow or unresponsive site can hurt your local business visibility.
• Schema Markup: Add structured data to help search engines understand your location and services.

Quick Fix: If your website lacks location-specific keywords or local content, update your pages and blog posts with terms that reflect your city, neighborhood, or service area.

3. Check Your Business Listings & Citations

Your business information should be listed accurately across all directories and listing sites. Inconsistent NAP details can confuse search engines and hurt your ranking. Here’s where to check your listings:

• Google Business Profile
• Yelp
• Facebook
• Bing Places
• Yellow Pages
• Local Chamber of Commerce websites

Quick Fix: Use a tool like Moz Local or BrightLocal to find and correct any inconsistent business listings.

4. Assess Your Online Reviews and Ratings

Reviews play a huge role in local SEO and customer trust. Businesses with higher ratings and more reviews often rank better in local searches. Here’s how to audit your reviews:

• Check your Google, Yelp, and Facebook reviews.
• Respond to both positive and negative reviews.
• Encourage happy customers to leave reviews.

Quick Fix: If you have few reviews, create an easy system for requesting reviews, such as an email follow-up or a QR code on receipts.

5. Optimize for Local Keywords

If your website isn’t using location-based keywords, search engines won’t associate it with local searches. Here’s how to audit for local SEO your keyword strategy:

• Use tools like Google Keyword Planner or Ahrefs to find high-traffic local keywords.
• Check if your service pages and blog posts include city-specific keywords (e.g., “emergency plumbing services in Denver”).
• Ensure your keywords appear in titles, headings, image alt text, and URLs.

Quick Fix: If your website content lacks location-based keywords, update your homepage, service pages, and blogs with relevant local search terms.

6. Review Your Website’s Speed & Performance

A slow website can frustrate users and lower your ranking in search results. Google prioritizes sites that load quickly and provide a smooth experience. Here’s how to check your website’s speed:

• Use Google PageSpeed Insights to analyze load times.
• Optimize images and videos for faster loading.
• Reduce unnecessary scripts or plugins.
• Enable browser caching to improve performance.

Quick Fix: Compress images, upgrade hosting if needed, and remove any outdated plugins that slow down your site.

7. Evaluate Your Backlink Profile

Backlinks (links from other websites to yours) are a major ranking factor for local SEO. Quality links from reputable local websites can boost your visibility.

• Use tools like Ahrefs, Moz, or SEMrush to check your backlinks.
• Look for backlinks from local news sites, blogs, and industry directories.
• If you have spammy or irrelevant links, disavow them using Google Search Console.

Quick Fix: Reach out to local blogs, newspapers, or partners to request quality backlinks.

8. Leverage Social Media for Local Engagement

Social media can drive traffic to your site and improve local brand awareness. Audit your social media presence by:

• Ensuring your business name, address, and phone number are consistent on all profiles.
• Regularly posting local content, updates, and promotions.
• Engaging with local customers through comments and messages.
• Sharing Google Business Profile posts on social media for extra visibility.

Quick Fix: Post at least once a week and interact with local followers to increase engagement.

9. Set Up & Analyze Google Search Console & Google Analytics

These free tools provide insights into how users find your business online. Check:

• Your top-performing pages and keywords.
• Any 404 errors or crawl issues.
• The percentage of visitors from local searches.

Quick Fix: If you’re not tracking your performance, set up Google Analytics 4 (GA4) and Google Search Console immediately.

Local SEO Audit Benefits – Improve Local Rankings With Us

A local SEO audit helps identify weaknesses and opportunities to improve your business’s visibility. At Betta Advertising, we are ready to help small and medium sized businesses like yours in everything regarding SEO, be it local SEO, Google rankings, or Social media.

We will ensure your business grows faster than ever with our tools at hand. Schedule a consultation to learn more.