Local SEO is how Vancouver businesses appear when customers search for services nearby. "Near me" searches, map results, and local organic rankings all fall under local SEO. This checklist covers every area you need to optimize, organized by priority.
Google Business Profile (GBP)
- ☐ Primary category set accurately to your main business type
- ☐ 2–4 additional categories that match actual services
- ☐ Business description (750 chars) includes location + service keywords
- ☐ All service items entered with descriptions
- ☐ 20+ photos: cover, logo, interior, exterior, products/services
- ☐ New photos added monthly
- ☐ Accurate hours, including special/holiday hours
- ☐ Website URL matches your main site
- ☐ Service area or address set correctly
- ☐ Weekly GBP posts (updates, offers, events)
- ☐ Q&A section populated with common questions
Reviews
- ☐ 20+ Google reviews with 4.5+ star average
- ☐ Review collection system in place (QR codes, text automation)
- ☐ All reviews responded to within 24 hours
- ☐ Negative reviews addressed professionally and factually
- ☐ GBP review short link created and distributed
- ☐ Review request integrated into post-service workflow
Website Technical SEO
- ☐ Mobile-responsive design (tested on real devices)
- ☐ Page load speed under 3 seconds (test with PageSpeed Insights)
- ☐ SSL certificate installed (HTTPS)
- ☐ XML sitemap submitted to Google Search Console
- ☐ Robots.txt configured properly
- ☐ Schema markup: LocalBusiness, Organization, FAQ, BreadcrumbList
- ☐ Image optimization (WebP format, proper alt text, compressed)
- ☐ Core Web Vitals passing (LCP, FID, CLS)
- ☐ Canonical URLs set on all pages
- ☐ 404 page set up with navigation back to main site
On-Page Local SEO
- ☐ Title tags include location + service keywords
- ☐ Meta descriptions are unique and compelling with keywords
- ☐ H1 tags contain primary keyword for each page
- ☐ NAP (Name, Address, Phone) consistent across all pages
- ☐ Service-specific landing pages created
- ☐ Location pages for each service area (if multiple areas)
- ☐ Internal linking between related pages
- ☐ Google Maps embed on contact page
- ☐ Click-to-call phone links on all pages
Content Strategy
- ☐ Blog with local-keyword-targeted posts (monthly minimum)
- ☐ FAQ page answering common customer questions
- ☐ Service descriptions with specific, detailed content
- ☐ Customer testimonials/case studies published
- ☐ Industry-specific Vancouver content (trends, tips, guides)
Local Citations & Links
- ☐ Google Business Profile claimed and verified
- ☐ Listed on Yelp, Facebook, Apple Maps
- ☐ Listed on industry-specific directories
- ☐ NAP consistent across all listings
- ☐ Local backlinks from Vancouver business directories, chambers, media
Tracking & Analytics
- ☐ Google Analytics 4 installed and configured
- ☐ Google Search Console connected
- ☐ Conversion tracking set up (phone calls, form submissions, bookings)
- ☐ GBP Insights reviewed monthly
- ☐ Keyword rankings monitored monthly
- ☐ Monthly performance reports generated
Local SEO isn't a one-time project — it's an ongoing system. The businesses that rank consistently are the ones that maintain their SEO infrastructure week after week. Use this checklist as your quarterly audit guide.
Want a professional audit of your current local SEO status? We'll run through this entire checklist for your business and identify your highest-impact opportunities.
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