Local SEO Checklist
Google Maps Ranking Checklist
A Google Maps ranking checklist focused on relevance, distance, prominence, reviews, local content, citations, and conversion paths.
Interactive Checklist
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Relevance
Make the profile and website describe the same real services.
Compare categories, service descriptions and linked landing pages. Use customer language where it fits naturally, and answer genuine local questions. A complete profile should help someone decide whether the business is relevant, without adding unsupported services or keyword-stuffed names.
Distance and Service Area
Represent service coverage without inventing a physical presence.
Confirm where customers can visit and where the business travels to them. Use accurate address and service-area settings. Local results depend partly on searcher distance; expanding a service-area list is not a promise of ranking throughout that area.
Prominence
Build recognition through legitimate local relationships.
Record real associations, suppliers, community activity and customer feedback that can support a credible public presence. Publish approved examples and maintain accurate directory entries. Do not manufacture reviews, locations or endorsements to make the business appear more established.
Website Support
Make the profile's landing page useful to a local visitor.
Check that the destination shows relevant services, current contact information and a clear way to enquire. Test calls, directions where applicable, and forms on mobile. Use business markup only for facts supported by the visible page and actual operating model.
Review Strategy
Ask for honest feedback through a consistent process.
Give eligible customers a simple review link and let them describe their own experience. Do not offer incentives or filter requests to likely positive reviewers. Monitor problematic content through the platform's reporting process while using legitimate criticism to improve service.
Measurement
Evaluate local search in the context of geography and leads.
Keep device, query and search location consistent when comparing map observations. Label profile website links and review available interaction reports. Use qualified calls and enquiries to judge business value; one ranking snapshot does not represent every potential customer's result.
Official References
Use the current documentation for platform-specific settings and requirements.
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