Local Search Foundation Checklist
🏗️ The Local Search Foundation Checklist
Complete these steps to make sure Google has the "Confidence" to show your business to local customers.
Phase 1: Your "Digital ID Card" (Google Business Profile
This is the first place Google looks. It needs to be 100% accurate.
[ ] The Basics: Does your Business Name, Address, and Phone Number match your legal business documents exactly?
[ ] Primary Category: Is your main category specific? (e.g., Use "Roofing Contractor" instead of just "Contractor").
[ ] Service List: Have you checked off every specific service you provide? (e.g., "Gutter Repair," "Emergency Roof Repair," "Shingle Installation").
[ ] The Bio: Does your "About" section include the name of your city and your main services in the first two sentences?
[ ] Business Hours: Are they current? (Google penalizes businesses if a user reports them as closed when the profile says open).
Phase 2: The "Proof" (Your Website)
Google visits your website to verify that your Google Profile isn't lying.
[ ] The Match Test: Does the Name, Address, and Phone number on your website footer match your Google Profile word-for-word?
[ ] Dedicated Service Pages: Do you have a separate page for each major service? (Google finds it hard to rank a "General Services" page; it prefers a "Roof Repair" page).
[ ] The "Where": Is your service area or city mentioned clearly on the homepage and contact page?
[ ] Click-to-Call: Is your phone number a clickable button on your mobile site? (Google tracks this as a "good" user experience).
Phase 3: The "Trust" Factor (Ongoing)
Once the foundation is set, these tasks tell Google you are active and reliable.
[ ] The Photo Habit: Aim to upload 2 fresh photos per week to your Google Profile. Real photos of your truck, your team, or a finished job are better than professional "stock" photos.
[ ] The Review Loop: Do you have a system to ask every happy customer for a review the moment the job is done?
[ ] Closing the Circle: Do you respond to every review? (Tip: Use the service name in your reply, e.g., "Thanks for the review! We're glad we could help with your roof repair in [City Name].")
Pro-Tip for the Business Owner:
"If you change your phone number or move offices, update your website and your Google Profile at the same time. If Google sees two different addresses for you, it gets confused and your rankings will drop almost immediately."
