Rank higher on Google Maps and in the local pack
For a local business, the three results in the Google Maps pack get most of the calls. Your position there depends on your Google Business Profile, your reviews, how close the searcher is, and how well your website backs up what the profile says.
Start with the checklist, then use the guides for your trade. Each one covers the profile, the website and the reviews in that order.
Start here
The basics every local business should have in place.
Local SEO Checklist for Beginners (2026) + Free PDF
A local SEO checklist for beginners with a free PDF: claim your Google Business Profile, fill in every detail and research local keywords, step by step.
The Starter’s Guide to Local SEO: 8 Tips for Your Strategy
A starter's guide to local SEO: what it is, who needs it, how it works, common mistakes to avoid and 8 tips to build your local SEO strategy.
Google Business Profile Optimization: A Beginner’s Guide
Google Business Profile optimization for beginners: claim and verify your profile, keep your NAP consistent and fill in every detail that helps you rank.
How to Appear in the Google Local Pack: 6 Simple Steps
How to appear in the Google Local Pack in 6 steps: how relevance, distance and prominence work, and what to do to get into the map results.
Rank higher on Maps
Reviews, near me searches, schema and the new AI features in Maps.
5 Easy Steps to Get More Reviews for Your Local Business
How to get more reviews for your local business in 5 steps: make reviewing easy, ask at the right moment, show existing reviews and reply to all.
How to Rank For Near Me Keywords in 5 Simple Steps
How to rank for near me keywords in 5 steps: how Google handles near me searches, the ranking signals that matter and the local SEO to work on.
Local Business Schema for Beginners: The Complete Guide
Local business schema for beginners: what it is, which elements to include, why it matters for SEO and how to create it with a schema generator.
How to Rank in Google Maps AI Mode and Win Local Search
Learn how to rank in Google Maps AI mode with our guide for local businesses. Optimize your profile and reviews to become the top AI recommendation.
How to Use Ask Maps in Google Maps: A Simple Guide
Learn how to use Ask Maps in Google Maps. Get personalized, conversational answers for places, routes, and local tips with Google's new Gemini AI feature.
How to Embed Google Maps on Your Website and in WordPress
Embed a Google Map with Share, Embed a map and Copy HTML, then paste it into WordPress or Elementor. Plus several pins on one map and a map per location page.
Top 12 AI Tools for Local SEO to Dominate Rankings
Discover the 12 best AI tools for local SEO to automate tasks, improve your Google ranking, and attract more local customers. Read our detailed 2026 guide.
Local SEO by trade
The same steps, applied to the searches each trade gets.
How to Do Local SEO for Plumbers in 5 Easy Steps
How to do local SEO for plumbers in 5 steps: optimize your Google Business Profile, get more reviews and make your website bring in plumbing jobs.
How to Do Local SEO for Electricians: 5 Simple Steps
How to do local SEO for electricians in 5 steps: optimize your Google Business Profile, get more reviews and make your website bring in local jobs.
How to Do Local SEO for HVAC: 5 Simple Steps
How to do local SEO for HVAC companies in 5 steps: optimize your Google Business Profile, get more reviews and make your website bring in calls.
How to Do Local SEO for Contractors in 5 Simple Steps
How to do local SEO for contractors in 5 steps: optimize your Google Business Profile, get more reviews and turn your website into a lead source.
How to Do Local SEO for Landscaping Companies: A Simple Guide
How to do local SEO for landscaping companies in 5 steps: Google Business Profile, your website, local landing pages, keyword research and backlinks.
How to Do Local SEO for Restaurants in 5 Easy Steps
How to do local SEO for restaurants in 5 steps: optimize your Google Business Profile, get more reviews and make your website fill more tables.
How to Do Local SEO for Doctors in 5 Simple Steps
How to do local SEO for doctors in 5 steps: optimize your Google Business Profile, get more patient reviews and make your website rank locally.
How to Do Local SEO for Plastic Surgeons in 5 Simple Steps
How to do local SEO for plastic surgeons in 5 steps: optimize your Google Business Profile, earn patient reviews and make your website rank locally.
How to Do Local SEO for Lawyers in 5 Easy Steps
How to do local SEO for lawyers in 5 steps: optimize your law firm's Google Business Profile, get more client reviews and make your website rank.
How to Do Local SEO for Real Estate in 5 Simple Steps
How to do local SEO for real estate agencies in 5 steps: optimize your Google Business Profile, get more client reviews and rank your website locally.
The Google Maps Rank Checker shows where your business ranks for a keyword across a grid of points around your location, so you can see where you drop out of the pack.