This document provides an overview of key local SEO ranking factors and best practices. It discusses optimizing listings on Google My Business, getting high-quality citations and reviews from various sources, focusing on local links, on-page SEO including keywords and schema markup, and conducting local competitor audits. The goal is to help businesses level up their local SEO and stand out amongst competitors in local search results.

1. Level Up with Local SEO
Niki Mosier
Sr. SEO Account Manager
Two Octobers
@nikers85

2. World 1-1 Local seo 101 - key Ranking Factors
● Google My Business
● Citations
● Reviews
● Local Links
● On-Page
● Behavioral
Bonus Resource - https://moz.com/local-search-ranking-factors

3. World 1-2 Google My Business
● Categories
● Photos
● Reviews
● Posts
● Q&A
● Products/Services
● Description
Pro Tip - Add UTM tracking to GMB
URL and all URLs used in Posts
Pro Tip -
https://myaccount.google.com/permissions

4. World 1-3 Citations
● Consistent NAP Info
● Brand-Building
● Citation Management
● Publisher Diversity
Bonus Resource - https://moz.com/local/search

5. World 1-4 Reviews
● Reviews are HUGE ranking factor
● Reviews on multiple platforms
● Respond to reviews
● Review Management Software
● Report SPAM
Pro Tip - If you find something especially spammy tweet
about it with the hashtag #STOPCRAPONTHEMAP. Also tag
@googlemybusiness

6. World 2-1 Local Links
● Backlinks Matter
● Make it second nature to ask
● Think Local
● Think outside the box
Bonus Resource -
https://whitespark.ca/blog/7-easy-local-link-building-tactics/

7. World 2-2 On- Page and behavioral
● NAP
● Keywords
● Domain Authority
● Location Pages
● Content
● Schema
● Behavioral

8. W0rld 2-3 The Schema Scoop
● LocalBusiness
● Review
● Q&A
● Event
● JobPosting
Pro Tip - Steal My JSON and Google’s Structured Data Testing
Tool https://search.google.com/structured-data/testing-tool
From BrightLocal:
● 25% higher click-through rate on pages with markup (Rotten Tomatoes)
● 35% increase in visits for recipes with markup (Food Network)
● 1.5% more time spent on pages and 3.6x higher interaction rate (Rakuten)

9. World 2-4 Local Competitor Audit
● Pick 3-5 keywords
● Identify top 3-5 competitors for those keywords
○ MobileMoxie
○ LocalFalcon
● SPAM in Competitor Listings
● GMB Listing
● Location Page
Local Competitor Audit Process https://goo.gl/NYk2d3

10. Takeaways
● Spend time in the SERPS - both desktop and mobile
● Keep an eye on what the competitors are doing
● Keep testing
Bonus Resource -
https://searchengineland.com/what-do-the-symbols-mean-in-googles-map-
pack-and-local-finder-314295

11. Questions?
@nikers85 bit.ly/level_up_local_seo