Local SEO Basics: The 5 Things Every Small Business Must Get Right

Local SEO sounds technical, but at its core, it's about five things. Get these right and you're ahead of 80% of local businesses.

1. Google Business Profile

Your GBP is your local SEO foundation. Claim it, complete it, keep it updated. Add photos weekly. Respond to every review. Post regularly.

2. NAP Consistency

NAP stands for Name, Address, Phone number. These three pieces of information need to be identical — down to the abbreviation — everywhere they appear online. 'St.' vs 'Street' matters. '(772) 775-2854' vs '772-775-2854' matters.

3. Citations

Citations are mentions of your business on other websites — directories, industry sites, local chambers of commerce. The more consistent citations you have on quality directories, the more search engines trust that your business is real and established.

4. Reviews

Not just Google reviews — reviews on Yelp, Facebook, industry-specific platforms, and anywhere else your customers hang out. Volume, recency, and quality all matter.

5. Website Fundamentals

A mobile-friendly website that loads fast, has your NAP on every page, uses local keywords naturally, and includes schema markup. You don't need a fancy site — you need a functional one that tells search engines exactly what you do and where you do it.