Local SEO audit is a valuable practice for businesses aiming to enhance their online presence within the local community. It’s a quick and effective way to assess how well your business is optimised for local search engines, making it easier for potential customers to find you.
Conducting a local SEO audit helps identify the areas for improvement, ensuring your business is visible and competitive in local search results. Plus, the process can typically be completed without consuming a lot of your time, offering an efficient way to stay on top of the game.
Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
- A local SEO audit improves visibility and online presence in local search results.
- Key components include optimising Google My Business, NAP consistency, and local keywords.
- The audit covers GMB optimisation, NAP review, keyword use, on-page SEO, mobile optimisation, reviews, and backlinks.
- Common issues are inconsistent NAP, incomplete GMB profiles, missing keywords, and poor mobile optimisation.
- Fix issues by updating NAP details, fully optimising GMB, and adding local keywords.
- Improve mobile responsiveness, collect reviews, and optimise website load times.
- Local backlinks should be built to enhance authority and rankings.
- Regular audits ensure your business stays competitive in local search results.
What is a Local SEO Audit & The 7 Key Components
A local SEO audit is a comprehensive review of your business’s online performance and its optimisation for local search. It guides you in identifying aspects that can be improved to boost your business’s visibility and ranking in local search results.
The audit focuses on several key components that are essential for local SEO success:
| Key Component | Description |
| Google My Business (GMB) Profile | Verifies and optimises your business profile on Google My Business to enhance local visibility. |
| NAP Consistency | Ensures that your business’s NAP is consistent across all online listings and directories. |
| Local Keyword Optimisation | Focuses on incorporating relevant local keywords into your website’s content, titles, and metadata for more effective targeting of local search queries. |
| On-Page SEO | Reviews the key elements on your website such as title tags, meta descriptions, and headers, to ensure they align with local search optimisation practices. |
| Local Citations and Backlinks | Examines your presence in local online directories and the quality of backlinks from local websites, which contribute to your site’s authority in local search. |
| Mobile Optimisation | Assesses the mobile-friendliness of your website, which is crucial for local searches that are commonly conducted on mobile devices. |
| Online Reviews | Evaluates the impact of customer reviews from platforms like Google and Yelp, which are important for ranking and trust in local searches. |
Why Local SEO Audits Are Important
Staying visible in local search results doesn’t happen by chance. It requires regular check-ups to ensure your online presence is appropriately aligned with local SEO best practices. Here’s why an audit makes a difference:
- Local SEO audits help improve your ranking in local search results, making it easier for potential customers to find your business.
- They ensure consistency in your business information (Name, Address, Phone number) across all online platforms, which builds trust with search engines and customers.
- Audits identify missed opportunities for optimisation, such as local keyword integration or additional backlinks, helping you stay ahead of the competition.
- Regular audits ensure that your business maintains a competitive edge by keeping your online presence up-to-date with the latest SEO practices.
- They provide insights into the effectiveness of your current local SEO strategy and highlight areas that need improvement for better performance.
7 Steps on How to Perform a Local SEO Audit Easily
Performing a local SEO audit is simpler than it sounds, and breaking it down into manageable steps can make the process quick and effective. Follow these seven steps to perform a local SEO audit in under 30 minutes:
1. Check Google My Business (GMB) Optimisation
Ensure your GMB listing is verified, complete, and accurate. Make sure your business hours, location, contact information, and business categories are up-to-date. Additionally, include high-quality images and update posts regularly to engage potential customers effectively.
Need help optimising your Google My Business listing? Discover these key GBP optimisations you shouldn’t ignore in your profile today.
2. Review NAP Consistency
Verify that your business’s Name, Address, and Phone number (NAP) are consistent across all online directories and platforms. Inconsistent information can confuse search engines and potential customers, impacting your local ranking.
3. Evaluate Local Keyword Optimisation
Ensure your website uses relevant local keywords in key elements such as page titles, meta descriptions, and content. These keywords should reflect the areas you serve to improve your relevance for local search queries.
Need help finding the right local keywords? Explore this comprehensive keyword research guide for Malaysian audiences today.
4. Inspect On-Page SEO
Check your website’s on-page SEO, focusing on title tags, headers, and internal links. Be sure to include local keywords and that the content is well-structured, easy to read, and optimised for both users and search engines.
5. Check Mobile Optimisation
Test your website’s mobile responsiveness. Since most local searches occur on mobile devices, your site must load quickly, display properly, and provide a seamless user experience on smartphones and tablets.
Want to improve your brand’s mobile experience? Learn more about mobile-first web design and how it can boost your local SEO today.
6. Assess Online Reviews
Review the quantity and quality of your customer reviews on platforms like Google and Yelp. Positive reviews enhance your credibility and can improve rankings. Actively encourage happy customers to leave feedback, and address any negative reviews promptly.
Want to boost your online reputation? Learn more about the benefits of responding to Google Reviews and how it can improve your local SEO today.
7. Evaluate Local Backlinks
Examine the local backlinks pointing to your site. Backlinks from local sources such as community blogs, regional news outlets, and local directories are valuable for improving local SEO and establishing authority within your area.
7 Common Local SEO Issues and How to Fix Them
Local SEO issues can hinder your business’s visibility and ranking. These are some of the most common problems and how to fix them:
| Issue | Solution |
| Inconsistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone number) | Update your business details across all platforms to ensure your NAP is uniform and accurate everywhere, therefore improving consistency. |
| Incomplete Google My Business Listing | Fully optimise your GMB profile by adding all relevant business information, photos, and posts. Keep your listing up-to-date for better visibility. |
| Missing or Unoptimised Local Keywords | Add location-specific keywords to your website’s content, title tags, meta descriptions, and URLs to target local searchers effectively. |
| Poor Website Mobile Experience | Optimise your site for mobile users, ensuring fast load times and a responsive design, as most local searches are conducted on mobile devices. |
| Lack Customer Reviews | Actively request reviews from satisfied customers on Google and other review sites. Respond to reviews promptly to show engagement and boost credibility. |
| Slow Page Load Speed | Improve your website’s load speed by compressing images, leveraging browser caching, and improving server performance to provide a smoother UX. |
| Weak Local Backlinks | Build high-quality backlinks from local sources like regional blogs, directories, or local news outlets to boost your authority in local search results. |
Conclusion
A local SEO audit lets you stay competitive, keeping your online presence aligned with best SEO practices. Focusing on elements like Google My Business, NAP consistency, and local keywords ensures you rank higher in local searches and stay visible to the right audience.
Ready to boost your local SEO performance? Let Newnormz digital marketing help you with a professional SEO audit and optimisation to skyrocket your local rankings and visibility. Contact Newnormz today.
