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All lessons in Local SEO Lesson 6.4 of 61

Module 1: Introduction to Local Search

  1. 1.1What is local search marketing?
  2. 1.2How does Google local search work?
  3. 1.3Google Search vs. Google Maps: what's the difference?
  4. 1.4How does Google determine local rankings?
  5. 1.5What is the local search customer journey?

Module 2: Google Business Profile

  1. 2.1How to set up a Google Business Profile
  2. 2.2How to verify a Google Business Profile
  3. 2.3How to choose the right business categories
  4. 2.4How to optimize business information and services
  5. 2.5How to add photos, videos, products, and updates
  6. 2.6How to manage multiple locations in Google Business Profile
  7. 2.7Service-area businesses vs. storefronts

Module 3: Local Keyword Research and Search Intent

  1. 3.1How to find local keywords
  2. 3.2City, neighborhood, and service-based keywords
  3. 3.3Understanding near me searches
  4. 3.4Transactional vs. informational local intent
  5. 3.5How to research local competitors and keywords
  6. 3.6How to map keywords to locations and services

Module 4: Local Landing Pages and Website Optimization

  1. 4.1How to create location landing pages
  2. 4.2How to optimize local service pages
  3. 4.3How to write location-relevant titles and content
  4. 4.4How to build location and service page architecture
  5. 4.5How to avoid duplicate and thin location pages
  6. 4.6Local business schema and structured data
  7. 4.7How to keep your website and Business Profile consistent

Module 5: Reviews and Reputation Management

  1. 5.1Why do reviews matter for local businesses?
  2. 5.2How to build a customer review generation process
  3. 5.3How to respond to positive and negative reviews
  4. 5.4How to handle fake or policy-violating reviews
  5. 5.5Review policies and ethical reputation management
  6. 5.6How to monitor review trends and customer sentiment

Module 6: Local Citations and Business Listings

  1. 6.1What are local citations?
  2. 6.2Name, address, and phone number consistency
  3. 6.3How to find relevant business directories
  4. 6.4How to create and update business listings
  5. 6.5How to identify duplicate and incorrect listings
  6. 6.6Industry-specific and local directory opportunities

Module 7: Local Authority and Competitive Visibility

  1. 7.1How to analyze local search competitors
  2. 7.2How to earn local links through community partnerships
  3. 7.3Local sponsorships, organizations, and media
  4. 7.4How to build local brand recognition
  5. 7.5How to evaluate competitor reviews and business profiles
  6. 7.6How to identify local visibility gaps

Module 8: Local Search Tracking and Reporting

  1. 8.1How to track local rankings across geographic areas
  2. 8.2Understanding Google Business Profile performance
  3. 8.3How to measure calls, website visits, and direction requests
  4. 8.4How to track local leads and conversions
  5. 8.5How to use Google Search Console and Analytics for local SEO
  6. 8.6How to create local search performance reports

Module 9: Local Search Strategy by Business Type

  1. 9.1Local search for restaurants and retail stores
  2. 9.2Local search for service-area businesses
  3. 9.3Local search for professional services
  4. 9.4Local search for healthcare and other regulated industries
  5. 9.5Local search for multi-location businesses
  6. 9.6Local search for new and small businesses

Module 10: Local Search Audits and Practical Projects

  1. 10.1How to conduct a local search audit
  2. 10.2How to audit a Google Business Profile
  3. 10.3How to check local landing pages and citations
  4. 10.4How to evaluate reviews and competitor visibility
  5. 10.5How to build a prioritized local search action plan
  6. 10.6How to create a 30-day local search improvement plan

How to create and update business listings

Your roadmap for this lesson

  • What to prepare before creating listings
  • How to create listings on core platforms
  • How to update existing listings
  • How to track every listing

Short answer

To create and update business listings, prepare your official NAP, hours, categories, description, photos, and website link. Claim or create listings on core platforms first, like Apple Business Connect, Bing Places, and Facebook, then add directories. Record each listing in a citation tracker with its login and status, so updates stay fast and consistent.

Prepare a listing kit

Before you start, gather one listing kit:

  • official NAP
  • website URL
  • opening hours
  • main category and services
  • short and long descriptions
  • logo and five to ten good photos
  • the business email used for logins

Using the same kit keeps every listing consistent.

Create listings on core platforms

  1. Apple Business Connect: sign in with an Apple ID, search for your business, then claim it or add it. Apple may ask for verification.
  2. Bing Places: sign in and choose to import from Google Business Profile, or add details manually.
  3. Facebook Page: fill in the About section with your official NAP, hours, and category.

Add directories

For each directory:

  • search first, in case a listing already exists
  • claim it if it does, instead of creating a duplicate
  • fill every field, using your listing kit

Update existing listings

When details change, log in to each listing and update it. Some directories need email requests to their support team. Keep a copy of every request.

Keep a citation tracker

A citation tracker spreadsheet should have these columns:

PlatformURLLogin emailStatusLast checked

Record every listing. Check the tracker every few months, and after any change in your details.

Quick quiz

1. What should you do before creating a directory listing?
2. Which platform can import from Google Business Profile?
3. What is a citation tracker?

Common mistakes

  • Using different descriptions and photos everywhere. Use one listing kit.
  • Losing logins. Record them in the tracker, using a business email.
  • Creating duplicates. Always search before creating.

Your action

Create or update listings for your chosen business. Your progress saves on this device.

Key terms

Listing
A business profile on a platform or directory.
Claiming
Taking control of a listing that already exists.
Citation tracker
A spreadsheet of all your listings, logins, and status.
Import from Google
An option on some platforms to copy data from your Google Business Profile.
Listing status
Whether a listing is live, pending, or needs fixes.

Questions beginners ask

Can I import from Google into Bing?

Bing Places has an option to import from Google Business Profile, which saves time.

What if I cannot access an old listing?

Use the platform's claim or support process, or request removal and create a new one.

Should I use a listing management tool?

For many locations, it can save time. For one location, manual setup is usually enough.

Related lessons

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