Local SEO and AI search guides
How local businesses get found on Google Maps, in search results and in AI answers, and what to do about it.
AI search
- AI search guideAI SEO: how to get found in ChatGPT, Gemini and Google's AI answersAI SEO (also called LLM SEO) explained for local businesses: how ChatGPT, Gemini and Google's AI answers pick businesses, what to change, and how to measure it.
- AI search guideGenerative engine optimization (GEO): a practical guide for local businessesWhat generative engine optimization (GEO) is, where the term came from, and a practical GEO checklist for local businesses that want to be named in AI answers.
- AI search guideGEO vs SEO vs AEO: what's the difference, and which one matters for you?GEO vs SEO vs AEO in plain terms: what each one optimizes for, how they overlap, and where a local business should spend its time first.
- AI search guideHow to show up in Google AI OverviewsHow Google AI Overviews choose their sources, what Google says about optimizing for them, and what local businesses can do to be included and cited.
- AI search guideGoogle AI Mode: what it means for local businessesWhat Google AI Mode is, how it answers local searches, how it differs from AI Overviews and the map pack, and how local businesses can stay visible in it.
- AI search guideChatGPT SEO: how to get your business recommended by AI assistantsHow local businesses get mentioned and recommended by ChatGPT, Gemini and Google's AI answers, what influences those answers, and how to measure it.
Google Business Profile
- Google Business Profile guideGoogle Business Profile optimization: the complete checklistA complete Google Business Profile optimization checklist: categories, services, service areas, photos, reviews, posts, and the mistakes that get profiles suspended.
- Reviews guideHow to get more Google reviews, the simple wayA simple, guideline-safe system to get more Google reviews: when and how to ask, review links, replying, and what never to do.
- Google Business Profile guideGoogle Business Profile verification: how it works and how to pass first timeHow Google Business Profile verification works: video, phone, email and postcard methods, what to film for video verification, and what to do if it fails.
- Google Business Profile guideGoogle Business Profile suspended: why it happens and how to get reinstatedWhy Google Business Profiles get suspended, how to find the cause, what evidence to gather, and how to appeal for reinstatement without making it worse.
- Google Maps guideHow to add your business to Google MapsHow to add your business to Google Maps with a Google Business Profile: step by step, for storefronts and service area businesses, plus what to do after verification.
- Google Business Profile guideGoogle Business Profile categories: how to choose the right onesHow Google Business Profile categories work, how to choose your primary and secondary categories, how to see competitors' categories, and mistakes to avoid.
Google Maps and local SEO
- Local SEO tools guideLocal SEO tools: what you actually need, by jobA buyer's guide to local SEO tools: free Google tools, map grid trackers, rank trackers, citation and review tools, site audits and AI visibility tracking.
- Local SEO guideThe Google map pack: what it is and how to get into itWhat the Google map pack is, how Google picks the three businesses in it, and the practical steps that get a local business into it more often.
- Troubleshooting guideWhy your business isn't showing on Google Maps, and how to fix itThe common reasons a business doesn't show up on Google Maps or in local results, how to check which one applies to you, and how to fix each one.
- Local SEO guideHow to rank higher on Google MapsA practical, step-by-step plan to rank higher on Google Maps: categories, profile, reviews, website pages, local links, and measuring across your whole service area.
- Local SEO guideLocal SEO for small business: what it is and where to startWhat local SEO is, how Google ranks local businesses, and the few things a small business should do first to get found on Google Maps, in search and in AI answers.
- Local SEO checklistThe local SEO checklistA practical local SEO checklist: Google Business Profile, website, reviews, citations, links, AI search and tracking. Work through it top to bottom or use it as an audit.
- Local SEO guideLocal citations and NAP consistency: what matters and what to skipWhat local citations are, why NAP consistency matters, which listings to build first, and how to find and fix inconsistent or duplicate listings.
- Local SEO guideService area business SEO: how to rank in the towns you serveHow service area businesses rank on Google: service area settings, why you rank best near your base, and how to win searches in the other towns you serve.
- Local SEO guideMulti-location SEO: how to rank every location, not just the first oneHow to do local SEO for a business with multiple locations: one profile per location, location pages that rank, reviews, reporting and avoiding cannibalisation.
- Local SEO in CanadaLocal SEO in Canada: directories, domains and what's differentLocal SEO for Canadian businesses: the Canadian business directories worth listing on, .ca domains, bilingual searches, and how ranking works across provinces.
SEO by industry
- Roofing SEORoofing SEO: how roofing companies get found on GoogleRoofing SEO, step by step: how roofers get found on Google Maps and in search with service and town pages, reviews, storm-season planning and measuring rankings.
- Dental SEODental SEO: how dental practices attract new patients from GoogleLocal SEO for dental practices: Google Business Profile, treatment pages, reviews, trust and accuracy, and how to measure where your clinic ranks across your area.
- Contractor SEOContractor SEO: winning local projects from GoogleSEO for contractors and renovation companies: Google Maps, service and project pages, reviews, local links, and how to measure rankings across your service area.
- Plumbing SEOPlumbing SEO: getting the call when something breaksLocal SEO for plumbers: emergency searches, Google Business Profile, service and area pages, reviews, and measuring rankings across your service area.
- SEO for law firmsSEO for law firms: how lawyers get found by clientsLocal SEO for law firms: Google Business Profile, practice area pages, reviews, trust and accuracy, and how to measure where your firm ranks across your city.
- Pest control SEOPest control SEO: how exterminators win local searchesPest control SEO: how exterminators get found on Google Maps and in search with pest-specific pages, service areas, seasonal planning and reviews.
- Electrician SEOElectrician SEO: how electricians get found on GoogleElectrician SEO: how electrical contractors get found on Google Maps and in search with service pages, emergency coverage, licensing trust signals and reviews.
- HVAC SEOHVAC SEO: how heating and cooling companies win local searchesHVAC SEO: how heating and cooling companies get found on Google Maps and in search, with service pages, seasonal planning, emergency coverage and reviews.
- Real estate SEOReal estate SEO: how agents get found by local buyers and sellersReal estate SEO for agents and brokerages: Google Business Profile, neighbourhood pages, reviews, and how to stand out locally against the big listing portals.
- Restaurant SEORestaurant SEO: how restaurants get found on Google MapsRestaurant SEO: how restaurants get found on Google Maps and in search with a complete Business Profile, menus, photos, reviews and local mentions.
- Chiropractic SEOChiropractic SEO: how chiropractors attract new patients from GoogleChiropractic SEO: how chiropractors attract new patients from Google Maps and search with condition and treatment pages, reviews and accurate health content.
Tools
- Google Maps rank checkerGoogle Maps rank checker: see your rank across your whole service areaCheck where your business ranks on Google Maps from every point of your service area, see who outranks you, and track changes over time. Free snapshot.
- AI visibility trackerAI visibility tracker: does ChatGPT recommend your business?AI search visibility tool for local businesses: see whether ChatGPT, Gemini and Google's AI Mode mention, recommend or cite you, and who they name instead.
- Local rank trackerLocal rank tracker: Google Maps, Google search and AI answers in one placeTrack local rankings on Google Maps across your service area, Google search positions by city, and AI assistant mentions, on a schedule, with changes highlighted.
- Local SEO auditLocal SEO audit: find out what's holding your business backRun a free local SEO snapshot of your website's Google visibility, then see what a full local SEO audit covers: maps rankings, profile, website health, links and AI.