<aside> 📗 Every local ranking lever that matters for a home service business, on one sheet. Google Business Profile, on-page, citations, links, and reviews. Print it, work down it, check it off.

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The cheat sheet

BrightLocal's Local Consumer Review Survey: 97% of consumers read reviews for local businesses, 68% only consider businesses rated 4 stars or higher, and 47% avoid businesses with fewer than 20 reviews. Local SEO is the work of being the listing they pick.

1. Google Business Profile (do this first)

• [ ] Primary category is the exact trade: Plumber, Roofing Contractor, HVAC Contractor, Electrician
• [ ] 3 to 5 secondary categories, every one a service you want calls for
• [ ] Service areas list the cities and zips you will serve this week, not the whole state
• [ ] Address verified and shown if you serve customers there; hidden with service areas if not. Never a fake address.
• [ ] Hours current, including emergency availability
• [ ] Local phone number, not an 800 number, and the same number everywhere
• [ ] Services listed specifically: "roof replacement", "emergency roof repair", not "roofing"
• [ ] Description written for a homeowner
• [ ] 10 or more real photos: trucks, crew, finished work. Add new ones monthly.
• [ ] One Google Post a week
• [ ] Every review answered within 24 hours
• [ ] Q&A section seeded with the five questions your office hears most, and answered

2. On-page

• [ ] One page per service, not one Services page that lists everything
• [ ] Title tag: Service in City | Company Name (under 60 characters)