SEO Consulting for Local Businesses
Help local businesses rank on Google's first page so they get more customers finding them through search, without expensive ads or complex technical knowledge.
Overview
Most local businesses don't show up when people search for their services. You'll learn local SEO basics: optimizing Google Business Profiles, getting reviews, building citations, and basic on-page optimization. Target dentists, lawyers, plumbers, and restaurants who get most customers through search. You'll charge monthly retainers for ongoing optimization and reporting.
Success Roadmap 20 Milestones
Master Local SEO Fundamentals
Complete free Google SEO courses and learn Google Business Profile optimization, local citation building, and on-page SEO basics through online resources.
Focus on profile completion checklist, photo requirements, and post best practices. Create a summary document you can reference for client work.
Choose businesses in different industries. Note missing info, low-quality photos, lack of posts, or incorrect categories. Save screenshots for reference.
Include Yelp, Yellow Pages, Bing Places, Apple Maps. Document required fields (NAP, hours, categories) in a spreadsheet for efficient client onboarding.
Focus on title tags, meta descriptions, header tags, local keywords, and schema markup. Make a checklist you can use to audit client websites quickly.
Document their keyword usage, review count, citation sources, and content strategy. Identify 3 replicable tactics for your future client campaigns.
Choose Your Target Industries
Select 2-3 local business types (dentists, lawyers, plumbers, or restaurants) to specialize in based on local market research and competition analysis.
Search key terms like 'dentist near me' or 'plumber [your city]'. Note which businesses appear in map pack vs organic results. Create a spreadsheet tracking their rankings.
Visit 5-10 local SEO agency websites. Document which industries they target, their pricing hints, and service gaps you could fill. Look for underserved niches.
Research typical service costs: dental cleanings, legal consultations, plumbing calls, restaurant orders. Estimate monthly revenue to justify your retainer pricing.
Rate each industry 1-5 on each factor. Total scores will reveal your best 2-3 targets. Consider which business owners you'd enjoy working with most.
Write a one-page summary naming your 2-3 chosen industries, key decision factors, and initial observations about their SEO gaps and opportunities.
Audit 10 Local Business Websites
Practice SEO auditing skills by analyzing local businesses' online presence, Google rankings, citations, and reviews. Document findings in spreadsheets.
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Set Up Your SEO Toolkit
Create accounts with essential free tools: Google Business Profile, Google Analytics, Google Search Console, Moz Local, and BrightLocal free trials.
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Build Your Consulting Website
Launch a simple website showcasing your SEO services, case study templates, and contact form using WordPress or website builder platform.
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Create Service Packages
Define 3 tiered monthly retainer packages with clear deliverables: starter ($500), growth ($1000), and premium ($2000) options.
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Develop Templates and Processes
Create reusable templates for audit reports, monthly reports, client onboarding checklists, and keyword research worksheets to streamline workflow.
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Optimize Your Own Online Presence
Perfect your Google Business Profile, get listed in local directories, and rank for 'SEO consultant [your city]' to demonstrate expertise.
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Build a Portfolio Project
Offer free SEO audit and one month service to a friend's business or non-profit to create your first documented case study with results.
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Create Lead Magnets
Develop a free local SEO checklist or audit template to capture leads through your website and establish authority in your niche.
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Network with Local Businesses
Attend 3-4 local chamber of commerce events, business networking groups, or industry meetups to connect with potential clients face-to-face.
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Launch Cold Outreach Campaign
Identify 50 local businesses with poor SEO, craft personalized emails offering free audits, and send 5-10 daily messages to generate meetings.
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Perfect Your Sales Pitch
Develop a 15-minute presentation showing common local SEO problems and solutions, practice with 5 mock pitches, and refine based on feedback.
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Conduct Free SEO Audits
Deliver 5 comprehensive free audits to qualified prospects, presenting findings professionally to demonstrate value and convert to paying clients.
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Close Your First Client
Convert one audit prospect into a paying monthly retainer client by addressing objections, showing ROI potential, and negotiating contract terms.
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Deliver Month One Results
Execute first month deliverables: optimize Google Business Profile, build 10+ citations, improve on-page SEO, and implement review generation system.
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Create Client Reporting System
Build monthly report template showing ranking improvements, traffic increases, review growth, and action items using Google Data Studio or similar.
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Request Testimonial and Referrals
After delivering initial results, ask satisfied client for written testimonial and 3 referrals to similar businesses in their network.
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Scale Outreach Efforts
Leverage first case study in outreach, increase daily prospecting to 10-15 contacts, and set up LinkedIn outreach campaigns to generate pipeline.
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Onboard Clients 2 and 3
Close two additional monthly retainer clients using refined pitch and proven results, establishing $1500-3000 monthly recurring revenue baseline.
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Unlock All 20 Milestones
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- 20 Structured Milestones
- 100 Actionable Tasks
- Progress Tracking
- Daily Email Reminders
- Lifetime Access
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