In this step, you'll learn how to strengthen your business's local reputation by earning mentions, reviews, and links from other trusted sources.
Expand each section below to follow the step-by-step instructions.
🔗 List: Get Listed on Trusted Local Sites
🔗 List: Get Listed on Trusted Local Sites
What to do
Submit your business to directories that are relevant for your industry and location.
Why it matters
These listings help search engines verify your business’s existence and location—improving trust and local rankings.
How to do it
Start with the big ones: Yelp, Facebook, Apple Maps, Bing Places
Find local directories: chamber of commerce, neighborhood business pages, industry-specific sites
Make sure your NAP (name, address, phone) is consistent with your Google Business Profile
Add your website URL and a short description
Common mistakes to avoid
❌ Submitting inconsistent contact info
❌ Creating duplicate listings
❌ Ignoring free listings opportunities
Pro Tip
Make sure your NAP (name, address, phone) is consistent with your Google Business Profile—including suite numbers or unit identifiers exactly as listed.
✅ Once done, your business will have stronger signals of trust across the web.
📣 Earn: Encourage High-Quality Reviews
📣 Earn: Encourage High-Quality Reviews
What to do
Ask your customers to leave reviews on your Google Business Profile and other major platforms.
Why it matters
Reviews are one of the strongest local ranking factors. More reviews (and better ones) help build your reputation and visibility.
How to do it
Use your personalized review link from your Google Business Profile
Send follow-up emails or messages after a successful service
Make it part of your post-sale process
Thank every reviewer publicly and respond when needed
Common mistakes to avoid
❌ Asking everyone at once (looks suspicious)
❌ Offering incentives (against Google’s guidelines)
❌ Ignoring negative reviews
Pro Tip
Make it easy: give customers the direct link and a gentle prompt at the right moment.
✅ Once done, your profile will gain relevance and trust—both for users and for Google.
🧭 Link: Earn Local Backlinks
🧭 Link: Earn Local Backlinks
What to do
Get mentioned on other local websites or blogs—and ideally, include a link back to your site.
Why it matters
Backlinks are a core SEO signal. Local links show Google that others in your community trust and acknowledge your business.
How to do it
Reach out to local blogs, news sites, or event pages
Offer a helpful article, sponsor an event, or share an offer they can post
Make sure they include your business name and a clickable link
Common mistakes to avoid
❌ Buying backlinks
❌ Linking from irrelevant or spammy sites
❌ Over-optimizing with exact match anchor text
Pro Tip
Start by checking who already links to you—then expand locally with relationship-driven outreach. Use branded or natural anchor text when others link to your site (e.g., “Visit Alex Plumbing in Austin”).
✅ Once done, you’ll improve your website’s credibility and local presence.
🌀 Wrap-up
You’ve now completed Step 5 of your Local SEO setup. Your business is no longer just present—it’s gaining trust and relevance across the web.
📚 Useful Official Resources:
🔗 Get Listed & Build Citations
Adding Backlinks or Citations – Google Business Profile Help — mentions recommended citation sources like Yelp & Apple Maps
🗺️ Navigation:
➡️ Next: Step 6: Monitor Your Local SEO Performance
🔝 Back to: Series Index