Local SEO Checklist

If you’re a café owner, tradie, clinic, or small retailer, local SEO probably sounds harder than it is. In reality, showing up in local Google searches comes down to a few straightforward steps. This local SEO checklist breaks it down – no fluff, no buzzwords, just the things that actually move the needle.

Use this checklist to make sure your business is easy to find online. Or if you want someone to take care of it for you, check out our local SEO packages.

1. Add Local Business Schema

Help Google understand exactly who you are and where you’re based by adding Local Business Schema across your site. Include:

• Business name
• Address
• Phone number
• Email and opening hours
• Logo and business description

Tip: Validate your schema with Google’s Structured Data Testing Tool

2. Get Your NAP Right

NAP = Name, Address, Phone. These need to be consistent across your entire website, Google Business Profile, and any online listings.

Tip: Add NAP info to your site footer and double-check it matches your profile on Google Maps, Facebook, and directories.

We always make sure that our location is consistent in every page of our footer.

3. Fix Your Title Tags

Every page on your site should have a clear, relevant title tag. Make sure it includes your main keyword and your location.

Example: “Electrician Hawke’s Bay”

A simple optimised title tag for electrician’s in Hawke’s Bay

4. Use One H1 Per Page

Each page should have one — and only one — H1 tag. Use H2s and H3s to structure the rest of your content. It makes things easier to read for people and easier to understand for search engines.

5. Improve Your Site Speed

Google doesn’t like slow sites and neither do your customers. Compress images, host on a reliable server, (we can help you with fast reliable website hosting if you need it), and fix anything that clogs up your load times.

Tip: Use Google PageSpeed Insights to see where you stand.

There’s always a trade-off between fancy effects and page speed

6. Create Locally Relevant Content

Write about your services and your community. Highlight events, neighbourhoods, or local partners. It builds trust and sends strong location signals to Google.

7. Link Like a Pro

Add internal links between your key pages. Link from your blog to your service pages, and from location pages to your contact page. Use clear, descriptive anchor text (no “click here” nonsense).

Need Help Ticking These Off?

You can do this stuff yourself — or we can do it for you. Our team works with businesses across New Zealand who just want this sorted.

Explore our Local SEO packages and let’s get your business found.

FizzyPop is a Napier SEO Agency – we’re based on the corner of Tennyson and Hastings street in the middle of the art deco capital. If you’re interested in an SEO Agency or if you need help with your advertising – then just pop in or call us.

Give Your Marketing Some POP!