Free Local SEO Audit Tool
Analyze 13+ local ranking factors with 2026 industry benchmarks. Get your audit score and AI-powered recommendations to dominate local search
Google Business Profile
32 points - Most important ranking factor
NAP & Citations
13 points - Critical for AI search visibility
Count directories like Yelp, Bing Places, Apple Maps, industry sites, etc.
Review Signals
20 points - Major trust indicator
On-Page SEO
24 points - Most important for organic rankings
Technical SEO
11 points - Foundation for rankings
What is a Local SEO Audit?
A local SEO audit is a comprehensive analysis of how well your business is optimized to appear in local search results and Google Maps. It examines over 200 ranking factors across five critical categories to identify issues preventing you from ranking higher.
According to the 2026 Whitespark Local Search Ranking Factors study, Google Business Profile signals account for 32% of local pack rankings, making it the single most important factor. Our audit analyzes this and 12 other critical factors that determine your visibility when potential customers search for businesses like yours.
Top Local SEO Ranking Factors (2026)
- • Primary category selection (Ranked #1 factor)
- • Keywords in business title (Ranked #3)
- • Business open at time of search (NEW: Ranked #5)
- • Address showing vs. Service Area Business (NEW: Ranked #7)
- • Profile completeness, photos, posts, Q&A
- • High ratings (4.5+ stars ideal)
- • Review quantity (10+ minimum, 50+ excellent)
- • Review velocity (2+ per month beats 20 once per year)
- • Review keywords matching services
- • Review response rate (aim for 100%)
- • NAP consistency across all directories (95%+ accuracy)
- • Citation volume (30-50 quality citations)
- • Authority of citation sources (DA 30+)
- • Prominence on key directories (Yelp, Apple Maps, Bing)
- • NEW: Critical for ChatGPT and AI search visibility
- • Local keywords in title tags, headers, content
- • Dedicated service pages for each offering
- • LocalBusiness schema markup (required)
- • NAP on website matching citations
- • Geographic keywords throughout content
- • Mobile-friendly design (70% of local searches on mobile)
- • Fast page speed (under 3 seconds)
- • HTTPS/SSL certificate
- • Core Web Vitals passing
- • Structured data validation
What's New in Local SEO for 2026?
AI Search Revolution
- • 13.14% of searches now trigger AI Overviews
- • Citations are THE new link - AI uses mentions heavily
- • Must optimize for ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini
- • "Best of" lists now a top 5 ranking factor
New Top Ranking Factors
- • Business "open at time of search" jumped to #5
- • Showing address (not SAB) now #7
- • In-store visit tracking from Android/Maps matters
- • GBP engagement signals more important
Multi-Platform Necessity
- • Google still dominates (60%+ local searches)
- • Apple Maps critical for iOS users & Siri
- • Bing Places essential for ChatGPT visibility
- • Must optimize for ALL platforms simultaneously
Review Strategy Evolution
- • Recency trumps volume (recent reviews > total count)
- • Review text with keywords proves expertise
- • Response to all reviews boosts trust 35%
- • Multi-platform reviews increase AI visibility
10 Most Common Local SEO Mistakes
Invisible in Google Maps & local pack
Confuses search engines & AI systems
Won't rank for relevant searches
Risk of suspension & penalties
Miss 35% more customer inquiries
Search engines can't understand location
Lose 70% of local searches on mobile
Rank lower, appear less trustworthy
Won't rank for "near me" searches
#1 cause of GBP suspension
How Spokk Helps Your Local SEO
Boost Review Signals (+20 Points)
Automatically collect reviews via SMS and email. 70% of customers leave reviews when asked. Spokk makes it effortless to maintain steady review velocity—the #1 factor for review rankings.
100% Response Rate (+3 Points)
Spokk alerts you instantly to new reviews and makes responding fast and easy. Businesses that respond see 35% more inquiries and higher trust scores.
Multi-Platform Presence (+8 Points)
Collect reviews on Google, Yelp, Facebook, and more—all from one platform. Platform diversity signals broader credibility to search engines and AI systems.
Display Social Proof on Your Website
Embed review widgets on your site to showcase ratings and testimonials. This increases on-site conversions by 34% while strengthening your on-page SEO signals.
2026 Industry Benchmarks
| Industry | Avg Reviews | Avg Rating | Avg Citations | Target Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurants | 350 | 4.3 | 45 | 70+ |
| Healthcare | 180 | 4.4 | 50 | 70+ |
| Home Services | 140 | 4.5 | 40 | 70+ |
| Retail | 200 | 4.1 | 40 | 70+ |
| Professional Services | 100 | 4.6 | 30 | 70+ |
Ready to Dominate Local Search?
Spokk helps you improve your local SEO by automatically collecting reviews, increasing response rates, and building the social proof that search engines love.