The Ultimate Free Local SEO Audit Template For 2025 – Download Now
Local SEO is essential for businesses that rely on customers within a specific geographical area. Whether you run a restaurant, law firm, medical practice, or any local business, optimising your website and Google Business Profile (GBP) can help you attract more local customers and increase conversions.
A well-structured Local SEO Audit ensures that your business is fully optimised for local search rankings. Our Local SEO Audit Template provides a step-by-step process to evaluate and improve local search visibility, technical SEO, on-page optimisation, content strategy, backlinks, and competitor analysis.
By using this Local SEO Audit Template, you can ensure that your website and online presence are aligned with Google’s latest ranking factors, helping you outperform competitors and generate more leads.
Why a Local SEO Audit is Important
Performing a Local SEO Audit helps identify weaknesses in your search visibility, website performance, and Google Business Profile rankings. Here’s why businesses should regularly audit their local SEO strategy:
- Boost Local Rankings – Appear in Google’s Local Pack, Google Maps, and organic search results.
- Fix SEO Issues – Identify duplicate listings, inconsistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone), broken links, or missing metadata.
- Improve Customer Engagement – Ensure that business details, photos, and reviews are optimised for local searches.
- Increase Website Traffic – Target high-intent local searches and attract more potential customers.
- Gain a Competitive Advantage – Understand what competitors are doing and implement improvements to outperform them.
Using this Local SEO Audit Template, businesses can systematically optimise their website for better search engine performance.
What’s Included in the Local SEO Audit Template?
This Local SEO Audit Template provides a structured breakdown of key elements that affect local search rankings.
1. Google Business Profile (GBP) Audit
Google Business Profile (GBP) is one of the most important ranking factors for local SEO. A fully optimised GBP listing increases the chances of appearing in Google’s Local Pack and Google Maps results.
- Ensure GBP is claimed and verified.
- Check for NAP consistency across GBP and business directories.
- Add high-quality images and videos.
- Update business categories and descriptions with relevant keywords.
- Monitor and respond to customer reviews.
- Use Google Posts to share promotions, updates, and events.
2. NAP Consistency & Local Citations
NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number) should be consistent across all directories and business listings.
- Ensure that NAP details match across Google, Yelp, Bing, and local directories.
- Check for duplicate or incorrect listings and fix them.
- Submit business information to relevant citation sites such as Yelp, Trustpilot, and Yell.
3. Website Technical SEO Audit
A technically sound website helps improve crawlability, indexing, and local search performance.
- Check for HTTPS encryption to ensure the website is secure.
- Verify XML sitemap is submitted to Google Search Console.
- Check robots.txt file for correct indexing settings.
- Ensure mobile responsiveness using Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test.
- Optimise page speed using Google PageSpeed Insights.
4. On-Page SEO Audit
On-page SEO factors help search engines understand the relevance of your website’s content for local searches.
- Optimise title tags and meta descriptions with local keywords.
- Ensure proper use of H1, H2, and H3 headings.
- Check URL structure for keyword relevance.
- Improve internal linking to connect related content.
- Use structured data markup (LocalBusiness schema) to enhance search results.
5. Local SEO Content Audit
A strong content strategy helps boost local search rankings.
- Review website content for local relevance.
- Create location-specific landing pages for multi-location businesses.
- Write blog posts on local topics and industry trends.
- Ensure content is unique and free from duplication.
- Use FAQ pages to answer common customer questions.
6. Competitor Analysis
Understanding what your competitors are doing can help identify gaps and opportunities for improvement.
- Analyse competitor keyword rankings.
- Compare backlink profiles using Ahrefs or SEMrush.
- Evaluate competitors’ content strategies.
- Identify competitor citation sources and secure listings on the same directories.
7. Local Keyword Research
Local keyword optimisation is crucial for targeting searchers in your area.
- Use Google Keyword Planner & Ahrefs to research location-specific keywords.
- Find long-tail keywords with high intent (e.g., “best plumber in Manchester”).
- Optimise content with local keywords naturally.
- Check keyword rankings and adjust strategy based on search trends.
8. Backlink Profile Audit
Backlinks remain a major ranking factor for local SEO.
- Check total backlinks using Ahrefs, Moz, or SEMrush.
- Identify high-quality local backlinks from authority sources.
- Disavow toxic backlinks that could harm rankings.
- Find backlink opportunities by analysing competitors’ profiles.
9. Google Analytics & Search Console Audit
Tracking SEO performance ensures that businesses can adjust their strategy based on data.
- Ensure Google Analytics is set up and tracking key metrics.
- Check Google Search Console for crawl errors and indexation issues.
- Monitor local search queries driving traffic.
- Set up conversion tracking to measure SEO success.
10. Recommendations & Action Plan
After conducting the Local SEO Audit, it’s important to outline the next steps to improve rankings.
- List immediate fixes (e.g., missing metadata, page speed improvements, technical SEO errors).
- Develop a long-term local SEO strategy based on findings.
- Track progress using tools like Google Analytics and BrightLocal.
How to Use the Local SEO Audit Template
- Download the Local SEO Audit Template and review each section.
- Evaluate your business’s current local SEO performance.
- Fix errors and optimise Google Business Profile, website content, and backlinks.
- Use competitor insights to improve ranking strategies.
- Monitor ongoing performance using Google Search Console and analytics tools.
Conclusion
A comprehensive Local SEO Audit ensures that your business is optimised for higher rankings, more traffic, and increased conversions. This free audit template provides a structured framework to:
- Optimise Google Business Profile and local citations.
- Improve website performance and mobile-friendliness.
- Enhance content strategy and keyword targeting.
- Track SEO success and refine local marketing strategies.
Download the Local SEO Audit Template today and start optimising your local business for better search visibility, increased leads, and stronger online authority.