Local SEO Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield Local SEO facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which signal is most likely to trigger a Google Business Profile suspension? → Using a keyword-stuffed or fake business name
2. A healthcare practice wants to add telehealth services to their GBP listing. Which feature should they use? → Enable the 'Online care' attribute and add telehealth as a service in the Services section
3. A business owner notices that Google Maps shows an old logo for their business. Where should they upload a new logo? → Google Business Profile photo section under 'Logo'
4. Which of the following is NOT a positive local search ranking factor? * → Having a physical address in the city where you are looking.
5. The _____ upgrade, which took place in August 2018 and significantly impacted sites in the ____ vertical, was a change to the Google core algorithm. → Medic/health & wellness
6. What is the recommended minimum resolution for photos uploaded to Google Business Profile? → 720 x 720 pixels
7. What is a 'local landing page' in the context of local SEO? → A webpage specifically optimized for a particular geographic location or service area
8. What happens to a Google Business Profile if the business owner does not verify it? → It remains publicly visible but the owner cannot manage it
9. What is a working description of the kinds of reviews one would read on a review website like AirBnB, Yelp, Amazon, or Google? → Reviews are often a mix between real or fake reviews.
10. Which of the following statements about duplicate Google local business listings is incorrect? * → Google's guidelines no longer prohibit duplicate listings.
11. Blog/forum remarks, external links from other websites, social media, and press releases. → off-page factor examples
12. What is the most important factor for ranking in Google's Local Pack? → Relevance to the search query, proximity to the searcher, and prominence of the business
13. What is the purpose of adding 'service areas' to a Google Business Profile? → To show Google and customers the geographic regions you serve without a storefront
14. Does adding photos to your website impact the ranking of your Google listing? → Yes
15. What is paper trading? → Practicing trading with simulated money to test strategies without financial risk
16. Which of the following is the BEST way to encourage more customer reviews without violating Google's policies? → Send a follow-up email or text with a direct link to your Google review form after service
17. A local SEO audit reveals a business ranks #1 in local pack but has no website linked. What is the risk? → Competitors with optimized websites may outrank it as algorithm weights shift
18. Which practice violates Google's review policies and can result in penalties? → Offering discounts in exchange for positive reviews
19. Which metric best measures whether your Google Business Profile is driving real customer actions? → Calls, direction requests, and website clicks from the listing
20. Which schema markup type is MOST relevant for helping search engines understand a local business? → LocalBusiness schema
21. What is a 'geo-grid' rank tracker used for in local SEO? → Visualizing local search rankings across multiple locations in a grid overlay
22. A plumber serves customers at their homes and does not have a storefront. Which Google Business Profile setting should they use? → Configure their profile as a service-area business and hide their address
23. What is 'review velocity' in local SEO? → The rate at which a business accumulates new customer reviews over time
24. In Google Business Profile Insights, what does a 'Direction Request' metric indicate? → A customer clicked to get driving directions to your business
25. A business discovers a duplicate GBP listing created by a former employee. What is the correct action? → Report it as spam and request removal through GBP support or Suggest an Edit
26. Which GBP feature allows businesses to showcase time-limited offers and events to nearby searchers? → GBP Posts
27. When setting up a service-area business (SAB) on GBP, what should you do with the storefront address? → Hide the address if you don't serve customers at your location
28. What is a local landing page? → A webpage optimized for a specific geographic location to capture local search traffic
29. When building local links through podcast appearances, what SEO benefit is most directly gained? → A backlink from the podcast's show notes or episode page on their website
30. A restaurant adds a 'Local Events' section to its website featuring community happenings near it. What SEO benefit does this primarily provide? → It creates opportunities for local keyword mentions and earns links from event organizers