Local SEO Fundamentals 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which Google product is the primary driver of local search results shown in the 'Local Pack'?
- Google Search Console
- Google Business Profile (Correct answer)
- Google Tag Manager
- Google Analytics
Correct answer: Google Business Profile
Google Business Profile (GBP) is the free tool that powers your listing in the Local Pack (map results).
Question 2: What does NAP consistency mean in local SEO?
- Having niche, authoritative, and popular citations
- Keeping Name, Address, and Phone number identical across all listings (Correct answer)
- Optimizing for night-and-premium search queries
- Maintaining a natural anchor-profile in backlinks
Correct answer: Keeping Name, Address, and Phone number identical across all listings
NAP stands for Name, Address, Phone — keeping these details consistent everywhere signals trustworthiness to search engines.
Question 3: Which type of schema markup is most commonly used for local brick-and-mortar businesses?
- Article
- LocalBusiness (Correct answer)
- Product
- BreadcrumbList
Correct answer: LocalBusiness
LocalBusiness schema (and its subtypes like Restaurant or MedicalClinic) helps search engines understand physical business details.
Question 4: A business has multiple locations. What is the recommended GBP strategy?
- Create one shared GBP listing for all locations
- Create a separate GBP listing for each physical location (Correct answer)
- Use a single GBP listing with location extensions only
- Add all addresses to the primary GBP listing
Correct answer: Create a separate GBP listing for each physical location
Each physical location should have its own dedicated GBP listing so customers can find accurate location-specific information.
Question 5: What is a 'local citation' in the context of local SEO?
- A backlink from a .gov or .edu domain
- Any online mention of a business's NAP information (Correct answer)
- A review left by a verified customer
- A local newspaper article about the business
Correct answer: Any online mention of a business's NAP information
A citation is any online reference to a business's Name, Address, and Phone — on directories, review sites, or other platforms.
Question 6: Which factor does Google's local ranking algorithm NOT use as a primary signal?
- Relevance
- Distance
- Prominence
- Domain age (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Domain age
Google's three core local ranking factors are Relevance, Distance, and Prominence — domain age is not a local-specific signal.
Question 7: What is the purpose of a 'service area' setting in Google Business Profile?
- To restrict who can leave reviews for the business
- To define regions the business serves without a physical storefront visit (Correct answer)
- To set different business hours for different zip codes
- To add multiple phone numbers by region
Correct answer: To define regions the business serves without a physical storefront visit
Service area settings let businesses like plumbers or cleaners define the geographic zones they serve rather than requiring customers to visit a fixed location.
Which Google product is the primary driver of local search results shown in the 'Local Pack'?