What tools can I use to track my local SEO progress

Okay, so I’m trying to improve my local SEO for my bakery in downtown Portland, OR. I’ve done some of the basic stuff like claiming my Google Business Profile (GBP) and making sure my NAP (Name, Address, Phone number) is consistent across Yelp, Facebook, and other local directories. I’ve also started building some local citations.

But now I need to track my progress. I want to see if what I’m doing is actually working. What tools can I use to monitor my keywords ranking in Google Maps and organic search results specifically for the Portland area? I’m particularly interested in tracking keywords like "bakery Portland," "best pastries downtown Portland," and "custom cakes Portland."

Ideally, I’d like tools that can show me:

• How my GBP is ranking for those keywords.
• How my website is ranking for those keywords.
• How my competitors are ranking for those keywords (especially nearby bakeries).
• Any changes to my rankings over time.
• Reviews and mentions across different platforms.

Free options would be amazing, but I’m also open to paid options if they offer significantly better features or insights. I’m a small business, so budget is definitely a consideration. Thanks!

Answer

Several tools can be used to track local SEO progress, each offering different features and focusing on various aspects of local search performance. Here’s a detailed overview of some prominent tools:

1. Google Business Profile (GBP) Insights:

• Description: The built-in analytics dashboard within your Google Business Profile is a primary source for understanding how users interact with your listing.
• Key Metrics:
  • Searches: Total number of times your business appeared in search results, broken down by direct searches (searching for your business name or address) and discovery searches (searching for a category, product, or service you offer).
  • Views: Total number of times your profile was viewed, across Google Search and Google Maps.
  • Actions: Types of actions customers took on your listing, such as website visits, direction requests, phone calls, and message interactions.
  • Popular Times/Popularity: Data showing the busiest times of day and week for your business.
  • Photo Views: Number of times your photos have been viewed.
  • Search Queries: A list of the top search terms that users typed into Google to find your business.
  • Call Tracking: Allows you to see how many calls came directly from your GBP listing.
  • Conversion Tracking: Tracks actions like bookings, orders, or form submissions originating from your GBP.

2. Google Search Console:

• Description: A free tool from Google that provides insights into your website’s performance in Google Search. While not exclusively for local SEO, it offers valuable data.
• Key Metrics:
  • Performance Reports: Track impressions, clicks, click-through rate (CTR), and average position for keywords that your website ranks for. Filter by location to see performance in specific geographic areas.
  • URL Inspection: Check if Google has indexed your web pages and identify any indexing issues.
  • Sitemaps: Submit your sitemap to Google to help them crawl and index your website more efficiently.
  • Mobile Usability: Identify mobile usability issues that may be hindering your website’s performance on mobile devices.
  • Core Web Vitals: Analyze your website’s loading speed, interactivity, and visual stability to ensure a positive user experience.

3. BrightLocal:

• Description: A comprehensive local SEO platform with a suite of tools for tracking rankings, managing citations, monitoring reviews, and generating reports.
• Key Features:
  • Rank Tracking: Monitor your website’s and your competitors’ rankings for specific keywords in local search results across different locations.
  • Citation Tracker: Find and track citations for your business across the web, including directories, social media, and other websites.
  • Reputation Manager: Monitor online reviews from various sources, respond to reviews, and generate reports on your online reputation.
  • Local SEO Audit: Identify areas for improvement in your local SEO strategy.
  • Google Business Profile Audit: Analyzes the completeness and accuracy of GBP listings.
  • Competitor Analysis: Track your competitors’ local SEO performance.
  • Reporting: Generate custom reports to track your local SEO progress and share insights with clients or stakeholders.

4. Semrush:

• Description: A versatile SEO platform that offers a range of tools for keyword research, competitor analysis, site auditing, and rank tracking, including local SEO features.
• Key Features:
  • Position Tracking: Track your website’s rankings for target keywords in specific locations.
  • Local SEO Toolkit: A suite of tools specifically designed for local SEO, including listing management, citation tracking, and reputation management.
  • Site Audit: Identify technical SEO issues that may be hindering your website’s local search performance.
  • Keyword Research: Find relevant keywords for your local business and analyze their search volume, competition, and trends.
  • Competitor Analysis: Analyze your competitors’ local SEO strategies.
  • Listing Management: Helps manage business listings across multiple platforms.
  • On-Page SEO Checker: Analyzes the on-page SEO elements of your web pages and provides recommendations for improvement.
  • Social Media Tracker: Monitors social media performance and engagement.

5. Ahrefs:

• Description: Another powerful SEO platform with tools for backlink analysis, keyword research, competitor analysis, and rank tracking. While not solely focused on local SEO, it provides valuable insights.
• Key Features:
  • Rank Tracker: Monitor your website’s rankings for target keywords in specific locations.
  • Site Explorer: Analyze your website’s backlink profile and identify opportunities to build new backlinks.
  • Keyword Explorer: Find relevant keywords for your local business and analyze their search volume, competition, and trends.
  • Content Explorer: Discover popular content in your niche and identify opportunities to create content that will attract local customers.
  • Site Audit: Identify technical SEO issues that may be hindering your website’s local search performance.
  • Competitor Analysis: Analyze your competitors’ SEO strategies.

6. Moz Local:

• Description: Focuses on managing and distributing business listings across various online directories.
• Key Features:
  • Listing Management: Ensures your business information is accurate and consistent across all major online directories.
  • Listing Score: Provides a score that reflects the accuracy and consistency of your business listings.
  • Citation Tracking: Tracks your business citations across the web.
  • Review Monitoring: Monitors online reviews from various sources.

7. Whitespark:

• Description: Specializes in citation building and local search analytics.
• Key Features:
  • Citation Finder: Helps you find citation opportunities for your business.
  • Local Rank Tracker: Monitors your website’s rankings for target keywords in specific locations.
  • Review Management: Monitors online reviews from various sources.
  • Local Search Audit: Identifies areas for improvement in your local SEO strategy.

8. Yext:

• Description: A digital presence management platform that helps businesses control their brand information across the web.
• Key Features:
  • Knowledge Graph: A centralized platform for managing your business information.
  • Listing Management: Ensures your business information is accurate and consistent across all major online directories.
  • Review Monitoring: Monitors online reviews from various sources.
  • Analytics: Provides insights into how customers are interacting with your brand online.

9. Local Falcon:

• Description: A tool specifically designed to visualize and track local search rankings across a grid of locations, offering a granular view of your visibility in the local map pack.
• Key Features:
  • Local Grid Tracking: See how your business ranks in the local map pack across a grid of locations.
  • Competitor Analysis: Compare your local ranking performance to that of your competitors.
  • Reporting: Generate reports to track your local SEO progress.

10. GeoRanker:

• Description: Offers local rank tracking and local SEO auditing tools.
• Key Features:
  • Local Rank Tracking: Track rankings for specific keywords across different geographic locations.
  • SEO Audits: Identify areas for improvement in your local SEO strategy.

Choosing the Right Tools:

The best tools for tracking your local SEO progress will depend on your specific needs, budget, and technical expertise. Consider the following factors when making your decision:

• Budget: Some tools are free, while others require a paid subscription.
• Features: Choose tools that offer the features that are most important to you, such as rank tracking, citation management, review monitoring, or reporting.
• Ease of Use: Select tools that are easy to use and understand, especially if you are new to local SEO.
• Accuracy: Ensure that the tools you choose provide accurate data.
• Integration: Consider tools that integrate with other tools you use, such as Google Analytics or your CRM.

By using a combination of these tools, you can gain a comprehensive understanding of your local SEO performance and identify areas for improvement. Regularly monitor your progress and adjust your strategy as needed to maximize your visibility in local search results.