30x-seo-local

name	30x-seo-local
description	Local SEO audit and optimization for Google Business Profile, Google Maps, and Gemini Ask Maps. Covers GBP completeness, NAP consistency, review strategy, local schema, competitor benchmarking, GeoGrid visibility, multi-location, AI Local Pack readiness, and GBP suspension prevention. Use when user says "local SEO", "Google Business Profile", "GBP", "Google Maps", "Ask Maps", "local pack", "NAP audit", "local citations", "review strategy", "local competitors", "multi-location", "GBP suspended".
allowed-tools	["WebFetch","Bash","Read"]

Local SEO Audit & Optimization

What This Skill Does

Audit and optimize a business's local search presence across Google Business Profile, Google Maps, Local Pack, and Gemini Ask Maps.

Does NOT do:

• Traditional on-page SEO → use seo-page
• Backlink analysis → use seo-backlinks
• AI platform visibility (ChatGPT/Claude/Perplexity) → use seo-ai-visibility

---

Process

Step 1: Gather Business Info

Ask user for:

Field	Required	Example
Business name	✅	"Blue Bottle Coffee"
Website URL	✅	"https://bluebottlecoffee.com"
Business category	✅	"Coffee shop"
Service area / city	✅	"San Francisco, CA"
GBP URL (if known)	Optional	Google Maps link
Target keywords	Optional	"specialty coffee SF"
Competitors (2-3)	Optional	Names or GBP URLs
Multi-location?	Optional	Number of locations

GSC Data Integration (Optional)

If user has Google Search Console access, pull local query data via seo-monitor:

/seo monitor keywords

Extract from GSC:

• Queries containing city/area names → local keyword baseline
• CTR by local keyword → identify underperformers
• Average position for "[category] near me" patterns
• Impressions vs clicks gap → missed local opportunities

This data informs Steps 2-9 with real performance context.

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Step 2: GBP Completeness Audit (Google Official 13-Point Playbook)

Based on Google's official GBP Optimization Playbook (March 2026).

#	Field	Weight	Check
1	Business Information	Critical	Accurate name (no keyword stuffing), address matches license, local phone
2	Business Category	Critical	Most specific primary category from 4,100+ options. Wrong category = ranking disaster (documented case: #1 → #31 from wrong category)
3	Business Description	High	750 chars, concise overview of offerings + what makes you unique, natural language
4	Business Hours	High	Complete including holidays/special hours. Longer hours = ranking advantage (24/7 via answering service outperforms limited hours)
5	Service Area	High	Define geographical service region (service-area businesses)
6	Attributes	High	All relevant (WiFi, parking, outdoor, wheelchair access, etc.)
7	Photos & Videos	High	15+ quality photos, refresh quarterly. 100+ photos = 520% more calls, 2700% more direction requests
8	Google Posts	High	Weekly cadence: updates, offers, events. Post 1-2x/week minimum — freshness is a top-tier ranking signal in 2026
9	Social Links	Medium	Link up to 7 social profiles (5 display). Google may show social posts in profile
10	Chat Links	Medium	Add WhatsApp or SMS Chat for direct customer communication
11	Bookings & Orders	Medium	Enable Reserve with Google, booking links, order buttons. 77% of consumers expect online booking
12	Products/Services	High	Complete list with descriptions. Add all pre-defined + custom services
13	Manage Reviews	Critical	Actively monitor and respond to every review

Category Selection (Critical)

Primary category is the single most impactful GBP field:

• Choose from Google's 4,100+ options — pick the most specific match
• Monitor category changes regularly (Google updates the list)
• Verify competitors' primary categories for validation
• Wrong category = catastrophic ranking loss

Attributes to AVOID

These attributes can hide your reviews from the profile:

• ❌ "Onsite services" — removes review visibility
• ❌ "Online appointment" — removes review visibility

Only enable these if the booking functionality outweighs review visibility for your business.

Reserve with Google

Drive bookings directly from GBP without customers leaving Google:

• Live in 88+ countries
• Covers: beauty, home services, auto repair, fitness, healthcare, restaurants
• Two options: Custom Booking Link (your own URL) or Integrated Booking Partner (Google partners)
• 77% of consumers expect to book services online — missing this = losing conversions

Landing Page Strategy

• Use UTM codes on the GBP website URL to track traffic in GA4
• Do NOT link to a page that already ranks organically — Google penalizes duplicate rankings
• Link to a dedicated local landing page optimized for GBP traffic

Industry-Specific Optimization

Google released industry-specific GBP Playbooks (March 2026). Apply vertical optimizations during audit:

Food & Drink:

• Menu data must be current and complete (add menu URL)
• Enable online ordering + reservation links
• Professional food photography is non-negotiable
• Weekly posts on specials, seasonal menus, events

Service Businesses (plumbers, cleaners, HVAC, etc.):

• Define service areas clearly (no physical address display if SAB)
• Emphasize emergency availability and response times
• List all certifications, licenses, insurance
• Before/after project photos build visual credibility

Hotels & Accommodations:

• Class ratings and amenity lists
• Room photos, lobby, facilities
• Check-in/check-out times in hours
• Enable Reserve with Google

Tours & Attractions:

• Seasonal hours and availability
• Pricing tiers in products/services
• Activity photos from real customers
• Link to booking system

GBP Pro Tips (Sterling Sky Research)

Tip	Why
Set opening date to oldest legitimate date	Builds credibility. Use company history, not just current location opening. Google may populate a random date if blank
Extend business hours when possible	Google favors accessible businesses. 24/7 via answering service = ranking advantage
Do NOT link GBP to a page with existing organic rankings	Google penalizes duplicate ranking — use a dedicated local page
Remove "onsite services" and "online appointment" attributes	They hide review visibility from your profile
Add up to 7 social profiles	Only 5 display. Google may show social posts. This is a secondary credibility layer for AI engines

GBP Suspension Red Lines

These actions will get your GBP suspended — never do them:

Violation	Example	Risk
Keyword stuffing in business name	"Joe's Coffee - Best Coffee Shop San Francisco CA"	Immediate suspension
Fake address / virtual office	Using a PO Box or coworking space you don't occupy	Suspension + permanent distrust
Wrong category to game rankings	Plumber listing as "Emergency Service"	Suspension + ranking penalty
Multiple listings for same location	Creating 2 GBPs for one address	Both suspended
Fake reviews / review gating	Buying reviews or only asking happy customers	Review removal + penalty
Stock photos as business photos	Using generic images not of actual business	Photo removal + trust penalty
Operating outside stated area	SAB claiming service areas you don't serve	Ranking penalty

If suspended: Do NOT create a new profile. Appeal through GBP support with proof of legitimacy (utility bill, business license, photos of signage).

Scoring:

GBP Score = filled fields / total applicable fields × 100

90-100%: Excellent
70-89%:  Good, quick wins available
50-69%:  Needs work
<50%:    Critical — significant visibility loss

---

Step 3: NAP Consistency Check (Executable)

NAP = Name, Address, Phone — must be identical everywhere.

Platform Audit Process

For each platform, use WebFetch to extract and compare NAP data:

Platform	URL to Check	Fields to Extract	Priority
Google Business Profile	GBP URL (from Step 1)	Name, address, phone, website, hours	Critical
Website footer	[domain] — check footer/contact	Name, address, phone	Critical
Website contact page	[domain]/contact	Full NAP, map embed, schema	Critical
Yelp	yelp.com/biz/[business-slug]	Name, address, phone, hours, categories	High
Facebook	facebook.com/[page]	Name, address, phone, hours	High
Apple Maps	Search Apple Maps web	Name, address, phone	High
Bing Places	bing.com/maps search	Name, address, phone	High
BBB	bbb.org search	Name, address, phone	Medium
Industry directories	Vertical-specific (Healthgrades, Avvo, HomeAdvisor, etc.)	Name, address, phone	Medium

Comparison Method

Build a NAP consistency table:

| Platform | Name | Address | Phone | Match? |
|----------|------|---------|-------|--------|
| GBP (canonical) | Joe's Coffee | 123 Main St, SF, CA 94105 | [phone] | — |
| Website footer | Joe's Coffee | 123 Main Street, SF, CA 94105 | 415-555-1234 | ❌ Address format, phone format |
| Yelp | Joe's Coffee Shop | 123 Main St, San Francisco, CA | [phone] | ❌ Name has "Shop", city not abbreviated |
| Facebook | Joe's Coffee | 123 Main St, SF, CA 94105 | [phone] | ✅ |

Fix Protocol

1. Choose GBP listing as canonical source of truth
2. Standardize format: full street type ("Street" not "St"), consistent phone format, exact business name
3. Update each platform to match canonical — document changes
4. Re-check in 30 days (some platforms take time to reflect)

Common Issues:

❌ "123 Main St" vs "123 Main Street" vs "123 Main St."
❌ "[phone]" vs "415-555-1234" vs "[phone]"
❌ "Joe's Coffee" vs "Joe's Coffee Shop" vs "Joe's Coffee LLC"
❌ Suite/Unit number present on some, missing on others
❌ Old phone number on forgotten directories

---

Step 4: Local Schema Audit (Industry-Specific)

Check website for LocalBusiness schema markup. Use the most specific subtype for richer results:

Schema Subtype Selection

Business Type	Schema Type	Key Extra Properties
Generic local business	LocalBusiness	—
Restaurant / cafe	Restaurant or CafeOrCoffeeShop	menu, servesCuisine, acceptsReservations
Hotel / B&B	LodgingBusiness or Hotel	starRating, checkinTime, checkoutTime, amenityFeature
Plumber / HVAC / electrician	HomeAndConstructionBusiness or Plumber	areaServed, hasOfferCatalog
Doctor / dentist	MedicalBusiness or Dentist	medicalSpecialty, availableService
Lawyer	LegalService or Attorney	areaServed, knowsAbout
Tour operator	TouristAttraction or TravelAgency	tourBookingPage, availableLanguage
Gym / fitness	SportsActivityLocation	amenityFeature
Beauty salon / spa	BeautySalon or DaySpa	availableService
Auto repair	AutoRepair	availableService, areaServed

Restaurant Schema Example

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Restaurant",
  "name": "Business Name",
  "image": "https://example.com/photo.jpg",
  "address": {
    "@type": "PostalAddress",
    "streetAddress": "123 Main St",
    "addressLocality": "San Francisco",
    "addressRegion": "CA",
    "postalCode": "94105",
    "addressCountry": "US"
  },
  "telephone": "[phone]",
  "url": "https://example.com",
  "menu": "https://example.com/menu",
  "servesCuisine": "Italian",
  "acceptsReservations": true,
  "openingHoursSpecification": [
    {
      "@type": "OpeningHoursSpecification",
      "dayOfWeek": ["Monday","Tuesday","Wednesday","Thursday","Friday"],
      "opens": "11:00",
      "closes": "22:00"
    }
  ],
  "geo": {
    "@type": "GeoCoordinates",
    "latitude": 37.7749,
    "longitude": -122.4194
  },
  "priceRange": "$$",
  "aggregateRating": {
    "@type": "AggregateRating",
    "ratingValue": "4.5",
    "reviewCount": "230"
  }
}

Generic LocalBusiness Schema Example

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "LocalBusiness",
  "name": "Business Name",
  "image": "https://example.com/photo.jpg",
  "address": {
    "@type": "PostalAddress",
    "streetAddress": "123 Main St",
    "addressLocality": "San Francisco",
    "addressRegion": "CA",
    "postalCode": "94105",
    "addressCountry": "US"
  },
  "telephone": "[phone]",
  "url": "https://example.com",
  "openingHoursSpecification": [
    {
      "@type": "OpeningHoursSpecification",
      "dayOfWeek": ["Monday","Tuesday","Wednesday","Thursday","Friday"],
      "opens": "07:00",
      "closes": "19:00"
    }
  ],
  "geo": {
    "@type": "GeoCoordinates",
    "latitude": 37.7749,
    "longitude": -122.4194
  },
  "priceRange": "$$",
  "aggregateRating": {
    "@type": "AggregateRating",
    "ratingValue": "4.5",
    "reviewCount": "230"
  }
}

Schema Validation Checklist

Check	Status
Most specific subtype used (not generic LocalBusiness)	✅/❌
NAP matches GBP exactly	✅/❌
GeoCoordinates present	✅/❌
OpeningHours present	✅/❌
AggregateRating present	✅/❌
Industry-specific properties filled	✅/❌
Multiple locations: each has own schema	✅/❌/N/A

---

Step 5: Review Analysis & Strategy

The 10-Review Threshold (Sterling Sky Research)

• 10 reviews = minimum threshold for ranking boost
• After 10, frequency matters more than total count
• Stagnant review counts hurt rankings vs. active competitors
• Google formalized review request links and QR codes (late 2025) — use them

Current State Assessment

Metric	Benchmark	Source
Total reviews	≥10 minimum, then category avg	Sterling Sky
Average rating	≥4.2 stars	Industry standard
Review velocity	Consistent weekly flow	Sterling Sky
Owner response rate	100% target	Google Playbook
Response time	<24 hours	Google Playbook
Review recency	Most recent <7 days	Best practice

Sentiment Mining

Extract recurring themes from reviews:

• Positive attributes (what customers praise)
• Negative patterns (what needs fixing)
• Keywords customers use naturally → feed back into GBP description
• Attribute-specific mentions ("great WiFi", "quiet workspace") → these feed Gemini Ask Maps matching

Review Strategy Output

## Review Velocity Program

### Collection Touchpoints
1. Google's official review request link (GBP dashboard → "Ask for reviews")
2. QR code (Google's built-in generator) on receipts/signage
3. Post-purchase email (2 hours after)
4. SMS follow-up (24 hours after)
5. Staff verbal ask at checkout

### Response Templates
- Positive (5-star): Thank + reference specific detail + invite back
- Mixed (3-4 star): Thank + acknowledge issue + describe fix + invite back
- Negative (1-2 star): Apologize + take offline + describe resolution

### Key Principle
Frequency > quantity. 4 reviews/week beats 50 reviews once then silence.

### Target Metrics
- Weekly new reviews: [X] (current: [Y])
- Response rate: 100%
- Response time: <24 hours

---

Step 6: Competitor Benchmarking

Local SEO is a zero-sum game — in AI Local Pack, only 1-2 businesses win. You must know what you're competing against.

Identify Top 3 Local Competitors

Methods:

1. Search [primary category] in [city] on Google Maps — top 3 in Local Pack are your competitors
2. Search [target keyword] — who shows in AI Local Pack?
3. Ask user directly

Competitor Audit Matrix

For each competitor, use WebFetch on their GBP and website to build:

| Dimension | Your Business | Competitor A | Competitor B | Competitor C |
|-----------|--------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
| **GBP Category** | Coffee shop | Coffee shop | Cafe | Breakfast restaurant |
| **Secondary Categories** | 2 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| **Total Reviews** | 45 | 230 | 89 | 156 |
| **Avg Rating** | 4.3 | 4.6 | 4.1 | 4.4 |
| **Review Velocity** | ~2/week | ~8/week | ~1/week | ~4/week |
| **Photos Count** | 23 | 150+ | 45 | 80 |
| **Posts Frequency** | None | Weekly | None | Monthly |
| **Attributes Filled** | 5/15 | 12/15 | 3/15 | 9/15 |
| **Website Has Schema** | ❌ | ✅ Restaurant | ❌ | ✅ LocalBusiness |
| **Booking Enabled** | ❌ | ✅ Reserve | ❌ | ✅ Custom link |
| **Social Links** | 2 | 5 | 1 | 4 |
| **Q&A Entries** | 0 | 12 | 2 | 5 |

Gap Analysis Output

## Competitive Gaps (Prioritized)

### You're Behind On:
1. 🔴 Reviews: 45 vs competitor avg 158 — need aggressive review velocity program
2. 🔴 Photos: 23 vs competitor avg 92 — upload 70+ quality photos
3. 🟠 Attributes: 5/15 vs competitor avg 8/15 — fill all relevant attributes

### You're Ahead On:
1. ✅ Rating: 4.3 vs competitor avg 4.2 — maintain quality
2. ✅ Hours: Open later than 2 of 3 competitors

### Quick Wins to Leapfrog:
1. No competitor has Q&A populated — first mover advantage
2. Only 1 competitor posts weekly — match them immediately

---

Step 7: Gemini Ask Maps Optimization

This is the 2026 update — Google Maps now uses Gemini AI for conversational search ("Ask Maps"). The ranking model shifted from keyword matching to intent understanding.

What Changed

Old Model	New Model (March 2026)
"coffee near me"	"my phone is dying, where can I charge without waiting in line?"
Keyword relevance	Intent + attribute matching
Static profile data	Real-time activity signals
Proximity dominates	Proximity qualifies, engagement ranks

Ask Maps Optimization Checklist

Attribute Completeness (Gemini matches user intent to business attributes):

• All physical attributes (parking, WiFi, outdoor seating, wheelchair access)
• All service attributes (dine-in, takeout, delivery, reservations)
• All audience attributes (good for kids, pet-friendly, LGBTQ+ friendly)
• Payment methods
• Sustainability practices

Q&A as AI Training Data:

• 10-15 pre-populated Q&As
• Cover situational queries ("Do you have charging stations?", "Is there a quiet area to work?")
• Use natural conversational language, not keyword stuffing

Google Posts Freshness Signal:

• Weekly post cadence (offers, events, updates, photos)
• Posts include relevant attributes and situational context
• Seasonal/event-based posts for temporal queries

Photo Strategy for Immersive Navigation:

• Storefront photo showing relationship to nearby landmarks
• Interior photos showing ambiance, seating, facilities
• Product/menu photos with quality lighting
• Refresh every quarter with new content
• Geotagged images

Review Content as AI Context: When customers mention specific attributes in reviews ("great WiFi", "quiet workspace", "fast service"), Gemini uses this as input for matching intent queries.

Strategy:

• Encourage attribute-specific feedback in review requests
• Highlight specific experience details in response templates
• DO NOT solicit fake reviews or keyword-stuffed reviews

---

Step 8: AI Local Pack Readiness (2026)

Google is rolling out AI-generated local packs that fundamentally change visibility:

Traditional Local Pack	AI Local Pack (2026)
3 businesses shown	1-2 businesses shown
Call buttons visible	Call buttons replaced by images
Broad business coverage	Only 32% as many unique businesses
~1% ad coverage	22% ad coverage (up from 1% in early 2025)

What this means:

• Competition for the top 1-2 spots is now existential, not just beneficial
• 68% fewer businesses get organic visibility in AI packs
• Local Services Ads (LSAs) grew from 11% to 31% query coverage
• Pure organic local strategy is no longer sufficient for competitive markets

Action items:

• GBP optimization must be flawless (no room for "good enough")
• Multi-location businesses have a structural advantage over single-location
• Diversify traffic sources: YouTube, Reddit, social — don't depend solely on Maps

Local Services Ads (LSA) Readiness

LSAs now cover 31% of local queries — ignoring them is leaving money on the table.

What LSAs are: Pay-per-lead ads at the very top of Google results with "Google Guaranteed" or "Google Screened" badges.

Available categories: Home services, legal, financial, healthcare, real estate, auto, pet care, and expanding.

Setup checklist:

• Check eligibility: ads.google.com/local-services-ads
• Complete background check / license verification
• Set weekly budget (pay per lead, not per click)
• Define service areas and job types
• Enable message leads + phone leads
• Track lead quality — dispute bad leads within 30 days

When to recommend LSAs:

• Competitive local market (high-value services)
• You're not in the top 2 organic Local Pack positions
• Service-based business (plumbing, legal, dental, HVAC)
• Budget available: typical CPL ranges $20-$150 depending on category

When NOT to recommend:

• Already dominating organic Local Pack
• Category not supported by LSAs
• No capacity to handle additional leads

---

Step 9: Local Content Strategy

Website content that supports local search:

Content Type	Purpose	Priority
Location pages	One per physical location	Critical
Service area pages	One per service area	High
Local FAQ page	Conversational queries	High
Local blog posts	Topical authority	Medium
Event/news posts	Freshness signals	Medium

Location Page Template:

• H1: [Service] in [City] — [Business Name]
• Unique description (300+ words, not duplicated across locations)
• Embedded Google Map
• Industry-specific schema (see Step 4)
• NAP in structured format
• Service list
• Customer testimonials from that area
• Driving directions from landmarks
• Parking information

---

Step 10: Multi-Location Management

Skip this step for single-location businesses.

Core Challenges

Challenge	Wrong Approach	Right Approach
Brand consistency	One GBP for all locations	Separate GBP per physical location
Content duplication	Same description copy-pasted	Unique 300+ word description per location
Review management	One review response template	Location-specific responses referencing local details
Schema markup	One schema block	Separate LocalBusiness schema per location page
Landing pages	One page listing all locations	Dedicated landing page per location

Multi-Location Checklist

• Each location has its own GBP with unique phone number
• Each location has a dedicated landing page (not /locations with a list)
• Each landing page has unique content (not template fill-in-the-blank)
• Each location page has its own LocalBusiness schema
• NAP is consistent per-location across all platforms
• Reviews are managed per-location (respond with local context)
• Google Posts are per-location (local events, local offers)
• Photos are per-location (actual storefront, actual team, actual interior)

Location Page Differentiation

Avoid the "same page, different city name" trap. Each location page must include:

• Unique staff bios or team photos
• Neighborhood-specific directions and parking info
• Local testimonials from customers in that area
• Location-specific services or specialties
• Community involvement / local partnerships
• Unique meta title and description

Store Locator Best Practices

If 5+ locations, implement a store locator:

• Search by zip/city/current location
• Each result links to dedicated location page (not GBP directly)
• Schema: use Organization as parent, individual LocalBusiness for each location
• Internal linking: hub-and-spoke from locator to location pages

---

Output

Local SEO Report

# Local SEO Audit: [Business Name]
Generated: [Date]

## Overall Score: XX/100

## GBP Completeness: XX/100  ████████░░
- [List of missing/incomplete fields]
- Industry-specific gaps: [vertical-specific missing items]
- Suspension risk: [any red line violations detected]

## NAP Consistency: XX/100  ██████████
- Platforms checked: X
- Inconsistencies found: X
- [Table of discrepancies]

## Reviews: XX/100  ███████░░░
- Rating: X.X ⭐ (X reviews)
- Velocity: X/week
- Response rate: X%
- Key themes: [positive], [negative]
- vs. Competitors: [behind/ahead by X reviews]

## Local Schema: XX/100  █████░░░░░
- Schema type: [current] → Recommended: [industry subtype]
- [Missing markup elements]

## Competitor Benchmark: XX/100  ██████░░░░
- Local Pack position: #X of 3
- Review gap: [X reviews behind leader]
- Attribute gap: [X/Y vs competitor avg]
- [Top 3 gaps to close]

## Ask Maps Readiness: XX/100  ████████░░
- Attributes: X/Y filled
- Q&A: X entries
- Posts: [frequency]
- Photo freshness: [last updated]

## AI Local Pack Readiness: XX/100  ███████░░░
- Traditional Pack presence: [yes/no]
- AI Pack presence: [yes/no/unknown]
- LSA opportunity: [eligible/not eligible/already running]
- Multi-channel diversification: [strong/weak]

## Multi-Location Status (if applicable): XX/100
- Locations audited: X
- Locations with unique content: X/Y
- Locations with own schema: X/Y

## Priority Actions
1. 🔴 [Critical action — suspension risk or major gap]
2. 🔴 [Critical action — competitive disadvantage]
3. 🟠 [High priority — quick win with large impact]
4. 🟠 [High priority]
5. 🟡 [Medium priority]
6. 🟢 [Quick win]

Deliverables

Output	Format
GBP optimization checklist	Markdown checklist
NAP consistency table	Comparison matrix with fixes
Industry-specific schema	Ready-to-use JSON-LD
Review strategy	Action plan with templates
Competitor benchmark matrix	Side-by-side comparison
Ask Maps optimization plan	Prioritized checklist
AI Local Pack + LSA assessment	Readiness report
Location page template	HTML/content structure
Multi-location audit (if applicable)	Per-location checklist

---

Integration with Other Skills

Related Skill	When to Use Together
seo-monitor	Pull GSC data for local keyword performance
seo-schema	Deep schema validation beyond LocalBusiness
seo-content-audit	Audit location page content quality
seo-keywords	Local keyword research and search volume
seo-serp	Track Local Pack rankings
seo-ai-visibility	Monitor AI platform citations
seo-technical	Technical SEO for location pages
seo-competitor-pages	Analyze competitor local pages

---

Monitoring Cadence

Check	Frequency
GBP completeness	Monthly
Review metrics	Weekly
NAP consistency	Quarterly
Competitor benchmark	Monthly
Ask Maps self-test	Bi-weekly
Local Pack position	Weekly
Schema validation	After page changes
LSA lead quality	Weekly (if running)
Multi-location audit	Quarterly

---

Ask Maps Self-Test Queries

Test your business visibility by searching these patterns in Google Maps:

"[category] near [landmark]"
"[category] with [attribute] in [city]"
"where can I [intent] near [area]"
"best [category] for [situation] in [city]"
"[category] open now with [specific need]"

Document what Gemini says. If your business is missing or described inaccurately, trace the gap back to a specific GBP field, review pattern, or website content issue.

---

Sources (March 2026)

• Google Official GBP Optimization Playbook (emailed March 13, 2026)
• Google Official Industry Playbooks: Food & Drink, Service, Tours & Attractions, Hotels
• Sterling Sky: "The State of Local SEO in 2026"
• Sterling Sky: "#1 Checklist to Optimize Your Google Business Profile"
• Google: Gemini Ask Maps + Immersive Navigation (announced March 12, 2026)

[PROTOCOL]: Update this header on changes, then check CLAUDE.md