If you are a tradie or local service business and you are not showing up in the Google map pack, you are leaving jobs on the table. This is the exact 10-point audit we run for agency clients at Create & Grow Media , distilled into a checklist you can work through this afternoon.
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Here is everything on the checklist. You can start working through these right now, or download the printable version with expanded tips.
This is your number one local SEO asset. If you have not claimed and verified your Google Business Profile, you are invisible in the map pack. It takes 5 minutes to claim and about a week to verify by postcard.
Your NAP (Name, Address, Phone) must be identical across every listing, directory, and social profile. Even small differences like 'St' vs 'Street' confuse Google and hurt your rankings.
Reviews are social proof and a ranking factor. Aim for at least 10 reviews with genuine responses to each one. A simple follow-up SMS or email after each job is all it takes.
Every key page on your website should mention your location in the title tag. For example, 'Emergency Plumber Brisbane' not just 'Emergency Plumber.' This tells Google where you operate.
Test your site speed at pagespeed.web.dev. If it takes more than 3 seconds to load on mobile, you are losing visitors and rankings. Common fixes: compress images, remove unused plugins, use a decent host.
These Australian directories are high-authority citation sources. Submitting your business takes 10 minutes per directory and tells Google your business information is legitimate.
A blog with locally relevant content (suburb guides, local project case studies, FAQs about your area) signals to Google that you are an authority in your location. One post per fortnight is enough.
Every image on your website should have alt text that describes what the image shows, ideally including your location. 'Polished concrete floor in Brisbane home' is better than 'IMG_4523' or 'concrete floor.'
More than 60% of local searches happen on mobile. If your website is hard to use on a phone, Google will rank your competitors above you. Test at search.google.com/test/mobile-friendly.
If you are not tracking your traffic and search performance, you are flying blind. Both tools are free and take 15 minutes to set up. Module 7 of our SEO Foundations course walks you through it step by step.
This checklist covers the essentials, but getting found on Google takes more than ticking boxes. Our SEO Foundations course gives you the complete system: keyword research, on-page optimisation, content strategy, analytics setup, and ongoing maintenance, across 7 modules built from real agency work.
Everything you need to stop paying for every click and start earning organic traffic that compounds over time.