- What is local SEO and why does it matter? Local SEO is a keyword strategy that includes your product plus your company’s location to help nearby customers find your business when they search online, making it essential for restaurants, retail stores, automotive services, and other local businesses.
- Which tools track local search rankings effectively? Moz Pro (starting at $99/month) provides keyword tracking and search visibility options with regular audits, while GeoRanker offers local rank tracking with color-coded heat maps and citation tools to compare your positioning against competitors in your target area.
- How do Google’s free tools support local SEO? Google Analytics tracks organic conversions, user demographics, and session duration to identify top-performing content, while Google Trends provides real-time data on rising and falling search trends to help you create timely, location-specific content.
- What makes BrightLocal and Semrush valuable for local businesses? BrightLocal specializes exclusively in local SEO with listing management, reputation monitoring, and regular audits serving over 5,000 agencies, while Semrush (starting at $129/month) offers omnichannel solutions with specific local listing management and competitor analysis features.
- Why should content quality tools be part of your local SEO strategy? Tools like Grammarly improve your search rankings by checking content for typos, grammatical errors, and readability—factors that significantly impact how Google ranks your pages—while offering free extensions that work across multiple platforms like Microsoft Office and Google Docs.
The best local SEO tools help you track your local rankings, analyze competitors, manage citations, monitor website performance, and identify the keywords your audience searches for in your area. Tools like Moz Pro, GeoRanker, BrightLocal, Google Analytics, Google Trends, Semrush, Grammarly, and Localo give you the data and insights you need to strengthen your online presence and reach customers in your community.
Whether you are a restaurant owner, a retail manager, an automotive expert, or any other business hoping to reach those in your community, local SEO tools are important to incorporate into your website and optimize your online presence.
Take a look at our recommendations for local SEO tools to get started:
Moz Pro
Moz Pro is an SEO tool that provides keyword tracking and search visibility options to gauge how your business is ranking in local searches. This service runs regular audits to ensure your pages are gaining traction. Starting at $99 a month, Moz Pro also equips you with:
- Suggestions for possible local SEO improvements
- All your SEO data accessible in one place
- Custom SEO metrics such as Page Authority (PA) and Domain Authority (DA)
GeoRanker
GeoRanker is a unique local SEO site that features what websites are ranking high in certain areas. This structure can help you see how much traffic you get to your site compared to competitors in your area. Access to such valuable information can give your company insight into where to focus your efforts — whether boosting or maintaining your rank. Additional features include:
- A local rank tracker for exact positioning in your target location
- A citation tool to give users access to citations and links their competitors utilize to rank higher
- A color-coded heat map to visualize where your website ranks in your area
BrightLocal
BrightLocal is specifically designed for local SEO, helping marketing teams boost their social rankings in the area. Currently, they serve over 5,000 popular agencies, including those for Milton, IKEA, and Mediacom. BrightLocal has an easy-to-use interface with the following features:
- Regular SEO audits and reports
- Online reputation management system
- Listing service and management tools
- Organized showcase for key stakeholders
P.S. Most top local SEO companies will have access to this tool for your campaigns.
Google Analytics
Google knows Google best. With Google Analytics, you can identify how your website ranks and how much traffic the site gets through search results. It will even outline how many users your site gets daily, including how many came from third-party sites. Google Analytics is basically free, with custom payment plans for additional services. With this service, you can:
- Track organic conversions, number of users, and session duration
- Gain insights from demographic data
- Build custom reports and campaigns
- Identify what your top-performing SEO content is
Google Trends
Another popular Google SEO tool is Google Trends — an SEO ranking tool used almost exclusively for keywords. Google Trends can spot rising and falling search trends, so you know exactly what to base your next blog on, specifically for those searching in your area. It will also let you know keyword seasonality and how long a certain trend will be — well — trendy. We like this tool because it:
- Provides real-time data
- Is free to use
- Identifies new phrases that can help with rankings
- Helps make data-based decisions
Semrush
Semrush is another popular SEO tool that can research, rank, and analyze keyword rankings for a subscription starting at $129 a month. It has a specific local SEO feature that allows you to manage your local listings and see how they rank with competitors in your area. As a whole, Semrush can provide:
- Omnichannel solutions for SEO and marketing campaigns
- Adaptable keyword rankings with algorithm updates
- API for SEO automation
Grammarly
Instead of providing keywords, Grammarly is a great addition to any SEO tool. Grammarly is an AI-based extension or website that thoroughly checks your content for typos, grammatical errors, and overall readability. Believe it or not, the integrity of your page plays a considerable role in how you rank on Google. Grammarly can help get you ranking higher with its:
- Writing, rewriting, and brainstorming suggestions
- Adaptability for whatever content creation site you use, including Microsoft Office, Google Docs, and more
- Educational-based suggestions
- Style-guide specific adjustments
- Free base extension
Localo
For a quick and intuitive option, check out Localo. This local SEO tool checks your business visibility on Google against your competitors. Localo is simple and free to use without registration or an email address to view results. More specifically, here is a bit more of what Localo has to offer:
- Personalized weekly tasks and insights
- Data-driven SEO decision help
- Automated Google posts
- Manageable customer reviews
Local SEO advice with SEO.com
SEO.com partners with the expert team at WebFX to provide insight on top SEO tools, methods, and strategies to help rank your business at the top of every local search. WebFX’s local SEO services can help your business consult strategy, reach your goals, and accelerate your performance.
For more information on SEO, check out more of the SEO blog or contact us today. We look forward to helping you boost your local SEO!
Reach More Local Customers, Faster
Expand your local reach with proven strategies from our local SEO experts. Request your custom local SEO strategy today!
Reach More Local Customers, Faster
Expand your local reach with proven strategies from our local SEO experts. Request your custom local SEO strategy today!
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