# Local SEO and Google Business Visibility > Local search decides which businesses a nearby customer sees first, whether on Google Maps, in the local pack or in a Google Business Profile listing. This hub Source: https://anthonyhayes.io/hub/local-seo-and-google-business-visibility/ Updated: 2026-10-19 --- Resource hub # Local SEO and Google Business Visibility Local search decides which businesses a nearby customer sees first, whether on Google Maps, in the local pack or in a Google Business Profile listing. This hub covers how local SEO works, how to win visibility in your area, and how to choose between organic work, paid placements and outside help. [Start with the basics →](https://anthonyhayes.io/hub/local-seo-and-google-business-visibility/understand-local-seo-basics/) Understand Local SEO Basics Set Up and Optimize Your Google Business Profile Research Local Competitors and Keywords Build Local Landing Pages and Visibility ## Work through it by topic 6 topics, in the order most sites need them. [Understand Local SEO Basics01](https://anthonyhayes.io/hub/local-seo-and-google-business-visibility/understand-local-seo-basics/) What you’ll learn You learn what local search is, how Google ranks local results, and what the basic pieces of a local presence are before you spend money on any of them. 4 resources - ▶[What Is Local SEO and How Does It Work? A Plain-English Guide for Business Owners](https://anthonyhayes.io/what-is-local-seo-and-how-does-it-work/) - ▶[Local SEO Near Me: How Nearby Searches Get Ranked](https://anthonyhayes.io/local-seo-near-me/) - ▶[Local SEO Checklist for Small Businesses: 15 Steps in the Order to Do Them](https://anthonyhayes.io/local-seo-checklist-for-small-businesses/) - ▶[14 Common Local SEO Mistakes That Hold Businesses Back](https://anthonyhayes.io/common-local-seo-mistakes-that-hold-businesses-back/) [Set Up and Optimize Your Google Business Profile02](https://anthonyhayes.io/hub/local-seo-and-google-business-visibility/set-up-and-optimize-your-google-business-profile/) What you’ll learn You learn how to claim, complete and maintain your Google Business Profile so it earns trust and appears in Maps results. 4 resources - ▶[Google Business Profile for Local SEO: 15 Setup Steps That Affect Ranking](https://anthonyhayes.io/google-business-profile-for-local-seo/) - ▶[Choosing Categories and Services on Your Google Business Profile: What to Pick and Why](https://anthonyhayes.io/choosing-categories-and-services-on-your-google-business-pro/) - ▶[Local SEO Google Reviews: How to Get More, Respond Well, and Stay Within the Rules](https://anthonyhayes.io/local-seo-google-reviews/) - ▶[Local Citations and NAP Consistency Explained: What to Check and How to Fix It](https://anthonyhayes.io/local-citations-and-nap-consistency-explained/) [Research Local Competitors and Keywords03](https://anthonyhayes.io/hub/local-seo-and-google-business-visibility/research-local-competitors-and-keywords/) What you’ll learn You learn how to see which local competitors rank, which searches your customers use, and where your gaps are. 3 resources - ▶[Competitor Analysis for Local SEO: How to Compare the Map Pack Businesses Beating You](https://anthonyhayes.io/competitor-analysis-local-seo/) - ▶[Local Business SEO Keyword Research: How to Pair Service Terms with Locations That You Can Actually Rank For](https://anthonyhayes.io/local-business-seo/) - ▶[13 Local SEO for Law Firms Moves That Actually Get Calls](https://anthonyhayes.io/local-seo-for-law-firms/) [Build Local Landing Pages and Visibility04](https://anthonyhayes.io/hub/local-seo-and-google-business-visibility/build-local-landing-pages-and-visibility/) What you’ll learn You learn how to create location and service pages, improve local links and measure whether local visibility is improving. 3 resources - ▶[Location Pages That Rank for Local Searches: How to Build a Unique Page per City or Neighborhood Without Creating Thin D](https://anthonyhayes.io/location-pages-that-rank-for-local-searches/) - ▶[13 Ways a Link Building Company Can Win You Local Links Competitors Miss](https://anthonyhayes.io/link-building-company/) - ▶[How to Track Local SEO Results: The Google Business Profile Metrics That Matter](https://anthonyhayes.io/how-to-track-local-seo-results/) [Paid Local Visibility05](https://anthonyhayes.io/hub/local-seo-and-google-business-visibility/paid-local-visibility/) What you’ll learn You learn how paid placements in Google Maps and Local Services work, and how they compare with organic local SEO. 3 resources - ▶[Google Maps Ads: How They Work and What They Cost](https://anthonyhayes.io/google-maps-ads/) - ▶[Google Local Service Ads for Home Service Businesses: Setup, Verification and Lead Handling](https://anthonyhayes.io/google-local-service-ads/) - ▶[Local SEO vs Google Ads: Which Should You Choose?](https://anthonyhayes.io/local-seo-vs-google-ads-which-should-you-choose/) [Costs, Pricing and Choosing Help06](https://anthonyhayes.io/hub/local-seo-and-google-business-visibility/costs-pricing-and-choosing-help/) What you’ll learn You learn what local SEO work typically costs and how to decide between doing it yourself, hiring a consultant or hiring an agency. 2 resources - ▶[SEO Pricing Packages Compared: What Each Tier Should Include for a Local Business](https://anthonyhayes.io/seo-pricing-packages/) - ▶[Local SEO Agencies Near Me: Agency vs Freelancer vs Doing It Yourself](https://anthonyhayes.io/local-seo-agencies-near-me/)