So you wanna learn local SEO? Been there done that got the slightly-tattered t-shirt to prove it.
Twenty years in this game and it’s a wild ride.
Think of it like a rollercoaster – exhilarating highs stomach-churning lows and enough unexpected twists and turns to keep you on your toes.
But hey that’s what makes it fun right?
Check our top articles on Where Can You Go to Learn Local SEO?
Where to Get Your Local SEO Education: Paid Programs
You won’t find a “Local SEO Major” at your local college (sadly!) but there are some amazing structured programs out there to fast-track your learning.
Forget sifting through endless often contradictory blog posts – these focused courses offer a logical efficient path to mastery.
Moz Academy’s Local SEO Certification
This ain’t your grandma’s stuffy online course.
Moz Academy’s program is engaging informative and actually kinda fun.
For around $395 you get almost six hours of high-quality video instruction covering everything you need to know to kickstart your local SEO career.
Plus you get a fancy certification to show off your newfound skills – a nice bonus for impressing potential employers or clients.
I even contributed some material to this course so I can personally vouch for its quality and comprehensive coverage.
Led by Meghan Pahinui it’s a really solid investment.
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I really can’t recommend this course enough.
It’s awesome!
BrightonSEO’s Local SEO On Demand Course
While I haven’t personally taken this one Greg Gifford’s name carries weight in the local SEO world.
He’s a master teacher and BrightonSEO’s reputation precedes them.
For about £300 you get a three-hour into local SEO best practices.
Considering the quality of BrightonSEO’s other resources this course is a safe bet for a focused learning experience.
Just be prepared to pay a bit more upfront and you get what you pay for here so you might just need to save up for this one.
Sterling Sky/LocalU’s Agency Training
This one’s a big investment – around $1500 per session (with volume discounts). But if you’re running an agency and ready to seriously up your game the live modular teaching from industry leaders like Joy Hawkins could be invaluable.
I haven’t taken these classes personally but the reputation of Joy and her team speaks for itself.
This is a serious commitment both financially and time-wise but for agencies looking for a major boost it could be a game changer.
Think of it as an intensive boot camp for your local SEO skills.
Pigzilla’s Private Local SEO Training Community
A different approach altogether is Dani Owen’s subscription-based community.
For a monthly fee (ranging from $5 to $49) you get access to ongoing mentorship and resources.
It’s like having a support group for local SEO geeks – which let’s face it is pretty awesome.
I’m not a member but respected local SEO Claire Carlile is a big fan.
It’s a good option if you prefer a more collaborative ongoing learning experience.
The free trial lets you test the waters before you commit.
It’s worth checking out if you prefer a more community-based learning environment.
Ready to ditch the endless scrolling and finally master local SEO? 🚀 This ain’t your grandpappy’s guide, friend. Level up your local SEO game now! ⬆️
Free Resources: Learning Local SEO Without Breaking the Bank
Not everyone has the budget for pricey courses.
Thankfully a ton of free resources exist to sharpen your local SEO skills.
You just need to know where to look.
The Essential Local SEO Strategy Guide (Moz)
Yep I shamelessly plug my own work. But hey it’s a free comprehensive guide covering everything from strategy to implementation. Nine chapters packed with practical advice making it a perfect resource for beginners and seasoned pros alike. It’s a great starting point or a handy refresher for established local SEOs. Consider it your free local SEO bible. Download it read it love it.
Near Media (Podcast Newsletter Blog)
Mike Blumenthal Greg Sterling and David Mihm – these guys are legends.
Their podcast newsletter and blog offer a unique perspective on the intersection of commerce search and local.
They’re not just spitting out SEO jargon; they’re analyzing trends and providing actionable insights for real-world businesses.
It’s a free education in critical thinking about the local search landscape.
Their insights are invaluable.
Moz Blog’s Local Column (Free!)
My little corner of the internet – where I share my thoughts insights and experiences on all things local SEO.
Ready to ditch the endless scrolling and finally master local SEO? 🚀 This ain’t your grandpappy’s guide, friend. Level up your local SEO game now! ⬆️
It’s more than just technical tips and tricks; I try to foster a broader perspective on how local SEO can benefit communities.
Plus I’m always trying to make it less boring than it could be.
The Institute for Local Self Reliance (ILSR)
This organization might surprise you.
They connect local businesses to broader societal issues – politics human rights sustainability – you name it.
It’s eye-opening stuff helping you understand the bigger picture behind local SEO.
You’ll find original data and insights that can make your local business stories even more compelling.
The American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA)
A must-know resource especially for US-based local SEOs.
AMIBA champions the “Buy Local” movement connecting you to a network of local businesses and initiatives.
Their free resources can significantly enhance your understanding of local communities and how to help businesses thrive within them.
Other Free Resources: A Treasure Trove of Knowledge
- MozCon (partially free): Although a paid event many videos from past conferences are available online offering valuable insights.
- LocalU (Free/Paid): Free weekly video roundups plus paid events. A mix of free and paid content that caters to different needs and budgets. I’ve learned a ton from LocalU speakers over the years.
- Street Fight (Free): Focuses on tech trends and bigger brands offering a macro perspective. Useful for seeing how larger companies are approaching local marketing – valuable knowledge even for those working with smaller businesses.
- Twitter Power Users: Don’t underestimate the power of following influential local SEOs on Twitter and checking out their feeds. You’ll discover new resources and perspectives you might not find otherwise.
Actionable Tools & Resources: Putting Your Knowledge into Practice
you’ve got the knowledge; now it’s time to put it to work.
Here are some tools and resources to help you do just that.
Search Engine Roundtable (SER)
Barry Schwartz is the guy you want to follow if you need to be on top of the latest Google updates and algorithm changes.
His blog is like a high-speed news feed for all things SEO especially local SEO.
Sterling Sky’s Blog and Forum
Joy Hawkins’ agency provides tons of practical data-driven advice.
Their blog is full of actionable strategies and their forum is a great place to get help from other local SEO experts when things go sideways.
Data-driven tactics are really where it’s at.
Free and Paid Tools – Your Local SEO Arsenal
- Moz’s Competitive Local Business Audit Spreadsheet (Free): A fantastic free tool for tracking client vs. competitor performance. Essential for strategic planning.
- Whitespark’s Local Search Ranking Factors Survey (Free): Industry-standard survey to see what factors local SEOs consider most impactful. It’s kind of like a local SEO pulse check.
- Whitespark’s Local Rank Tracker (Paid): A comprehensive tool that goes beyond just Google organic. Includes local packs Google Maps and even Bing. You can’t really go wrong with this if you are already paying for a lot of tools.
- MobileMoxie’s SERPerator (Free/Paid): Analyze mobile local rankings – crucial in today’s mobile-first world.
- Whitespark’s Review Link Generator (Free): Makes it incredibly easy to request reviews from your customers. It’s so simple even my grandma could use it!
- GMBSpy and GMB Everywhere (Free Chrome Extensions): Powerful tools for auditing competitor GMB profiles. Find out what categories they’re using see their posts and gain valuable intel.
- Moz’s Check Presence Tool (Free): Quickly assesses the health of a local business’s citations.
- Moz Local (Paid): A great all-in-one tool for managing local listings and reviews. It’s a solid investment if you’re managing lots of clients.
- Moz Link Intersect Tool (Paid – Moz Pro): If you’re already using Moz Pro this tool is a gem! Helps you find local competitors’ unstructured citations revealing opportunities for your own link building.
- Notify (Free): Get alerts when your business is mentioned on social media. It’s the quickest way to respond to customer feedback or address issues promptly.
- Buzzsumo’s Content Analyzer (Free): Helps you create content that will resonate with your audience. A fantastic tool to get ideas for the clients that you manage.
- Aircam.ai (Paid): This one is more expensive but provides stunning high-quality photography which is essential for local businesses.
- Riverside.fm (Paid): Allows you to quickly create high quality audio and video content with your client.
- Postamatic (Free): Simplifies publishing Google Posts to multiple GMB profiles.
- Microdata Generator (Free): Generates local business schema markup which helps search engines better understand your client’s information.
And the list goes on… But hopefully this gives you a starting point!
Is Local SEO Right for You? A Final Thought
Look I’m not going to sugarcoat it.
Local SEO isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme.
It requires dedication consistent learning and a genuine interest in helping local businesses thrive.
But if you’re passionate about helping communities enjoy constant learning and prefer a more stable career path compared to chasing the next shiny tech trend local SEO might be your perfect match.
The landscape is constantly changing but the core principles remain the same.
The need to support local businesses is growing and the opportunity for skillful local SEOs remains very strong!
Remember the businesses you serve are the backbone of our communities and their success is your success.
So choose wisely my friend and build a career that not only benefits you but also makes a real difference in the world.