Local SEO can be some of the most competitive forms of online internet marketing, but also some of the most rewarding. Google can be tough on businesses and can be quite strict on their local search engine results, and they are changing every day. 

Tip 1

Research your keywords by searching City + Keyword(s) in Google. Be sure not to be logged in to Google+ when doing so because it may alter your search results. 

If you are searching a USA service provider, then you should see a local search pack (7 pack) of results. 

Note, there are other forms of local SEO that do not leverage a local search result and can utilize more standard forms of link building / social bookmarking / etc.

Tip 2

Make sure your business is located in the geographical location you are targeting for your keywords. 

The local Google system knows where these businesses are and wants to center results based on both the locations of the visitor and the location of the business. 

You will always have a better local listing if your business is near the downtown locations because that is central to Google's algorithm.

Tip 3

In order to see how many businesses you're competing with; you can do a local market competitive search. 

If you copy the name, address, and phone number of the best result in the SEO pack, you can search for that in quotations and Google will tell you the approximate number of businesses competing with that business.

Tip 4

Be sure to add all of your content when you submit to the local directories. Name, address, phone numbers, and website address should all be incorporated because these are the relevant details that the local Google SEO results are looking for. 

If you don't input all of your information, you are missing out on the opportunities of dominating SEO listings and costing your business money.