Published 2026-03-05
Local search visibility compounds the same way SEO always has: small, consistent actions repeated over months outperform a single big push. Here's a practical checklist for 2026.
Ask for reviews consistently, but keep the request open-ended rather than directing specific content or mentioning staff by name — policy enforcement around "templated" reviews has tightened, and overly scripted requests risk having reviews removed rather than helping visibility.
Make sure your website has a dedicated page for each major service and, if you serve multiple areas, genuinely distinct location pages rather than templated copies with only the town name swapped.
Keyword-stuffed business names, inconsistent NAP (name/address/phone) data across the web, and any form of incentivized or gated reviews — all of these create real risk of profile suspension.
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Weekly at minimum — fresh photos, accurate hours, and prompt review responses all signal an actively managed profile.
They matter for organic website rankings, but reviews, engagement, and profile completeness tend to weigh more heavily for local map pack visibility specifically.
No — asking is fine as long as the request is open-ended and goes to all customers equally, rather than directing specific wording or targeting only likely-positive reviewers.