Most local SEO advice is a scam.

It’s how agencies lock you into endless retainers.

Here is 14 years of "insider" experience in one thread so you DON’T HAVE TO HIRE ANYONE: **

Scam 1: “You need to rank nationwide.”

If you’re a roofer, dentist, plumber, HVAC…

you don’t need “best plumber” across the whole country.

You need stuff like:

• “Emergency plumber in Plano TX”

• “Roof leak repair Buckhead Atlanta”

You can 4X calls just by going after ZIP-based keywords.

Did you get it?

Zero “national SEO”. **

Scam 2: “Google Business Profile is complex. Let us ‘manage’ it forever.”

Here’s the reality.

You need to set it up right once, then just keep it active:

Do this yourself in a week:

• Upload real photos: team, vans, office, before/after jobs

• Add 10-15 services inside GBP

• Write a simple description: “[Service] for [Type of Customer] in [City]”

• Aim for 3-5 new reviews per month

Do this right and it’s sufficient. **

Scam 3: “You need 200 blogs before SEO works.”

Blogs do matter.

They help with topical authority, long-tail visibility, and trust over time.

But for local SEO, they are not the starting point.

For most local businesses, 80% of revenue comes from 5-7 pages, not hundreds of blog posts.

• Homepage

• Core service pages (e.g. Dental Implants in Phoenix)

• Location pages (e.g. Plumber in Frisco TX)

If these pages are weak, no amount of blogging will save you. **

Scam 4: “You must be active on every social platform for local SEO.”

Google does not reward you for being tired.

For a local business, this is usually enough:

• One decent Facebook page (same NAP as website)

• A few posts showing real jobs and happy clients

• Link back to your site & GBP

Stop trying to be on TikTok, IG, Twitter, YouTube.

Focus on Google only and leads will go from “random” to fully booked. **

Scam 5: “More services on your site = more rankings.”

Listing 27 services you barely offer just confuses Google and customers. Instead:

• Pick 3-5 high profit services

• Give each service + location its own strong page

• Add photos, FAQs, reviews, and a clear call button

I have seen A lawn care company in Orlando deleted 14 thin “services” and focused on just 4: mowing, fertilization, weed control, aeration.

Organic leads increased 62% in 90 days. Less pages, more money. **

Scam 6. “Only big brands can win the map pack.”

For local results, Google loves:

• Proximity

• Prominence (reviews, mentions)

• Relevance (right categories, right keywords)

A local service provider can outrank a big franchise with:

• 50+ reviews in 6 months

• Proper categories

• Photos from real jobs weekly

• NAP consistency

Small, but locally loud beats big, but generic. **

Scam 7: “SEO takes 12-24 months before you see anything.”

For local, that’s just not true.

If your Google Business Profile is a mess and your site has no real service pages, you can see movement in 90 days by fixing the basics:

• Correct NAP (Name, Address, Phone) everywhere

• Real photos on GBP

• 3-5 strong service + city pages

Example: an electrician went from 0 to 2-4 calls/day in 7 weeks after we fixed just those three things.

No “12-month wait”. **

Most “local SEO tips” are just there to confuse you.

In the end, winning locally is simple:

tell people clearly what you do, where you do it..

show real proof (photos + reviews), and make it easy to contact you.

Do just that, and you’ll be ahead of most of your competitors. **

• • •

Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh