Best Practices for Using Free SERP Checker Tools for Local SEO

Bebran Nov 30 / 3 months ago

Remove Ads

Local SEO is essential for businesses looking to attract customers in specific geographic areas. Using free SERP (Search Engine Results Page) checker tools, like BeBran’s, allows you to analyze how well your business ranks locally, spot optimization opportunities, and adjust your strategy for better visibility. Here’s a practical guide to using SERP checkers effectively for local SEO, with best practices to maximize these tools.

Understanding the Role of SERP Checkers in Local SEO

SERP checkers are valuable tools for viewing search engine rankings for specific keywords. For local SEO, they help with:

Assessing Location-Based Keyword Performance: Understand how well your business ranks for location-specific keywords.
Providing Competitor Insights: Analyze what local competitors are doing well, allowing you to identify areas for improvement.
Monitoring Google’s Local Pack Visibility: The Local Pack is the group of three local business listings at the top of search results, providing high visibility. SERP checkers, like BeBran’s, help track if your business appears in this prime spot.

Popular Free SERP Checker Tools for Local SEO

When it comes to improving your local SEO, there are some great free SERP checker tools available that can help you see where you stand in local searches, understand the competition, and make the right tweaks to get better visibility. Here’s a look at a few popular options, each with unique strengths to help boost your local SEO strategy.

1. BeBran’s Free SERP Checker

Our free SERP checker tool is designed to be simple yet powerful, so whether you’re just starting out or are more experienced, it’s easy to dive right in. Here’s what makes BeBran’s tool effective for local SEO:

Understand the Competition: You’ll see what top-ranking competitors are doing well, giving you ideas for how to improve your own content.
Keyword Difficulty & Traffic Estimates: These scores show how hard it might be to rank for a specific keyword and estimate potential traffic, helping you focus on the best opportunities.
Mobile & Desktop Tracking: Since local searches often happen on mobile, you can easily check how you rank across both platforms.

If you’re looking for an all-in-one tool to track keywords, analyze competitors, and get insights without much hassle, BeBran’s SERP Checker covers all the essentials.

2. Ubersuggest

Ubersuggest, created by Neil Patel, is a popular choice for keyword ideas and basic competitor analysis. Its free version is a solid option if you’re looking to expand your keyword list.

Find New Keywords: Get suggestions for related keywords and long-tail terms, which are helpful for finding specific phrases that local customers might search for.
See Keyword Metrics: Check search volume and competition levels to gauge which keywords might be worth targeting.
Basic Backlink Insights: Take a look at where top-ranking pages are getting links, which can help with link-building ideas.

3. Ahrefs Free SERP Checker

Ahrefs is well known for its top-quality SEO data, and while their free SERP checker has limits on daily searches, it’s still packed with useful information for local SEO.

Keyword Difficulty: Get a quick score that shows how competitive a keyword is, making it easier to pick keywords that are achievable.
Backlink Data: See how many backlinks top-ranking pages have, which gives you a sense of the competition’s authority.
SERP Snapshot: Get a snapshot of the top results for any keyword, including some authority stats and search volume.

Ahrefs Free SERP Checker is handy if you’re focused on competitive keywords and want to see where you might stand with your chosen keywords.

4. SEMrush Free Plan

SEMrush offers a wide range of SEO tools, and its free plan lets you get a taste of its features. It’s useful if you’re interested in seeing where you rank and want some basic keyword metrics.

Keyword Data & Volume: See basic keyword stats like search volume and keyword difficulty.
SERP Feature Analysis: Find out which features (like the Local Pack or featured snippets) appear for each keyword, giving you ideas for how to rank.
Limited Competitor Analysis: Gain a basic overview of competitor performance to see how you stack up.

5. SERPWatcher by Mangools

SERPWatcher, part of the Mangools suite, is all about tracking your keyword performance over time, which is helpful if you want to see how your local SEO efforts are paying off.

Keyword Tracking Over Time: Monitor keywords regularly to see if your rankings are improving, especially useful for tracking the impact of updates.
SERP Snapshot: A simple view of your rankings for specific keywords, showing any position changes.
Performance Index: A quick snapshot of how well your keywords are performing overall.

Free Tools: Free Case Converter Tool Online | Free SERP Checker Tool Online | Free Small Text Generator Tool Online

Follow these steps:

Step 1: Target Location-Specific Keywords

Focus on keywords that include location details to ensure your business appears in relevant searches. Here’s how:

Use Geographic Modifiers: Include city or neighborhood names in your keywords, like “best coffee shop in Brooklyn” or “affordable plumber Los Angeles.”
Focus on Long-Tail Keywords: Long-tail keywords are specific and often less competitive, attracting a targeted audience. Examples: “family-friendly restaurants in San Francisco” or “emergency car repair in Boston.”
Analyze Competitor Keywords: Check which keywords your local competitors are ranking for. Prioritize similar keywords that are effective in driving local traffic.

Using these location-specific keywords helps search engines understand your target area and attracts local customers.

Step 2: Optimize for Google’s Local Pack

Appearing in Google’s Local Pack can significantly boost visibility for local businesses. Optimize for the Local Pack by:

Ensuring Accurate NAP (Name, Address, Phone): Keep your NAP details consistent across your website and all online directories.
Optimizing Your Google Business Profile: Complete your Google Business profile with accurate business hours, services, and website links.
Encouraging Positive Reviews: Customer reviews impact Local Pack rankings. Ask satisfied customers to leave reviews and engage with their feedback.

Step 3: Use SERP Checkers to Analyze “Near Me” Searches

“Near me” searches are popular among mobile users looking for businesses in close proximity. To improve your rankings for “near me” searches:

Add “Near Me” Phrases: Use “near me” naturally in your content, such as in meta descriptions or location-specific pages.
Track Mobile Rankings Separately: Many SERP checker tools, including BeBran’s, allow you to view desktop and mobile rankings separately, which is essential for tracking “near me” searches, as they’re often performed on mobile devices.
Ensure Location Accuracy: If you have multiple locations, ensure each address is accurate on your website and in listings, helping Google show the most relevant location to users.

Step 4: Create Location-Based Landing Pages

If you have multiple locations, create dedicated landing pages for each area to optimize for local searches. To optimize these landing pages:

Develop Unique Pages: Customize each landing page to its specific location, like “Plumbing Services in Queens” and “Plumbing Services in Brooklyn.”
Optimize with Local Keywords: Use local keywords to increase relevance to users in each specific area.
Include Area-Specific Details: Mention landmarks, neighborhoods, or area-specific information to improve ranking relevance.
Track Page Performance: Use a SERP checker like BeBran to monitor each page’s performance and adjust content based on ranking trends.

Step 5: Track Competitor Content and Local Keywords

Understanding your competitors’ strategies helps refine your approach. Use a SERP checker to gain insights into competitor content and keywords by:

Analyzing Competitor Content: Identify the types of content that top local competitors use, such as guides, service pages, or reviews.
Reviewing Competitor Keywords: Discover the local keywords your competitors are ranking for. Consider targeting similar terms or finding new keyword opportunities.
Monitoring Reviews and Ratings: Reviews are essential for local SEO. Check your competitors’ review volumes and ratings to understand what attracts customers in your area.

Analyzing competitors helps you understand their strengths and weaknesses, enabling you to create more appealing content.

Step 6: Track and Improve Your Mobile Rankings

Most local searches are performed on mobile devices, so optimizing for mobile is essential. To improve your mobile SEO performance:

Optimize for Speed and Usability: Ensure your website is fast, responsive, and easy to navigate on mobile devices.
Monitor Mobile SERP Layouts: Mobile search results prioritize maps and Local Pack entries. Use a SERP checker to view mobile rankings and identify how your business appears.
Optimize for Voice Search: Many mobile searches are voice-driven. Structure your content to answer common questions and use natural language, improving the chances of ranking in voice search results.

Step 7: Track Local Reviews and Ratings

Customer reviews are a major factor in local SEO success. Use a SERP checker to monitor review performance against competitors:

Analyze Review Volume and Quality: Identify the number and quality of reviews competitors have, setting benchmarks for your own review goals.
Encourage and Respond to Reviews: Actively encourage customer reviews and engage with them to improve customer trust and credibility.
Showcase Positive Reviews: Highlight top reviews on your site, particularly on local service pages. Some SERP checkers reveal if review snippets appear in search results, offering insights on which reviews to feature.

Step 8: Monitor Progress and Adapt Your Strategy Regularly

Local SEO requires regular updates to keep up with competitors, changing trends, and search engine updates. Use SERP checkers, like BeBran, for ongoing monitoring and strategy adjustments:

Track Keyword Position Changes: Monitor rankings for local keywords consistently to spot changes and respond quickly.
Update Content Based on Insights: If a page’s rank drops, consider updating it with fresh keywords, improved structure, or additional customer testimonials.
Expand to New Keywords or Locations: As you see success with initial keywords, identify new ones or consider expanding to neighboring areas.

Regularly tracking progress and adapting your strategy based on SERP insights ensures your local SEO efforts remain effective.

Final Thoughts

Free SERP checker tools are valuable resources for local SEO, allowing you to monitor keyword performance, analyze competitors, and optimize your strategy. By targeting location-based keywords, focusing on the Local Pack, and creating dedicated landing pages for each service area, you can enhance your local visibility and attract more customers. Remember, local SEO is an ongoing process, so use tools like BeBran’s Free SERP Checker to regularly monitor, refine, and adjust your approach for consistent success in your target locations.

Explore More: Mastering SEO with SERP Checker Tools: A Step-by-Step Tutorial | Using SERP Checker Tools for Competitor Analysis: Strategies for Outranking Rivals

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a SERP checker?
Ahrefs' SERP Checker shows you how much organic search traffic the top results get from all the keywords they rank for. Once you know which pages on the SERPs get the most traffic, you can analyze them in Site Explorer to replicate their success.
What is SERP vs SEO?
SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) is the work a website owner does to get a webpage to the top of the SERP (Search Engine Results Page) for relevant user search queries.
What does SERP analysis mean?
SERP analysis is a process of looking at the top-ranking web pages in the SERP (Search Engine Results Page) in order to evaluate whether or not the particular keyword you want to rank for is relevant and to determine how hard it would be to outrank your competitors.
Can I track my competitors' local rankings using a SERP checker?
Yes, many SERP checker tools allow you to input competitors' websites and target keywords to see their local search rankings. This information helps you understand the competitive landscape and identify areas where you can improve your local SEO efforts.
How often should I use a SERP checker to monitor my local SEO performance?
It's recommended to check your local search rankings at least once a week. Regular monitoring helps you stay informed about changes in search engine rankings and adjust your local SEO strategies promptly.

Share on Social Media: