# Boosting Local Rankings in the First 90 Days: A WordPress SEO Plan Checklist

# Boost Local Rankings in Just 90 Days: A Comprehensive WordPress SEO Plan Checklist

As a local business, establishing an online presence is crucial for attracting new customers and staying ahead of the competition. However, with the ever-changing algorithms and search engine landscape, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the numerous options available. provide you with a actionable WordPress SEO plan checklist designed specifically for local businesses looking to boost their rankings without relying on paid ads. You’ll learn how to optimize your website, leverage local SEO strategies, and drive organic traffic to your doorstep – all within the critical first 90 days.

H2 Section 1: Setting Up Your Foundation

As a local business owner, optimizing your WordPress website for search engines is crucial to boost your online visibility and drive more foot traffic. In the first 90 days of implementing an SEO plan, it’s essential to set up a solid foundation that will support your long-term success. Here are the key steps to take:

Keyword Research

Conduct thorough keyword research to identify relevant phrases and terms that potential customers use to search for your business or services. Use tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, or SEMrush to find keywords with high search volume and low competition.

For example, if your business is a plumbing company in New York City, you might target keywords like “plumbing services near me,” “emergency plumber NYC,” or “plumber repair NY.” Make sure to include long-tail keywords that are more specific and less competitive.

On-Page Optimization

Optimize each page of your website by including relevant keywords in:

* **Title Tags**: Write unique, descriptive title tags for each page, including target keywords. For instance, a plumber’s home page might use the title tag “Plumbing Services – NYC’s Top Plumbers.”

* **Meta Descriptions**: Craft compelling meta descriptions that summarize your content and include target keywords. This will help search engines understand the relevance of your pages.

* **Header Tags**: Organize your content using header tags (H1, H2, etc.) to structure and highlight important information, including target keywords.

Content Creation

Develop high-quality, engaging content that addresses common questions or concerns from potential customers. This will help establish your business as a trusted authority in the industry.

* **Blog Posts**: Create informative blog posts on topics like “How to Fix a Leaky Faucet” or “The Benefits of Regular Plumbing Maintenance.” Use target keywords strategically throughout.

* **Product Descriptions**: Write detailed product descriptions that include relevant keywords, especially for e-commerce sites.

Technical Optimization

Ensure your website is technically sound by:

* **Ensuring Mobile-Friendliness**: Verify that your site is mobile-friendly and responsive, as this is now a key ranking factor. Test your site using Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test tool.

* **Improving Page Load Speed**: Optimize images, compress files, and leverage caching to improve page load speed. Aim for a loading speed under 3 seconds.

Local SEO Optimization

As a local business, it’s essential to optimize your website for local search results:

* **Claim Your Google My Business Listing**: Verify and optimize your Google My Business listing to increase visibility in local search results.

* **Use Location-Specific Keywords**: Include location-specific keywords in your content, meta tags, and header tags.

By completing these tasks within the first 90 days of implementing an SEO plan, you’ll establish a solid foundation for long-term success and improve your chances of boosting local rankings without relying on paid ads.

H2 Section 2: Optimize Your On-Page Elements

On-page elements are the building blocks of a website, and optimizing them can significantly impact your local SEO rankings. Here’s a checklist to help you optimize your on-page elements in the first 90 days:

1. **Title Tag Optimization**

* Write unique, descriptive title tags for each page (max 60 characters)

* Use target keywords in the title tag, but avoid keyword stuffing

* Test multiple variations and choose the one with the highest click-through rate

Example: “Best Local Dentists in New York City | Trusted Dentist Review Site”

2. **Meta Description Writing**

* Write compelling, descriptive meta descriptions (max 160 characters)

* Include target keywords, but prioritize readability over keyword density

* Use a mix of question and statement formats to entice clicks

Example: “Get expert dental care in NYC with our trusted dentist review site. Find top-rated dentists near you today!”

3. **Header Tag Hierarchy**

* Organize content using header tags (H1, H2, H3, etc.)

* Use descriptive headings that include target keywords

* Ensure a clear hierarchy of headers to facilitate easy navigation

Example: “Home > Local Business SEO > First 90 Days WordPress SEO Plan”

4. **Keyword Research and Density**

* Conduct thorough keyword research using tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush

* Identify primary and secondary keywords for each page

* Use target keywords in header tags, meta descriptions, and content (but avoid over-optimization)

Example: “For local businesses, it’s essential to optimize on-page elements to boost search engine rankings. Focus on relevance, readability, and user experience.”

5. **Image Optimization**

* Compress images to reduce file size without sacrificing quality

* Use descriptive alt tags that include target keywords

* Add alt text descriptions for visual accessibility

Example: “Optimizing images with alt tags is crucial for local SEO, as it helps search engines understand your content’s relevance.”

6. **URL Structure and Crawling**

* Use clean, descriptive URLs that include target keywords

* Avoid using hyphens or underscores in URLs; use slashes instead

* Ensure easy crawling by avoiding excessive redirects

Example: “Proper URL structure is essential for local SEO, as it helps search engines understand your website’s hierarchy.”

H2 Section 3: Local SEO Strategy and Citations

A solid local SEO strategy is crucial to boost rankings in the first 90 days. Here’s a checklist to help you get started:

1. Claim Your Business Listings

Claim your business listings on top directories, such as Google My Business, Yelp, Bing Places, and other relevant platforms. Ensure your NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number) is consistent across all listings.

* Verify your listing by following the verification process for each platform.

* Complete your profile with accurate information, including hours of operation, categories, and keywords.

2. Optimize Your Google My Business Profile

Your Google My Business profile is the most critical local SEO signal. Make sure it’s complete, up-to-date, and optimized for local search. See Optimizing Core Web Vitals for for a related tactic.

* Use high-quality images and videos to showcase your business.

* Write engaging descriptions that highlight your unique selling points and services.

* Respond promptly to reviews and messages from customers.

3. Get Your Business Listed on Local Citations

Local citations are links to your website or online presence from other local directories. This helps increase your online visibility and improves your local SEO rankings.

* Create a list of local citations you want to target.

* Research each citation’s requirements, such as formatting guidelines and content expectations.

* Submit your information through the citation’s designated forms or email addresses.

4. Build High-Quality Local Citations

High-quality local citations are those from reputable sources with relevant topics and descriptions.

* Identify credible local directories that align with your business.

* Research their requirements for submissions and guidelines.

* Ensure your submission includes accurate, concise information that’s keyword-rich.

5. Monitor and Update Your Citations

Regularly check and update your citations to ensure they remain accurate and up-to-date.

* Use tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush to track changes in citation data.

* Adjust your citations as needed based on the tool’s recommendations.

* Prioritize maintenance to maintain credibility and rankings.

By following this local SEO strategy checklist, you’ll be well on your way to boosting your WordPress-based website’s local rankings within the first 90 days.

H2 Section 4: Content Creation and Keyword Research

Keyword Research

Conducting thorough keyword research is crucial in the first 90 days of your WordPress SEO plan. Identify relevant keywords that potential customers might use when searching for local businesses like yours.

* Use tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, or SEMrush to find relevant keywords.

* Brainstorm a list of long-tail keywords (5-7 words) that target specific locations and services offered.

* Prioritize high-intent keywords with lower competition.

Example: “best Italian restaurants in NYC”

Content Creation

Develop a content strategy that addresses the needs and pain points of your local audience. Focus on creating high-quality, engaging content that showcases your business’s expertise and provides value to potential customers.

* Write blog posts (500-1000 words) that discuss topics like:

* Local events or happenings

* Industry trends and news

* Customer testimonials and reviews

* Optimize images with alt tags, descriptions, and relevant keywords.

* Use header tags (H1, H2, H3) to structure content and highlight key points.

Example: “5 Tips for Choosing the Best Italian Restaurant in NYC”

H2 Section 5: Technical Optimization and Site Speed

Technical optimization is a crucial aspect of WordPress SEO, as it can significantly impact your website’s crawlability, indexability, and overall ranking. In the first 90 days of your local business SEO plan, focusing on technical optimization can help you improve your site speed, mobile responsiveness, and security.

1. Optimize Images

Optimizing images is essential for reducing page load times and improving user experience. Use tools like TinyPNG or ShortPixel to compress your images without compromising quality. This will not only save bandwidth but also improve your website’s crawlability.

For example, if you have a blog post with an image that weighs 1MB, using compression can reduce its size to around 700KB, saving up to 30% of bandwidth. Use image alt tags and descriptive text to help search engines understand the content of each image.

2. Leverage Header Tags

Header tags (H1, H2, H3) are essential for structuring your content and helping search engines understand your website’s hierarchy. Make sure to use header tags consistently throughout your website’s content.

For instance, if you have a blog post with three subheadings, use H2 headers for each one: “Subheading 1”, “Subheading 2”, and “Subheading 3”. This will not only improve user experience but also help search engines understand the relevance of each section.

3. Enable Secure Protocol (HTTPS)

Having a secure protocol (HTTPS) is essential for protecting your website’s visitors’ data and improving its credibility. Google favors HTTPS sites in search results, so make sure to enable it on your WordPress website.

To do this, go to Settings > General in your WordPress dashboard and change the URL scheme from “http” to “https”. You may also need to update your server configuration to use a trusted certificate authority (CA).

4. Monitor Site Speed

Site speed is crucial for user experience and search engine rankings. Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights or Pingdom to monitor your website’s speed and identify areas for improvement.

For example, if you have a blog post with images that are slowing down page load times, optimize those images using the techniques mentioned earlier. Additionally, consider enabling browser caching, leveraging web server push, and minimizing DNS lookups to improve overall site speed.

5. Regularly Back Up Your Website

Regular backups are essential for protecting your website’s data from malware attacks or technical issues. Use tools like UpdraftPlus or Wordfence to schedule automatic backups of your WordPress website.

By focusing on these technical optimization strategies, you can significantly improve your local business SEO plan and set yourself up for success in the first 90 days.

H2 Section 6: Building High-Quality Backlinks

Building high-quality backlinks is a crucial aspect of local SEO, as it helps to increase the authority and ranking of your website in search engines. In this section, we’ll provide you with actionable tips and concrete examples on how to build high-quality backlinks for your local business.

1. Identify Relevant Local Directories

Start by identifying relevant local directories where you can get listed. These include:

* Google My Business

* Bing Places

* Yelp

* TripAdvisor

* Chamber of Commerce

Make sure to claim and optimize each listing, including providing accurate and up-to-date information about your business.

2. Reach Out to Local Influencers and Bloggers

Reach out to local influencers and bloggers in your industry and ask them if they’d be willing to link back to your website from their content. You can also offer to write a guest post or provide expertise on a topic related to your business in exchange for a backlink.

3. Leverage Customer Reviews and Testimonials

Encourage your customers to leave reviews on Google My Business, Yelp, and other relevant directories. Also, use customer testimonials in your website content, such as on your homepage or about page, to provide social proof and encourage links from other websites.

4. Participate in Local Business Communities

Participate in local business communities, such as attending conferences, joining online forums, and contributing to industry-specific groups. This will help you build relationships with other business owners and potentially secure backlinks from their websites. See Quarterly Content Strategy Review for for a related tactic.

5. Create High-Quality Content

Create high-quality content that provides value to your audience, such as blog posts, videos, or infographics. Share this content on social media and reach out to relevant bloggers and influencers in your industry to see if they’d be willing to link back to it from their websites.

6. Use Broken Link Building

Use broken link building techniques to find links that are pointing to non-existent pages on other websites. You can then offer to replace the broken link with a working link to a similar article or resource on your website.

Example of a Backlink Strategy

Here’s an example of how you could structure a backlink strategy for your local business:

* Claim and optimize 10 relevant local directories

* Reach out to 5 local influencers and bloggers for links from their content

* Use customer reviews and testimonials on 2-3 pages of your website

* Participate in 1 local business community event per month

* Create 2 high-quality blog posts per month and share them on social media

* Use broken link building to find 5 new backlinks every quarter

By following these actionable tips, you can build high-quality backlinks for your local business and boost your rankings in search engines without relying on paid advertising.

H2 Section 7: Monitoring Progress and Analyzing Results

Now that you have implemented the first 90-day WordPress SEO plan, it’s time to monitor progress and analyze results. This section is crucial in understanding what’s working and what needs improvement.

Track Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

As a local business owner, your primary goal is to improve rankings for targeted search terms. Focus on tracking the following KPIs:

* Search Engine Rankings (SERPs)

* Organic Traffic

* Bounce Rate

* Time on Site

Use tools like Google Analytics, SEMrush, or Ahrefs to monitor these metrics and identify trends.

Analyze Backlink Profile

Your backlink profile plays a significant role in determining your website’s authority. Use tools like Ahrefs or Moz to analyze your backlinks and:

* Identify toxic links

* Remove low-quality links

* Focus on acquiring high-quality, relevant links from authoritative sources

Aim for at least 50 new backlinks per month from targeted domains.

Review Content Performance

Your content is a crucial component of your SEO strategy. Analyze content performance using metrics like:

* Click-Through Rate (CTR)

* Conversion Rate

* Average Session Duration

Use tools like Google Analytics or SEMrush to track these metrics and adjust your content strategy accordingly.

Local SEO Audits

As a local business, it’s essential to monitor your local SEO performance. Use tools like Moz Local or BrightLocal to:

* Track keyword rankings for local search terms

* Monitor reviews and ratings on Google My Business

* Check citations and directory listings

Adjust your local SEO strategy as needed to improve visibility and drive more local traffic.

Adjust and Refine

By monitoring these KPIs, analyzing backlinks, reviewing content performance, and conducting local SEO audits, you’ll gain a better understanding of what’s working and what needs improvement. Use this data to adjust and refine your WordPress SEO plan, ensuring you’re on track to achieve your business goals.

Example: Google Analytics Dashboard

Here’s an example of a Google Analytics dashboard, highlighting key performance indicators for a local business:

| Metric | Target Value |

| — | — |

| Organic Traffic | 500 new visitors per month |

| Bounce Rate | < 50% |

| Average Session Duration | > 2 minutes |

By monitoring these metrics and adjusting your SEO strategy accordingly, you can improve rankings, drive more traffic, and increase conversions for your local business.

Part 8: Optimizing On-Page Elements for Local Search Visibility

In the first 90 days of a WordPress SEO plan for local businesses, optimizing on-page elements is crucial to improve search engine rankings without relying on paid ads. Here’s a checklist to help you enhance your website’s on-page elements:

1. Keyword Research and Entity Markup

* Conduct thorough keyword research using tools like Google Keyword Planner or SEMrush.

* Use the identified keywords in meta tags, titles, and descriptions.

* Add schema markup for local business entities (e.g., `localBusiness`).

Example: Use schema markup to mark your address and hours of operation.

“`markdown

{

“@context”: “https://schema.org”,

“@type”: “LocalBusiness”,

“name”: “Your Local Business”, See Monthly Internal Link Audit Workflow for a related tactic.

“address”: {

“@type”: “PostalAddress”,

“streetAddress”: “”,

“addressLocality”: “Anytown”,

“addressRegion”: “US”,

“postalCode”: “12345”,

“addressCountry”: “USA”

},

“openingHours”: “Mon-Fri 9am-5pm”

}

“`

2. High-Quality Content Creation

* Develop high-quality, keyword-rich content (e.g., blog posts, guides) that provides value to your target audience.

* Use header tags (H1-H6) and subheadings to structure content and highlight important keywords.

Example: Create a comprehensive guide to local SEO best practices.

“`markdown

# Local SEO Best Practices

Keyword Research

Use tools like Google Keyword Planner to identify relevant keywords for your business.

“`

3. Image Optimization

* Optimize all images on your website by adding descriptive alt tags and file names that include target keywords.

* Use compress image files to reduce page load times.

Example: Compress an image of a local landmark using TinyPNG.

“`markdown

Image compression settings:

– Quality: 80

– Filter: Default

“`

4. Internal Linking and Navigation

* Organize your website’s internal structure using clear navigation menus and descriptive links.

* Create a sitemap to help search engines understand your site’s hierarchy.

Example: Create a menu item for “Services” that links to relevant pages on your site.

“`markdown

Menu Item:

Services

– Service 1

– Service 2

“`

5. Mobile-Friendliness and Page Speed

* Ensure your website is mobile-friendly and responsive, as this is now a key ranking factor.

* Optimize page speed using tools like Google PageSpeed Insights.

Example: Use the “Mobile” testing tool to identify areas for improvement on your site.

“`markdown

Page Speed Insights:

– Mobile: 50/100

“`

By implementing these on-page element optimization strategies, you’ll be well on your way to improving local search rankings without relying on paid ads. Remember to regularly monitor your website’s performance using tools like Google Analytics and SEMrush to identify areas for further improvement.

Final Takeaway

By implementing the strategies outlined in this article, you can significantly improve your local WordPress SEO and boost your rankings without relying on paid ads. In the first 90 days, focus on:

* Conducting a thorough website audit to identify areas for improvement

* Creating high-quality, locally-relevant content that includes target keywords

* Optimizing images and videos with descriptive alt tags and captions

* Building high-quality backlinks from local directories and citations

* Configuring your Google My Business listing and setting up schema markup

* Analyzing and tracking your website’s performance using SEO tools See Optimizing Old Affiliate Posts for for a related tactic.

By following this checklist, you can lay a solid foundation for long-term success and achieve improved local rankings that drive more traffic and sales to your business.

Internal SEO Links

• Optimizing Core Web Vitals for — Optimizing Core Web Vitals for Competitive Niches: A Comprehensive Annual SEO Roadmap for Content Sites
• Quarterly Content Strategy Review for — Quarterly Content Strategy Review for WordPress: Scaling Publishing Safely on a New Domain
• Monthly Internal Link Audit Workflow — Monthly Internal Link Audit Workflow: A 90-Day Template Pack for Ecommerce Brands
• Optimizing Old Affiliate Posts for — Optimizing Old Affiliate Posts for Conversions: A Guide to Recovering from Traffic Drops with AI-Assisted Workflows
• Streamlining SEO Tone for SaaS — Streamlining SEO Tone for SaaS Conversion: A Guide for In-House Teams

This article was assisted by AI and reviewed for publishing workflow testing.