Analyze Local SEO Using Trending Tools This Year

Tony Yan

·September 12, 2025

·15 min read

Have you ever wondered how your local business stacks up against the competition in search results? If you want to analyze local SEO and boost your online presence, you need the right tools. More local businesses now rely on search engine optimization and trending tools for better local SEO practices. Over 60% of small businesses use platforms like BrightLocal and Moz Local to analyze local SEO and improve optimization.

You can analyze local SEO and run a strong SEO competitor analysis with up-to-date tools.
These tools help you track competition and build a strategy that works for your local market.
Take a proactive approach to local SEO and see how the right SEO strategies can change your results.

Identify Local SEO Competitors

Finding your real local SEO competitors is the first step to winning in local search. You want to know who shows up when customers look for your products or services. Let’s break down the best ways to spot your true competition.

Google Maps & Local Packs

Start with Google Maps. Type in your main service or product and see which local businesses pop up. The top three spots in the local pack are your main competitors. These businesses get the most attention from customers searching for local options.

Local packs show the real local competition and help you see who stands out.
Ratings and reviews in these packs act as trust signals. They can sway customers to choose one business over another.
You should also check out each competitor’s Google Business Profile. Look at their photos, posts, and how they answer reviews. This gives you clues about their local SEO strategy.

Business Directories

Business directories like Yelp, Yellow Pages, and industry-specific sites help you spot more local competitors.

These directories show where your competitors list their businesses and which categories they use.
By researching competitors in these directories, you learn which listings matter most for your local SEO.
This method is different from local keyword research or backlink checks, but it gives you a clear view of the local landscape.

Incognito Keyword Search

Using incognito keyword search is crucial for maintaining objectivity in local SEO competitor analysis. It prevents personal search history and location data from influencing the results, allowing for a clean view of what potential customers would see.

Open an incognito window and search your main keywords. This shows you the real local search results, not ones shaped by your past searches.

Make a list of the businesses that show up on the first page. These are your top local SEO competitors.
Try searching a few different keywords to see if the same local businesses keep appearing.

Don’t forget to check out your competitors’ social media pages and marketing. See how they interact with customers and what kind of content they share. Researching competitors this way gives you a full picture of the local competition and helps you plan your next SEO move.

Gather SEO Data

To get ahead in local SEO, you need to collect the right data. This step helps you see where you stand and what your competitors are doing better. Let’s break down the most important data points for a strong SEO competitor analysis.

Rankings & Visibility

You want to know how your business and your competitors rank for important keywords. This is where keyword rankings come in. When you track rankings, you see who shows up first in local search results. Higher rankings mean more people see your business, which leads to more customers.

Businesses that appear at the top of local search get more clicks and calls.
Improvements in visibility often lead to more qualified leads and customers ready to buy.
Tracking rankings helps you spot trends and react quickly if your position drops.

Tip: Use tools to check your rankings regularly. This keeps you updated on changes in the local SEO landscape.

Citations & Listings

Citations are mentions of your business name, address, and phone number on other websites. Listings in business directories also count as citations. Accurate citations help search engines trust your business.

A study found that citation accuracy is a key factor in local search rankings. Top-ranking businesses usually have more citations and better listings. Here’s a quick look at the average number of citations for top spots:

Ranking Position	Average Citations
No. 1	86
No. 10	75
Hotels & B&Bs	152
Bars & Pubs	124
Restaurants & Cafés	108

Make sure your business details match across all platforms.
Check where your competitors have listings and see if you can get listed there too.
More citations can boost your local SEO and help you climb the rankings.

Reviews & Reputation

Reviews play a huge role in local SEO. They help build trust and can push your business higher in search results. Customers read reviews before choosing a local business, so you want lots of positive feedback.

Review quantity, quality, and freshness all matter for local SEO.
Reviews with relevant keywords can improve your rankings.
Responding to reviews shows you care about your customers.

Note: Over 99% of people read reviews before visiting a business. Good reviews can make or break your reputation and your SEO competitor analysis.

When you look at your competitors, check how many reviews they have, what people say, and how often they get new reviews. This gives you ideas for improving your own reputation.

Backlinks

Backlinks are links from other websites to yours. They act like votes of confidence for your business. In local SEO, backlinks from local directories, community groups, and high-authority sites matter most.

Use local directories to get backlinks.
Build relationships with local organizations for more link opportunities.
Guest posts and link insertions on local sites can fill backlink gaps.

A strong backlink profile often includes a mix of links from directories, community sites, and trusted sources. You should also balance DoFollow and NoFollow links and use different anchor texts. Regular audits help you spot backlink gaps and keep your profile healthy.

Characteristic	Description
Local Backlinks	Mix of links from directories, community groups, and high-authority sites.
Balance of DoFollow and NoFollow Links	Keep a healthy mix for better SEO.
Anchor Text Variation	Use different anchor texts for stronger results.
Regular Audits	Check your backlinks often to find and fix issues.

Update your business details everywhere you have backlinks.
Look for places where your competitors have backlinks and try to get listed there too.

On-Page SEO

On-page SEO means making your website easy for search engines and people to understand. For local SEO, you want your homepage to show your business name and location clearly. Add your city or region to your meta tags. This helps your site show up in local searches.

Use local business schema to help search engines find your contact info and location.
Make sure your site works well on mobile devices. Most people search for local services on their phones.
A responsive, high-quality design keeps visitors happy and helps your rankings.

Callout: Businesses that add photos to their profiles get 42% more requests for directions and 35% more clicks to their websites. Keep your site and profiles updated with fresh images.

Why These Data Points Matter

Each of these data points—rankings, citations, reviews, backlinks, and on-page SEO—gives you a piece of the puzzle. When you put them together, you get a clear picture of your local SEO strengths and weaknesses. This makes your SEO competitor analysis much more effective.

Perform a Local SEO Audit

You should run a local SEO audit to compare your business with your competitors. Use tools to check your rankings, citations, reviews, backlinks, and on-page SEO. Benchmark your results and look for areas to improve. Make changes based on what you find, and keep checking your progress.

Pro Tip: Regular audits help you spot new opportunities and stay ahead of your competitors in local SEO.

Analyze Local SEO Tools

Choosing the right tools makes local SEO much easier. You can track your competitors, spot new opportunities, and improve your own local business profile. Let’s look at the most popular tools for SEO competitor analysis and see how you can use them for better local SEO practices.

BrightLocal

BrightLocal helps you manage every part of local SEO. You can run audits, track rankings, and compare your business with competitors. This tool gives you a clear view of your local market.

Here’s what makes BrightLocal stand out:

Feature	Description
Citation Tracker	Build and analyze competitors’ citation profiles. Find new citation opportunities and top business mentions.
Local Search Grid	See local rankings for specific keywords compared to competitors.
Citation Authority	Predicts a website’s ability to rank well, helping you find valuable citation sources.
Citation Value	Shows how often a website appears in citation records, so you know which citations to chase first.

You can use BrightLocal to run a local SEO audit. Check your citations, compare your rankings, and see where your competitors get mentioned. This helps you plan your next move and improve your local SEO practices.

Tip: Use the Local Search Grid to see how your business stacks up against competitors for important keywords. This makes SEO competitor analysis much faster.

Semrush

Semrush gives you powerful tools for local SEO competitor analysis. You can track your Google Business Profile, monitor reviews, and manage listings. Semrush helps you see what works for your competitors and what you need to improve.

Tool Name	Functionality
Review Management	Manage and respond to customer reviews. Benchmark your reputation against competitors.
Map Rank Tracker	Track your Google Business Profile rankings in Google Maps. Monitor local keywords for performance.
GBP Optimization	Optimize your Google Business Profile for better visibility in local searches.
Listing Management	Create and update online business listings to boost your local SEO presence.

You can use Semrush to spot gaps in your local SEO. Compare your reviews and rankings with competitors. Update your business profile optimization to stay ahead in local search results.

Note: Semrush makes it easy to track your progress and see how your local business compares to others in your area.

Whitespark

Whitespark focuses on local citations and rankings. You can find new citation opportunities and monitor your keyword rankings across different locations. Whitespark helps you see where your competitors get listed and how they perform.

Local Citation Finder helps you manage and improve online citations. This is key for local search rankings.
Local Rank Tracker monitors keyword rankings in different locations. You get accurate, location-specific data.
Competitor Analysis shows how top competitors perform. You can adapt your strategy based on their strengths.
Visibility Score tracks your progress and highlights areas for improvement.

Whitespark sends weekly updates and ranks citation opportunities by how easy they are to submit. You can track your rankings across Google and Bing, including Local Pack and Maps.

Callout: Use Whitespark to find simple citation opportunities first. This saves time and boosts your local SEO practices quickly.

Moz Local

Moz Local helps you keep your business listings accurate and up to date. You can run local search audits, track rankings, and manage reviews from one dashboard. Moz Local makes SEO competitor analysis simple and effective.

Feature	Benefit
Auto-sync listings	Keeps listings updated across many platforms with little effort.
Monitor listing health	Finds missing fields and tracks updates needed for listings.
Google Business Profile insights	Analyzes interactions and rankings to show how your business performs.
Centralized review management	Lets you manage reviews from multiple sites in one place.
Customer sentiment analysis	Spots trends in reviews for better understanding of customer interactions.
Response time tracking	Alerts you to review responses, so you can engage with customers quickly.
GeoRank tracking	Shows local rankings and lets you compare with competitors for targeted efforts.

You can use Moz Local to run a local SEO audit and see how your business compares to competitors. The dashboard makes it easy to spot problems and fix them fast.

Tip: Use GeoRank tracking to see where you rank in different areas. This helps you focus your local SEO practices where they matter most.

Google Business Profile

Google Business Profile is the heart of local SEO. You need to claim, optimize, and monitor your listing. This tool helps you show up in local search results and attract more customers.

Insight Type	Description
Customer Behavior	Shows what people search for and when demand spikes.
Performance Comparison	Lets you compare your profile with competitors. Complete info and frequent updates lead to better results.
Seasonal Trends	Reveals when your business gets more attention, so you can plan your marketing.
Content Optimization	Updates to descriptions and photos boost engagement.
Response Timing	Shows when customers interact most, so you can respond quickly.
Visual Content Strategy	Tells you which photos drive more customer action.
Keyword Optimization	Highlights low visibility terms, so you can improve your keyword strategy.

You can use Google Business Profile to track your performance and compare with competitors. Update your business profile optimization often. Add new photos, answer reviews, and keep your information complete. This helps you stand out in local search results.

Note: Businesses with complete and active profiles get more clicks and calls. Make sure you update your Google Business Profile regularly for the best local SEO results.

How to Use These Tools for Actionable Insights

Run regular audits with BrightLocal and Moz Local. Compare your rankings, citations, and reviews with competitors.
Use Semrush to track your Google Business Profile and monitor your reputation. Spot areas where competitors do better and improve your own practices.
Find new citation opportunities with Whitespark. Focus on the easiest ones first to boost your local SEO quickly.
Analyze your Google Business Profile data. Look for trends in customer behavior and update your content to match what people want.
Check your rankings in different locations. Use GeoRank tracking and Local Search Grid to see where you need more optimization.

Pro Tip: The best local SEO practices use a mix of these tools. You get a full picture of your local business, spot gaps, and build a strategy that beats your competitors.

Use Tools for SEO Competitor Analysis

Track Competitors

You want to know how your local competitors perform over time. Start by using local SEO tools to monitor their rankings, reviews, and online presence. These tools help you spot changes in their strategies and see where you stand.

Local rank tracking lets you watch your position and your competitor’s position for important keywords.
You can observe market trends and adjust your local SEO approach when you see shifts.
Knowing your competition helps you find ways to stand out.

Here’s a quick look at best practices for tracking competitor performance:

Best Practice	Explanation
Competitor Analysis	Monitoring competitors helps you find keyword gaps and new strategies.
Continuous Updates	Update your local SEO strategy often to stay ahead of competitors.
Comprehensive Tools	Pick tools that give you reliable local data for actionable insights.

Compare Data

Comparing local SEO data across multiple competitors gives you a clear picture of your market. Automated tools make this process easy and accurate.

You get precise location-based data, not just general snapshots.
These tools track changes over time, so you see trends and shifts in local SEO.
Consistent formatting helps you compare visibility across different locations.

Check out this table to see how automated tools beat manual methods:

Aspect	Manual Methods	Automated Tools
Data Accuracy	Often inaccurate	Precise location-based data
Data Completeness	Incomplete snapshots	Full insights, including local packs and mobile
Change Tracking	Hard to track changes	Easy monitoring of trends and changes
Comparison Consistency	Difficult across locations	Consistent formatting for comparison
Team Efficiency	Time-consuming	Saves time, reduces fatigue

Find Opportunities

You can use trending local SEO tools to spot keyword gaps and new chances for growth.

Track key metrics like search rankings, website traffic, and local engagement.
Optimize your Google Business Profile to boost your online presence.
Use Google Trends to watch interest in keywords related to your niche.
Market research helps you find local trends and keyword gaps.
Social media can increase your local visibility and attract more customers.

When you add competitor insights to your SEO reports, you get actionable recommendations. This helps you refine your local SEO strategy and improve your online presence.

Build Local SEO Strategy

You’ve gathered all the data and insights. Now it’s time to turn your analysis into a winning local SEO strategy. Let’s break down how you can use your findings to outperform your competitors and keep your business growing.

Prioritize Improvements

Start by deciding which areas need the most attention. You want to focus on changes that will give you the biggest boost in local search results. Here are some steps you can follow:

Look at keyword analysis to find the best local search terms for your business.
Check your backlinks and see where you can build new connections.
Make sure your site loads quickly and works well on mobile devices.
Watch your competitors’ Google Business Profiles for ideas.

You should also analyze on-page technical SEO. Create local landing pages with location-based keywords. Always keep your Name, Address, and Phone number accurate across all directories. These local SEO tips help you build a strong foundation for your strategy.

Implement Tactics

Once you know what to improve, put your plan into action. Use proven local SEO tactics to get results. Take a look at this table to see what works best:

Local SEO Tactic	Evidence of Success
Local Influencer Collaboration	More in-store visits and higher online sales after working with local influencers.
Structured Data for Products	Schema markup boosts visibility in rich search results.
Thorough Audits	Fixing NAP issues improves local rankings.
Unique Selling Points	Stand out in local searches by highlighting what makes you different.
High-Quality Content	Engaging content attracts local audiences.
Reviews and Reputation	Positive reviews build trust and improve rankings.
Mobile-First Mindset	Responsive sites convert more visitors into customers.
Community Partnerships	Local collaborations bring valuable backlinks and reach.

Try these local SEO best practices to strengthen your strategy. Focus on what sets your business apart and keep your content fresh.

Monitor Progress

You need to track your results to see if your local SEO strategy is working. Watch these key metrics:

Metric	Description
Local Keyword Rankings	See how your positions change for local search terms.
Google Business Profile Insights	Track views, clicks, and customer actions.
Website Traffic Metrics	Check page views and visitor numbers.
Engagement Metrics	Measure bounce rate and session duration.
Conversion Metrics	Count goal completions and conversion rates.
Local Citations and Backlinks	Monitor the number and quality of local citations and backlinks.
Review Metrics	Keep an eye on review volume and ratings.
Content Performance	Analyze top landing pages for local content.

Update your local SEO strategy every six months. Run SEO audits every quarter to stay ahead. Regular checks help you spot new opportunities and keep your optimization on track.

Tip: Consistent monitoring lets you adjust your strategy and stay ahead of your competitors in local search.

You’ve learned how to analyze local SEO competition and use trending tools to boost your local business. Studies show that regular updates and smart strategies help you stand out in local search results. When you track competitors, refine your SEO, and optimize your Google Business Profile, you attract more local customers.

Businesses that focus on local SEO see better rankings and more growth.
Competitor analysis helps you find new opportunities and improve your local strategy.

Start your own local SEO competitor analysis today. Keep improving and watch your local business thrive!

FAQ

What is local SEO and why does it matter?

Local SEO helps your business show up in search results when people look for services nearby. You want customers to find you easily. If you focus on local SEO, you get more visits, calls, and sales from people in your area.

How do I find my top local competitors?

You can search your main keywords in Google Maps or use incognito mode. Check local business directories. Look at who appears in the local pack. These steps help you spot your real local competitors quickly.

Which tools work best for local SEO analysis?

You can use BrightLocal, Semrush, Whitespark, Moz Local, and Google Business Profile. Each tool gives you different insights. Try a few to see which fits your local business needs. Most tools offer free trials or demos.

How often should I update my local SEO strategy?

You should review your local SEO every six months. Run audits every quarter. If you see changes in local search trends or new competitors, update your strategy sooner. Staying active helps you keep your local rankings strong.

Can reviews really impact my local search ranking?

Yes! Reviews play a big role in local SEO. Positive feedback builds trust and boosts your local ranking. Respond to reviews often. Encourage happy customers to leave comments. You will see more local traffic and better results.