Have you ever done an audit on your business?
Doing something as simple as searching for your business online can be eye-opening!!
It shows you how you’re perceived in the marketplace by people seeking services similar to yours. It does not need to be in-depth to start.
In just 30 minutes, you can uncover gaps, opportunities, and outdated information that could be costing you visibility and customers.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to do your search audit:
Quick Online Presence Search Audit for Local Businesses
Here is how to do it and what to look for:
1. Google Your Business Name + City
Why: This is how most customers find (or don’t find) you.
Action: Type your business name and city into Google.
Do your website, Google Business Profile, and social media pages appear? If not, you may need to improve your SEO or claim missing profiles.
2. Review Your Google Business Profile (GBP)
Why: This profile appears in local search results, especially on maps.
Action: Look for accurate business hours, contact info, service areas, and photos.
Make sure you’ve claimed your listing and are responding to reviews regularly.
3. Search for Your Service + City (e.g., “plumber in Tempe”)
Why: You want to see how you rank when customers search for your category, not just your name.
Action: Take note of whether your business shows up in the local pack (map results), and which competitors are appearing above you.
4. Check Your Listings in Online Directories
Why: Inconsistent or outdated listings confuse both customers and search engines.
Action: Search for your business on sites like Yelp, Bing, Apple Maps, Yellow Pages, and others.
Is your name, address, and phone number (NAP) correct and consistent everywhere?
5. Evaluate Your Social Media Visibility
Why: Your social profiles often rank in Google and help build trust.
Action: Google “[Your Business] Facebook” or “[Your Business] Instagram.”
Are the pages claimed, active, and matching your current branding?
6. Scan Your Online Reviews
Why: Reviews heavily influence purchasing decisions and local SEO.
Action: Look at your Google, Yelp, and Facebook reviews.
Are you responding? Do you need more current ones? Encourage happy customers to leave a review.
7. Use Google to Search Your Website Pages
Why: You want to see what pages are being indexed.
Action: Type site:yourdomain.com in the Google search bar.
Are all your key pages showing? If not, it may be time to review your SEO or website structure.
8. Test for Site Speed
Why: More than 60% of local searches are on mobile.
Action: Use PageSpeed Insights to see how your site performs on smartphones, computers, or tablets.
9. Do a Google Image Search for Your Business
Why: Customers are visually influenced—photos build trust.
Action: Are there high-quality branded images? If not, upload images to your website and GBP with relevant filenames and alt-text.
10. Look for Duplicate Listings
Why: Duplicate entries (especially on Google) can confuse customers and hurt rankings.
Action: If you find duplicates, request removal or merge them using the platform’s tools.
Are there any other mentions of your business?
Like business collaborations, articles about your business, maybe Yelp reviews, there are so many other instances of mentions that can be out there. Make a note of them.
Google search yourself today and see what comes up for your business. But don’t just stop with Google. Do other search engines as well, so that you can understand the impact within those searches.
Remember, Google is not the only search engine that people use. There’s Bing, Yahoo, Safari, and DuckDuckGo. Plus more!
Bonus Tip: Save and Repeat Every 6 Months
Online visibility isn’t “set it and forget it.” Things change. Repeat this audit every 6 months to stay on top of your digital presence.
Download the Free Checklist
Want to follow this as a quick-reference worksheet? Download the Free Quick Search Audit Checklist!
If you need help understanding or implementing any of this, let’s talk! See how you are seen by potential customers and what is missing to improve your online presence quickly.
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