10 Best Local Seo Courses and Certifications Online

This article aims to provide a detailed analysis of the best local SEO courses available online. Local SEO, also known as Local Search Engine Optimization, is a crucial aspect of online marketing for businesses that operate in a specific geographic region. As search engines become more refined and localized, businesses need to have a strong local SEO strategy to increase their visibility and attract more customers. With so many online courses claiming to offer the best local SEO training, it can be challenging to determine which one to choose. This article will compare and contrast different courses, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses, to help you make an informed decision.

Here’s a look at the Best Local Seo Courses and Certifications Online and what they have to offer for you!

10 Best Local Seo Courses and Certifications Online

1. Local SEO 2022 Made Simple & Fun + Google Maps & TripAdvisor by Ing. Tomas Moravek | Facebook Ads Expert, SEO, Facebook Ads & Digital Marketing Academy, Beck Robertson (Udemy) (Our Best Pick)

This course, taught by Ing. Tomas Moravek and Beck Robertson, is titled “Local SEO 2022 Made Simple & Fun + Google Maps & TripAdvisor”. It aims to provide students with the tools and knowledge necessary to become a Local SEO, Google My Business, and Copywriting pro in ten easy-to-follow steps. The course materials include quizzes, animated videos, assignments, templates, and over-the-shoulder explanations. Upon completion, students should be able to maximize local SEO traffic and sales, boost search ranking, and potentially land their dream marketing job.

The course covers a range of topics, including local SEO fundamentals, Google My Business (Google Maps) and TripAdvisor, keyword research, copywriting, the psychology of persuasion, content creation for local business, and outreach techniques. The instructors use high-quality video explainers and animated videos to demonstrate core techniques and make the learning experience easy and fun.

Local SEO is important because it helps businesses become more visible to potential customers in their physical location, with four out of five consumers now performing local searches. Google’s Local Search Ranking Factors include the location of the person searching, the number of Name Address Phone Number citations a business has, the presence of a Google My Business listing, the keywords used in a Google My Business profile, online reviews and check-ins, social media shares, and other behavioral factors like purchases. The course teaches students how to optimize for these factors and rank high in local search.

Other topics covered include setting up Google My Business and TripAdvisor listings, doing keyword research, and using and customizing content marketing templates. The course also includes helpful resources for digital nomads, and students receive a Udemy certificate of completion, lifetime access and updates, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. The course is divided into ten sections covering local SEO, Google My Business, TripAdvisor, in-depth local SEO, keyword research, copywriting, content marketing, writing assignments, outreach, and a final summary and congratulations.

2. 2022 Complete SEO Guide to Ranking Local Business Websites by Christine Maisel, Portable Entrepreneur (Udemy)

The “2022 Complete SEO Guide to Ranking Local Business Websites” course, led by course instructors Christine Maisel and Portable Entrepreneur, is a highly rated Udemy course in local SEO. This course is designed to teach viewers how to redesign and rank a client’s local business website on the first page of Google. The course is frequently updated with new training resources to ensure learners receive the latest SEO training. The course instructor is available to answer any questions learners may have.

The course content is structured in a step-by-step manner, providing viewers with a clear understanding of the SEO process. The first section of the course focuses on organizing the website and gaining insights into its health. The course then moves to researching the best keywords, analyzing competitors, and setting up demo sites. The course guides viewers through on-page optimization techniques and off-site optimization methods. The instructor provides several resources and bonus tips and tricks for learners to use.

Reviews for the course are overwhelmingly positive, with learners appreciating the clear and logical structure of the course, as well as the instructor’s guidance. By the end of the course, viewers will be fully equipped to provide local SEO services, increasing their monthly recurring income. The course covers essential topics such as maintaining current rankings, informing Google of newly designed websites, and building local citations for maximum benefit. The course provides learners with the necessary skills and knowledge to become successful in local SEO services.

3. Facebook Ads Google My Business & Google Ads (Adwords) 2022 by Yasir Ahmed, M.B.A (Udemy)

The Facebook Ads, Google My Business & Google Ads (Adwords) 2022 Course, instructed by Yasir Ahmed, M.B.A, provides an opportunity to learn the basics of Facebook marketing, creating a business presence on Google Maps and searches, and running Google PPC ads and keywords.

The course is designed for individuals with a desire to launch a career in online marketing or add a digital element to their existing marketing skill set. Students will learn to build online visibility in Google Maps and Google Search, showcase their business location, conduct a 360-degree virtual tour, and interact with customers through online reviews.

The course will teach students how to create their business listing from scratch, and provide real-life examples and step-by-step guidance. This course is valuable for anyone who wants to do their own marketing, attract local companies, and learn the most important aspects of business marketing.

The course covers a variety of topics, including Facebook marketing, Google My Business, creating a website, adding services and products to the website, creating an effective offer, business listing overview and settings, running Google Ads, and SEO crash. The course also includes a bonus lecture.

Overall, this course is ideal for individuals who want to learn social media, digital marketing, and video marketing, and for those seeking to earn good money on freelance sites.

4. Google Business Citation SEO: Local Rankings Made Easy by Zach Miller (Udemy)

The Google Business Citation SEO: Local Rankings Made Easy course, taught by instructor Zach Miller, focuses on the importance of local business listings, or citations, for improving local search engine rankings. The course emphasizes the need for business owners to actively manage their citations on various platforms including major local business data platforms, geo/industry-specific platforms, and the wider web. The course also covers the components of a citation and the potential risks and benefits of passive vs. active location data management.

A local citation is any online mention of a local business’s name, address, and phone number (NAP) on various platforms including local business directories, websites, and social media platforms. Citations can significantly impact local search engine rankings and consumers’ ability to discover and interact with local businesses. Business owners can create citations on major local business data platforms, geo/industry-specific platforms, and through supplementary citations on various publications.

The components of a citation can include a company’s NAP, business categories, hours of operation, driving directions, business description, images, videos, payment forms accepted, geo-coordinates, reviews, owner responses, taglines, links to social media and other websites, email addresses, fax numbers, and attributes. Accurate citations positively impact local search engine rankings and consumer discovery, while inaccurate citations can lead to misdirection and loss of reputation and revenue.

Active location data management is necessary for all local businesses to ensure that their citations are robust, accurate, and consistent across various platforms. Neglecting citation development and management can lead to a small/weak set of local citations, inaccurate citations, duplicate local business listings, no awareness of user or competitor edits to local business listings, and little control over how the business is represented across the web. Actively managing citations can positively impact local search engine rankings, reputation, and revenue by ensuring accurate citation data, closing duplicate listings, and managing reviews.

5. Local SEO: A Definitive Guide To Local Business Marketing by Joshua George, ClickSlice Ltd (Udemy)

The Local SEO: A Definitive Guide to Local Business Marketing course, instructed by Joshua George of ClickSlice Ltd, teaches the process of optimizing a live local business website to achieve page one rankings on Google. The course is suited for local business owners or individuals interested in starting their own local SEO agency. The course follows the same process used by the agency to generate hundreds of page one rankings for local businesses. Participants will have access to the exact spreadsheets used in the agency. The course covers keyword research, website optimization, Google My Business, citations, link building, reviews, conversion rate optimization, tracking, and additional tips. The course offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

6. SEO + Local SEO 2021 – Get More Customers From Google Search by Mark Timberlake (Udemy)

The SEO + Local SEO 2021 course, taught by Mark Timberlake, is designed to help businesses improve their search rankings and grow their online presence using up-to-date SEO techniques. The course is suitable for individuals without WordPress, and aims to guide learners through the process of improving their local and international search rankings on Google. It covers topics such as local SEO, online search marketing, and keyword optimization. The course format is presented in a simple video format with on-screen notes and screen shares throughout.

The course objectives are to show learners how to improve their search position by understanding and implementing the latest SEO techniques. It is particularly helpful for those who serve a local or international area and aim to compete in Google search with organic traffic. Additionally, marketers can benefit from specific SEO training to impact their clients’ search positions.

The course is structured to answer common SEO-related questions, such as how to improve local search rankings, rank higher in Google maps results, and get found on Google. It also covers how Google My Business works and the importance of building reviews, quality citations, backlinks, and onsite SEO.

The course is backed by Udemy’s 30-day guarantee and comes with a full refund option within the first 30 days with no questions asked. Individuals who complete this course will be able to train others, particularly those interested in local SEO.

Overall, this course is a comprehensive guide to SEO and local SEO, providing learners with step-by-step instructions and strategies to improve their search rankings and business presence online.

7. How To Get 50 Customers A Day With Local SEO! by Steven Male (Udemy)

This course, titled “How to Get 50 Customers a Day with Local SEO”, is taught by Steven Male, who is considered the top expert in Local SEO worldwide. The course promises to teach students how to acquire up to 250+ new customers per week for free using Google. The course was last updated on October 16th, 2015, and offers a full 30-day money-back guarantee.

The objective of the course is to guide businesses to the front page of Google using Google+ Local. This will boost the local search results and ultimately result in more customers visiting the website and physical store.

The course is designed to teach the exact steps required to leverage Google and get thousands of people visiting the website and store annually. It consists of five steps: Introduction to Local SEO, Getting on the Front Page, Content Marketing, Search Engine Ranking Factors, and Bonus!

Each step is important and covers different aspects of local SEO. The course also includes bonus materials that cover the most common mistakes made during optimization. The course format is simple, and all terms are explained throughout the course.

This course is intended for business owners who provide services in a local area or website owners who want more customers in their region. It is also beneficial for marketing businesses as it provides SEO training specific to Google+.

The course offers a full 30-day money-back guarantee backed by Udemy if the student is not satisfied with it for any reason. It promises to cover everything necessary to know about local SEO and leveraging Google for thousands of free, qualified, local customers each year.

8. Local SEO (Search Engine Optimization) – Rank Well On Google by Croxton MBA (Udemy)

The Local SEO (Search Engine Optimization) – Rank Well On Google course is designed to teach small business owners and consultants how to rank their websites on Google’s local “3” pack as well as in the traditional search engine. The course covers various topics including managing a Google My Business account, getting Google reviews, on-page optimization, technical SEO, link building, and content marketing. The course is organized into sections that will impact rankings the most, with advanced material making up 20% of critical information.

The course begins with an overview of local SEO and an introduction to Google’s local search platform. It then delves deeper into local search and covers managing a Google My Business account, obtaining Google reviews, and understanding the importance of citations. On-page optimization and technical SEO are discussed, along with link building and creating local content for a website. The final section of the course brings everything together to create an effective local SEO strategy.

The course is based on the experience of the course instructors, Croxton MBA, and aims to help small business owners and consultants rank well on Google, attract many reviews, and increase traffic and leads to their website. The material is geared towards what will impact rankings the most, with advanced material making up 20% of critical information. Overall, the Local SEO course is a comprehensive guide for those looking to improve their website’s visibility on Google’s search engine.

9. #1 Local SEO Strategy: Google Map SEO & Google My Business by Alex Genadinik (Udemy)

This course, entitled #1 Local SEO Strategy: Google Map SEO & Google My Business, led by Alex Genadinik, offers comprehensive instruction on how to create an ideal Google My Business local listing and dominate in Google Map SEO. The primary focus of this course is local SEO (search engine optimization), which is a highly effective local marketing strategy for nearly all local businesses. A key component of local SEO is the Google Map 3-pack SEO, which refers to the organic results that appear next to the Google map.

The course covers the following key topics:
1) How to get ahead of the competition in the Google My Business 3-pack ranking organically and for free,
2) How to run local search ads.

Local SEO is vital for local businesses, which typically offer services or products that people search for, such as gyms or restaurants. Consequently, local business owners must be vigilant about local SEO to ensure they rank #1 for their keywords and remain in that position. While many local businesses hire local SEO freelancers or agencies, this course provides the necessary guidance to manage local SEO in-house.

Google My Business is the primary platform that local businesses must use to list their businesses on Google Maps and compete in local SEO. Upon registration for Google My Business, a business will have its listing appear on the Google map, with many businesses experiencing high Google Map SEO rankings within weeks of registration.

Alex Genadinik, the course instructor, has extensive experience as an entrepreneur and has coached over 1,000 entrepreneurs in person, taught over 100,000 students, and created 6 and 7-figure businesses. He shares his expertise in local marketing and local SEO, emphasizing the importance of the local 3-pack SEO. Furthermore, Genadinik is responsive to student questions and provides world-class student support.

10. Local SEO: Create & Run Your Own Local SEO Campaign by Gary Shouldis (Udemy)

The Local SEO: Create & Run Your Own Local SEO Campaign course, instructed by Gary Shouldis, is designed for small business owners who want to learn Local SEO that marketing agencies charge thousands for. The course addresses the importance of having a strong online presence for a local business, as almost everyone turns to the internet to find and evaluate a local business.

According to statistics, 97% of consumers searched online to find a local business in their area, and 88% of consumer local business searches on a mobile device either call or visit the business within 24 hours. Furthermore, 97% of people find out more about a local company through the internet before making a decision in 2018.

The course teaches small business owners how to run their own Local SEO campaigns in just a few hours a month and save thousands each month that they would have to pay a marketing agency for the same results. It emphasizes that Local SEO isn’t rocket science, but there are a lot of different parts that make up Local SEO, and small business owners need to understand what they are and how they work together.

By the end of the course, students will learn how Local SEO works, how to optimize their website, Google My Business listing, and 3rd party review sites, how online reviews work, how to create a killer content strategy, how to keep their Local SEO optimized and growing with just a few hours of maintenance each month, and how to analyze their local data in Google Analytics and Google My Business to make smarter marketing decisions.

The course is divided into different sections, including Introduction to Local SEO, Optimizing Your Google My Business Listing, Getting More Clicks To Your Google My Business Listing, Better Rankings With Technical SEO, Crafting Your Content, Building Citations, Customer Reviews, Social Media & Local SEO, Barnacle SEO, Analytics & Analyzing Your Results, and Wrapup & Additional Tips.