Executive Summary (TL;DR)

• Local rankings in 2026 hinge on GBP entity quality, review velocity & diversity, on-page entities (services + neighborhoods), topical authority clusters, and real-world prominence signals (citations, PR, offline events).
• Prioritize the Priority 10 below; aim for 85/100 audit score in 60 days, 95+ in 120 days.
• Design for AI Overviews / generative answers: concise “What/Where/Price/Proof” blocks, structured data, and sources other sites like to cite.

Austin Local SEO: Priority 10 (Do These First)

1. GBP NAP Integrity: Exact legal name, local number, street address formatting, service-area boundaries, no keyword stuffing.
2. Primary Category Precision: One exact primary; 2–4 secondaries that match services sold in Austin.
3. Review Ops Engine: 10–20 new reviews/month, photo + keyword cues, owner replies within 48 hours.
4. Service Pages by Intent: “Service in Austin” + sub-neighborhoods (Round Rock, Cedar Park, Pflugerville, Georgetown, Kyle) with unique offers & proof.
5. Entity-Rich On-Page: FAQs, pricing ballparks, landmarks, cross-streets, “near me” language used naturally.
6. Local Citations: Core (GMB/GBP, Apple, Bing, Yelp) + Austin chambers, trade orgs, niche directories.
7. Topical Hub + Clusters: 1 pillar per service, 5–8 supporting posts each; internal links with descriptive anchors.
8. Media & PR: Sponsor a local meetup/charity; secure 2–3 Austin-domain backlinks/quarter.
9. Page Experience: CWV pass (LCP <2.5s, INP <200ms), fast mobile, click-to-call, map embed, parking info.
10. Tracking & QA: UTM on GBP, call tracking, conversion goals; monthly rank-grid audit (3×3 miles).

2026 Local Ranking Weighting (Practical Model)

Weights are a practical model to prioritize effort; search systems evolve—review quarterly.

Austin Local SEO: 36-Point Checklist (2026)

Self-Audit Scorecard (Out of 100)

Win condition: 85+ in 60 days; 95+ sustained with quarterly PR.

60-Day Austin Execution Plan (Hands-On)

1. Week 1–2: GBP cleanup; add services, attributes, photos; enable messaging; UTM all GBP links. Create Austin hub page.
2. Week 3–4: Publish 3 service pages + 5 FAQs each; embed map; collect 15 reviews; build core citations.
3. Week 5–6: Launch 2 content clusters (5 posts each) targeting neighborhoods and real queries; internal link all.
4. Week 7–8: Sponsor one local meetup/event; pitch 2 case studies to Austin media; add 10 new photos to GBP.
5. Week 9–10: Review campaign: 20 asks/week; template owner replies; address all Q&A; expand service area as relevant.
6. Week 11–12: Rank-grid audit (3×3 miles), adjust anchors, add comparison tables; optimize CWV from logs.

Conversion Blocks You Should Add

• Pricing card: “From $X – transparent, no surprises” + financing/EMI if offered.
• Proof block: license number, insurance proof, awards, associations.
• Logistics: hours, parking, wheelchair access, service radius map, emergency availability.
• Fast contact: sticky call, WhatsApp, SMS, 60-sec quote form.

Operational Templates (Copy/Paste)

Thanks for choosing {{Business}} in Austin today. Mind sharing a quick review?
{{ShortLink}} — It really helps neighbors find us. Appreciate you! – {{Owner}}

Headline: Summer Tune-Up – Austin Homes
Body: Keep things running smooth. $XX off this week only. Book online in 60 seconds.
CTA: Book
Link: {{UTM_Landing_URL}}

?utm_source=google_business_profile&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=local_austin_2026&utm_content={{cta}}

FAQs (Austin 2026)

Contact & Service Area

Austin · Round Rock · Cedar Park · Georgetown · Pflugerville · Kyle

WhatsApp • Call • Contact Form

Notes: This 2026 checklist reflects durable local search practices. Verify any platform policy updates quarterly. Avoid prohibited tactics (fake reviews, virtual offices without staff, keyword-stuffed names).