Best Local SEO Courses (Free & Paid)

Local SEO courses are a valuable tool for anyone hoping to attract and convert local customers online.

They’ll teach you the basics of getting leads most likely to make a purchase in your area.

If you’re shipping products locally or offering services to nearby clients, local SEO is a must-have. Often, refining your SEO with geographical boundaries improves your marketing ROI, and increases conversions.

Of course, just like many aspects of SEO, the rules of local SEO are constantly updating and one of the best ways to stay in sync is to enroll in a good course.

In this article, we’ll review the best local SEO courses available online to keep you on the cutting edge.

The time investment to go through a course is a couple of hours but the benefits for your local business are endless.

Some of the courses come with a certification which is a great addition to your CV if you want to start a career as a local SEO specialist.

Top 10 Best Local SEO Courses

1. Local SEO Course
2. Learning Local SEO Course
3. Local SEO Business Marketing
4. Ranking Local Business Websites
5. Local SEO Course by Semrush
6. Local SEO Training by Yoast
7. Local SEO Keyword Research
8. Local SEO Fundamentals
9. Local SEO: Put Your Business On The Map
10. Local SEO Unlocked

1. Local SEO Course

First on the list is the Local SEO course by Reliablesoft Academy. The course is part of the Complete SEO Course which includes everything you ever need to know about SEO.

In the Local SEO lesson, you’ll learn what local SEO is, how it’s different from general SEO, and how to fully optimize your website for the best possible results.

Why enroll in this course?

This course will help you learn Local SEO in the best possible way and the main reasons are:

• It explains how to correctly approach local SEO optimization. Local SEO is part of SEO and to get results you first need to work on other aspects of SEO and then on local.
• It includes a local SEO checklist you can use as a reference while working on your website or a client’s website.
• It comes with an SEO Certification (need to pass the SEO exam to get certified).
• The course author has more than 15 years of experience in doing SEO work for local businesses.

With your enrollment, you get lifetime access and updates as well as a 60-day money-back guarantee.

2. Learning Local SEO Course

Delivered by Digital Marketing Professional Sherry Bonelli, the “learning local SEO” course on LinkedIn Learning is a great educational tool. Sherry, as the owner of Early Bird digital marketing, shares her experiences using local SEO in the advertising world.

You’ll learn the difference between local and general SEO, and why it’s so important to master Google My Business. Sherry also talks learners through the anatomy of the local search results, and which ranking factors will affect your business.

Why enroll in this course?

Sherry’s easy-to-follow instruction is great for beginners. You don’t just discover what local SEO is here, but also gain actionable insights into how you can use local optimization correctly.

Sherry even explores the process of identifying local keywords for your business. This course:

• Explores the basics of local SEO
• Describes local SEO ranking factors
• Helps you to identify local keywords
• Offers insights from a real business owner

3. Local SEO Business Marketing

Hosted by Skillshare, “Local SEO” is a definitive guide to all things local online marketing. Josh George, a veteran digital marketing consultant, covers things like why local SEO is important, and how you can use it.

You’ll discover tips for optimizing both your website and your Google My Business listing. There’s also extensive guidance on using competitor analysis for growth.

As the founder of ClickSlice, Josh George is more than qualified to offer behind-the-scenes insights into marketing. His easy-to-consume local SEO classes will walk you through the basics of creating your own campaigns.

Why enroll in this course?

The Skillshare local SEO course offers a great combination of comprehensive training, and simple, bite-sized classes. You’ll learn how to optimize each part of your online presence for a local audience.

Plus, there are tips on how to keep Google on your side. You’ll discover:

• How to improve local presence with reviews
• How to convert visitors into calls and inquiries
• How to build local citations for better search results
• Where you need to optimize your presence for local SEO

4. Ranking Local Business Websites

Udemy is one of my go-to suggestions for online learning these days. The “Complete SEO Guide” for local SEO is one of the top examples of high-quality content you can get here.

Created by Christine Maisel, this course is currently ranked among the top local SEO classes on Udemy.

Christine makes understanding local SEO easier than ever. You’ll learn which information you should be collecting from local clients to boost your brand.

Christine also shares how to track your work and business growth, and how to maintain your rankings after a redesign.

Why enroll in this course?

Christine’s classes cover topics most local SEO training solutions overlook, such as how to monitor site rankings after redesigning.

You can also learn how to do a regular website ranking “health check” – something I’d recommend for any site owner. With this course, you:

• Access top-level step-by-step guidance from a professional instructor
• Learn how to research keywords and conduct competitor analysis
• How to use images and schema to improve rankings
• How to keep Google informed on your pages

5. Local SEO Course by Semrush

Most people know SEMRush as a powerful tool for search engine analytics. However, it’s also a great place to stock up on courses too.

The free local SEO course offered by Greg Gifford offers more than 17 years of experience, in the form of a simple training experience. Greg splits his classes into 10 sessions, covering about 1 hour in total.

Though a little simple for some advanced business owners, the local SEO course by Greg Gifford is great for beginners. You learn the basics of how local ranking factors work, and what kind of content will impact your online presence.

Why enroll in this course?

Greg’s easy-to-follow local SEO classes address everything from how you can use citations, to the importance of reviews in local SEO.

Through a series of ten bite-sized lessons, you’ll master things like Google my Business, and how to track SEO reports. Through these lessons, you’ll:

• Learn about the ranking factors most essential to your local business
• Discover the benefits of Google posts and Q&A
• Get actionable insights into the power of reviews
• Enjoy fully immersive written and video content

6. Local SEO Training by Yoast

Yoast is one of the biggest names in the SEO market. Known for its high-quality WordPress plugin, Yoast knows exactly what it takes to rank high online.

The local SEO training course offered by Yoast teaches you how to enhance your online presence in no time. You’ll discover what it really takes to get your business in front of your audience.

One of the best things about this course is how actionable the guidance is. You’ll discover how to set up your local SEO strategy from scratch.

There are even quizzes to challenge your knowledge about local optimization as you learn.

Why enroll in this course?

I’d always recommend Yoast’s plugin as an SEO booster for any WordPress website. It only makes sense they’d also offer a great tool for local SEO training.

You even get insights directly from the CEO, CPO, and COO of the Yoast company. With lessons like this, you’ll be building your own local SEO strategy sooner than you’d think. This course offers:

• Expert insights from Yoast’s C-Suite of executives
• Quizzes, PDF files, and videos to walk you through the basics of local SEO
• Step-by-step guidance on everything from Google My Business to keyword choice
• Guidance on using the Yoast plugin for local SEO

7. Local SEO Keyword Research

A great source of online education, the BrightLocal academy is a popular choice, for learning about SEO.

The free local SEO course is specially designed for beginners, so if you haven’t tackled local SEO before, this could be a great choice for you.

Delivered by search expert Claire Carlile, this local SEO course covers all the basics.

You’ll learn how to research keywords relevant to your local audience, how to build your campaign, and how to optimize your website. There’s even a set of quizzes to “test your knowledge” as you learn.

Why enroll in this course?

The Local SEO keyword research course from BrightLocal offers an easy entry point into the world of local optimization. If you need to get your mind out of the “global search” landscape, these lessons will help you to do that.

Each section is easy to follow, with no complex jargon to catch you off guard. With this course you can:

• Learn about the different types of local SEO keywords
• Discover what the term “keywords” really means
• Write your own keyword seed list and find out how to expand it
• Access insights into how to use your SEO data

8. Local SEO Fundamentals

Local SEO Fundamentals from Moz academy gives you a behind-the-scenes insight into SEO mastery. Moz is one of the better-known brands in the marketing world, so you can rest assured you’re getting excellent instruction here.

The local SEO fundamentals course is one of the most comprehensive “entry” training options I’ve seen so far.

With this self-paced online course, you’ll discover how to audit business listings and webpages from SEO. There’s also advice on how to understand search intent, and how to find ways of outshining the competition.

By the time you’re done learning, you’ll have 6 different local SEO strategies to use.

Why enroll in this course?

Packed full of information, the Moz Local SEO Fundamentals course offers extensive local SEO training, without the complexity. You don’t need any Moz software to use the course. The strategies you learn are suitable regardless of which tools you use.

Though there’s quite a lot of content to consume here, you can take the course at your own pace. With this training you can:

• Learn all about search intent, and how it influences local SEO
• Explore multiple local SEO strategies for different business models
• Explore listings, and listing propagation
• Conduct your own local SEO audit

9. Local SEO: Put Your Business On The Map

Delivered by the freelancing professionals at Fiverr, this local SEO course promises to help beginners discover the benefits of local optimization.

The course, which breaks down into 10 chapters, is presented by Alastair Dunstan. Dunstan is an SEO expert and a successful agency owner.

As Alastair guides you through your lessons, you’ll gain skills in keyword research, learn how to conduct competitor research, and more.

There are insights into building local citations and optimizing your site for Google my Business. Dunstan even covers off-site SEO basics, and tips on how to source backlinks.

Why enroll in this course?

Though simple enough for beginners to understand, this Fiverr course actually goes beyond some of the more basic lessons on the market.

You’ll learn about important local SEO strategies with genuine real-world examples to guide you. There are even actionable tasks, quizzes, and downloadable files to get you engaged in learning. With this course you’ll:

• Perform on-site and off-site SEO strategies to boost your rankings
• Conduct keyword and competitor research tailored to local SEO
• Optimize your Google my Business listings and citations
• Look for opportunities to source backlinks

10. Local SEO Unlocked

Easily one of the most highly-rated local SEO training options of all time, Local SEO Unlocked comes straight from industry leader Neil Patel. This free local SEO course provides behind-the-scenes insights from one of the world’s best-known marketing influencers. You also get a host of handy downloads to help walk you through the training.

Neil’s course is an easy-to-access solution for beginners, designed to tell you everything you need to know about local signals and Google my Business.

Delivered by a local SEO expert, this course covers everything from on and off-page optimization, to content development.

Why enroll in this course?

While you might not get any local SEO certifications here, you will learn skills from a leader in search engine optimization.

Neil promises to share his secret recipe within this course, so everyone can master the benefits of local SEO. Plus, the videos are highly engaging, entertaining, and easy enough to follow. With this course, you’ll:

• Learn from a local SEO expert
• Discover the importance of on-site and off-site optimization
• Explore how different ranking factors work
• Build your own local optimization plan using Neil’s secret recipe

How to Choose the Best Local SEO Course?

The best local SEO course isn’t a one-size-fits-all thing. While there are countless courses out there capable of expanding your skills and knowledge, it helps to know what you really need before you enroll. Here are some points to consider:

Difficulty level: If you’re just getting started with local SEO, it’s usually best to start with a basic course covering the foundations. Once you know what local SEO is, and which ranking factors affect your position, you’ll be prepared to start exploring SEO strategies.

Avoid jumping into any local SEO classes with advanced concepts too quickly.

Teaching methods: Everyone learns differently, so find the course structure that suits you. The Local SEO classes mentioned above include a variety of learning options. You can find solutions built mostly around written guides and eBooks, or you can opt for video courses.

Expertise: Make sure you can trust your SEO course to deliver the best education, from an experienced professional.

Learning from a local SEO expert with real experience in the marketing field often leads to the best results. Try and learn a little about the person who’s going to lead the course before you enroll.

Local SEO certifications: If you’re investing in local SEO training to improve your marketing resume or attract new digital clients, certification is key. Most courses featuring their own local SEO certifications are “premium” lessons with a cost attached to them.

Make sure the certification you get is widely recognized and respected before investing.

Course coverage: If there’s something specific you want to learn from your local SEO course, look for that in the course curriculum. For instance, you might want your local SEO classes to revolve mostly around keyword and competitor research.

There are plenty of things to learn when it comes to local SEO. So, make sure the course is relevant to you.

Conclusion

In today’s age of exploding online education, it’s easier than ever to learn local SEO. The key to success is simply finding the course most likely to enrich your mind and expand your skills.

The table below shows a list of the best local SEO courses and their associated costs.

With the ten options for local SEO training above, you should find plenty of great insights and education. Good luck taking your local SEO strategy to the next level!