Whether you’re a single SMB with a local area to serve, ot whether you’re a big name brand in the franchise world with hundreds or even thousands of local outlets, then understanding the difference between regular SEO practices and the more finely nuanced approach to local SEO is so important.

It’s vital to getting that coveted position in Google’s map pack. That’s those three prominent listings that appear complete with a map showing your location when a user searches with local business intent.

I mentioned a “finely nuanced” approach there as there are many “must do’s” in local search to achieve maximum visibility. And, as you’ll discover, there just as many “don’t do’s” unless you want to obliterate yourself from view completely by getting penalized.

What else do you need to know? What about third-party services providing directory listings? What do you need to have in the local SEO toolbox to help things along? And what are the newer, upcoming new features in local search that will provide a richer content experience?

I have three of the industry’s brightest minds in the field of Local SEO to answer these questions and many more.