Your local customers are searching for businesses like yours right now. They want directions, opening hours, and a way to contact you. If your business doesn’t show up in Google Maps or local search results, you’re handing those customers to your competitors.
The Yoast Local SEO plugin gives you the tools to fix this. It adds structured data to your WordPress site, creates location pages with embedded maps, and tells Google exactly where your business operates. You get better visibility in local search without needing technical expertise.
This guide walks you through everything. You’ll see what features the plugin offers, how pricing works, and whether it’s right for your business. Then we’ll cover the complete setup process from installing the plugin to configuring your business locations and optimizing your pages for local search. By the end, you’ll have a website that helps nearby customers find you when they need what you offer.
What is Yoast Local SEO and who is it for
The Yoast Local SEO plugin is a WordPress extension that helps brick-and-mortar businesses rank in local search results and appear on Google Maps. It automates the technical work of adding structured data to your website, which tells search engines exactly where your business operates, when you’re open, and how customers can reach you. The plugin works alongside Yoast SEO Premium to handle the specific requirements of local search optimization.
How the plugin works
Yoast Local SEO creates dedicated location pages on your WordPress site with embedded maps, address details, and opening hours. It outputs Schema.org structured data automatically, so Google can display your business information in search results, the Knowledge Panel, and Google Maps. You don’t need to understand code or technical SEO to make this work. The plugin handles everything from generating a local sitemap to formatting your business address correctly for search engines.
The system supports single locations and multiple business locations with the same setup process. Each location gets its own landing page that customers can bookmark, share, or use for directions.
Local structured data helps search engines understand your business location, contact information, and service area without requiring manual coding.
Who should use this plugin
This plugin works best for service businesses with physical locations where customers visit in person. Restaurants, retail stores, medical practices, salons, auto repair shops, and professional service offices all benefit from the features. If customers need to find you on a map or check your hours before visiting, you need local SEO optimization.
Multi-location businesses get the most value because the plugin creates separate pages for each location with consistent formatting and accurate structured data. You can manage dozens of locations from one dashboard instead of building individual pages manually. Small businesses with one location still benefit from improved visibility in local search results and the ability to show up when nearby customers search for your services.
Step 1. Review features, pros and pricing
Before you install anything, you need to understand what you’re getting and whether it fits your budget. The Yoast Local SEO plugin includes specific features for location-based businesses that standard SEO plugins don’t offer. You’ll also need to know the pricing structure and any requirements before you commit.
Core features for local search
The plugin creates location pages that include embedded Google Maps, contact information, and opening hours all in one place. You can add this information using shortcodes, blocks in the WordPress editor, or widgets in your sidebar. Each location page gets its own structured data markup that tells Google exactly where you operate, what services you provide, and when customers can visit.
Your website automatically generates a local sitemap in the proper format that search engines expect. This sitemap lists all your business locations with coordinates, making it easier for Google to index and display your locations correctly. The plugin also handles address formatting for different countries, so your business information appears consistently whether you operate in the US, UK, or elsewhere.
Structured data markup increases your chances of appearing in Google’s Knowledge Panel and local pack results by providing search engines with clear business information.
Store locator functionality lets customers find your nearest location by entering their zip code or address. The search results show distance, directions, and relevant details for each location. You can customize the map appearance with different styles (roadmap, satellite, terrain) and add custom markers that match your brand.
What you get versus limitations
The Yoast Local SEO plugin requires both Yoast SEO and Yoast SEO Premium as dependencies, which means you can’t use it standalone. This increases your total cost but gives you access to the full Yoast ecosystem including content analysis, internal linking suggestions, and redirect management. The combined setup works well if you need comprehensive SEO tools beyond just local optimization.
Multiple location support works through a custom post type that lets you manage dozens or hundreds of locations from one dashboard. Each location can have unique opening hours, contact information, and service areas. However, you need to manually enter this data for each location, which takes time if you’re migrating from another system or setting up many locations at once.
The plugin outputs Schema.org markup automatically, but you can’t customize the schema types beyond what the plugin provides. Most local businesses fit the available options (LocalBusiness, Restaurant, MedicalBusiness, etc.), but niche business types might not have perfect schema matches.
Pricing breakdown
Yoast Local SEO comes bundled with Yoast SEO Premium at $118.80 per year (before tax) for a single site. This price includes the Local SEO extension, Video SEO, and News SEO along with premium support. You can’t purchase Local SEO separately, which means you pay for the full premium package regardless of which features you need.
Agency or multi-site licenses cost more based on the number of sites you manage. The pricing increases to $238.80 per year for three sites and $478.80 per year for ten sites. These tiers make sense if you manage multiple client websites or run several business locations on separate domains.
Step 2. Install and connect Yoast Local SEO
You need to install the Yoast Local SEO plugin before you can optimize your business for local search. The installation process requires Yoast SEO and Yoast SEO Premium already active on your WordPress site. If you haven’t installed those yet, do that first because the local plugin won’t work without them as dependencies.
Download the plugin from MyYoast
Your MyYoast account gives you access to all premium plugins included with your subscription. Log in to MyYoast and navigate to the Downloads section where you’ll find the yoast local seo plugin file ready for download. Click the download button to save the ZIP file to your computer, then keep that file location handy for the next step.
The plugin file comes as a compressed ZIP archive that you’ll upload directly to WordPress. Don’t extract or unzip the file on your computer. WordPress handles the extraction automatically during installation.
Follow these steps to upload and activate:
- Open your WordPress dashboard and go to Plugins > Add New
- Click the Upload Plugin button at the top of the page
- Choose the ZIP file you downloaded from MyYoast
- Click Install Now and wait for the upload to complete
- Click Activate Plugin when the installation finishes
The Local SEO plugin creates a new custom post type for locations immediately after activation, which appears in your WordPress admin menu.
Connect your subscription to your site
Your license activation happens through the site connection feature in MyYoast. Return to your MyYoast account and navigate to the Sites section where you manage all your WordPress installations. Click the Add a Site button and enter your website URL exactly as it appears in your browser’s address bar.
Toggle the subscription switch to On for your newly added site. This connects your Yoast SEO Premium subscription to your WordPress installation and unlocks all premium features including Local SEO functionality. The connection verifies automatically within a few seconds.
Your WordPress admin dashboard now displays Yoast SEO and Local SEO as separate menu items in the left sidebar. The Local SEO menu gives you access to all location management features, settings, and configuration options that control how your business information appears in search results.
Step 3. Configure business info and locations
Your business information forms the foundation of local search visibility. The Yoast Local SEO plugin stores this data in a centralized settings panel and outputs it as structured data that search engines use to display your business in local results. You need to fill in accurate details for every field because incomplete information reduces your chances of appearing in Google Maps and the local pack.
Access the business info settings
Navigate to Yoast SEO in your WordPress dashboard and click on Local SEO to open the configuration panel. The settings area displays five tabs: Business info, Opening hours, Maps settings, API key, and Advanced settings. You’ll spend most of your time in the Business info tab, which controls how your location information appears across your website and in search results.
The first toggle asks whether your business has multiple locations. Switch this to No if you operate from a single address. Switch it to Yes if you have multiple storefronts, offices, or service locations. This choice determines which fields and options appear in the rest of your configuration.
Enter your single location details
Single location businesses enter all information directly in the Business info tab. Start by clicking the link to set up your company name and logo under Site representation. This information appears in Google’s Knowledge Panel when customers search for your business by name.
Fill in the following required fields:
- Business name: Your legal business name as it appears on official documents
- Street address: Physical location where customers visit you
- City, State, ZIP: Complete address details for accurate map placement
- Business type: Select the category that best describes your business (restaurant, retail store, medical practice, etc.)
- Phone number: Primary contact number customers use to reach you
- Email address: Customer service or general inquiry email
Add optional information to improve your local SEO results:
- Price range: Use $ symbols to indicate your typical pricing level
- Area served: List cities, counties, or regions where you provide services
- VAT ID or Tax ID: Include if you operate in countries that require this
- Payment methods: Specify what forms of payment you accept
Complete business information increases your eligibility for rich results and enhanced listings in Google’s local search features.
Configure multiple business locations
Businesses with multiple locations switch the toggle to Yes, which creates a new Locations custom post type in your WordPress menu. Click Locations in your sidebar to access the management screen where you add each physical location as a separate post. Each location page functions as a landing page customers can bookmark or share.
Set your primary location from the dropdown menu under shared business info. This should be your headquarters or main office. The plugin uses this information to output the correct organizational schema for your business structure. Shared business information like your website URL, business type, and email address automatically applies to all locations unless you override it for specific posts.
Step 4. Set opening hours and Google Maps
Your customers need to know when you’re open and how to find you on a map. The Yoast Local SEO plugin handles both of these requirements through dedicated settings tabs. Accurate opening hours appear in Google search results and your location pages, while properly configured maps help customers navigate directly to your business.
Configure your opening hours schedule
Click the Opening hours tab in your Local SEO settings panel. Single location businesses enter their schedule directly in this section, while multiple location businesses choose between shared hours or individual schedules for each location. Toggle the opening hours visibility to On if you want this information displayed on your website and in search results.
You control several display options that affect how customers see your schedule:
- 24h format: Switch between 12-hour (9:00 AM) and 24-hour (09:00) time display
- Open 24/7: Enable this if your business never closes
- Two sets of hours: Activate this for businesses with split shifts (morning and evening hours with a midday closure)
- Hide closed days: Remove non-operating days from public display
Enter your operating hours for each day of the week using the dropdown menus. Set days to "closed" if you don’t operate on specific days. The plugin automatically formats this data as Schema.org structured data that search engines use to display your hours in local search results.
Consistent opening hours across your website, Google Business Profile, and local directories improve your local search rankings and prevent customer confusion.
Add your Google Maps API key
Navigate to the API key tab to connect your Google Maps account. You need a valid Google Maps API key to display embedded maps on your location pages and enable the route planning feature. Without this key, maps won’t load and customers can’t get directions.
Generate your API key by visiting the Google Cloud Console and creating a new project. Enable the Maps JavaScript API and Geocoding API for your project, then copy the generated key string. Paste this key into the API key field in your Yoast Local SEO plugin settings and click Save changes.
Customize map display settings
The Maps settings tab becomes active after you add your API key. Set your preferred measurement system to either kilometers or miles based on your location and customer base. Choose a default map style from four options: roadmap, satellite, hybrid, or terrain. Each style serves different purposes depending on whether customers need street navigation or geographic context.
Upload a custom marker image (100×100 pixels) to replace the default Google pin with your logo or brand icon. Configure the store locator by setting the maximum number of results displayed and selecting your primary country for location searches. Enable marker clustering if you have multiple locations close together, which groups nearby pins with a number indicator instead of overlapping markers on the map.
Step 5. Optimize location pages for local SEO
Your location pages need more than just maps and contact information to rank well in local search results. The Yoast Local SEO plugin creates the technical foundation with structured data, but you still need to add unique content that helps search engines understand what makes each location different. This step transforms basic location pages into powerful local search assets that attract customers searching for services in specific areas.
Add location-specific content to each page
Each location page requires unique written content that describes the specific services, team members, or features available at that address. Write at least 300 words of original text that mentions the neighborhood name, nearby landmarks, and local details customers care about. This content signals to Google that your page provides value beyond generic business information repeated across multiple locations.
Include details that answer common customer questions for each specific location. Describe parking availability, public transportation access, or unique features of that particular storefront. Mention the local team members by name if appropriate, and highlight any location-specific services or specialties. This approach prevents duplicate content issues while giving customers genuinely useful information about each location.
Location-specific content that references neighborhoods, local landmarks, and unique features helps your pages rank for geo-modified search queries like "dentist near Central Park" or "coffee shop downtown Portland."
Use shortcodes to display business information
The Yoast Local SEO plugin provides shortcode functionality that embeds your business details anywhere in your content. Place these shortcodes in your location page content to display formatted information without manually typing addresses or hours repeatedly. The shortcodes pull data directly from your plugin settings, so updates to your business information automatically reflect across all pages.
Add the address shortcode to display your location details:
[wpseo_address id="237" show_state="1" show_country="1" show_phone="1" show_email="1"]
Embed a map with route planner functionality:
[wpseo_map id="237" width="600" height="400" zoom="15" show_route="1"]
Display your opening hours in a formatted table:
[wpseo_opening_hours id="237" hide_closed="1"]
Replace the id parameter with your actual location ID number from the Locations custom post type. Find this number in your WordPress dashboard under Locations by viewing the URL when editing a specific location post.
Optimize meta titles and descriptions
Your location page meta title needs to include the city or neighborhood name along with your primary service. Format your titles to match how customers actually search for local businesses. Use the Yoast SEO meta box at the bottom of each location page editor to customize these fields without affecting your page content.
Write meta descriptions that mention your exact address, nearby cross streets, and a compelling reason to visit. Include your primary phone number in the description so customers can call directly from search results on mobile devices. Keep descriptions under 155 characters to prevent truncation in Google’s search snippets.
Examples of effective local meta titles:
- "Joe’s Auto Repair | Downtown Seattle | Import Specialist"
- "Sunrise Dental | Family Dentist in Austin, TX | New Patients Welcome"
- "Fresh Market Grocery | Brooklyn Heights Location | Organic Produce"
Format your URL slug to include the location identifier like /locations/seattle-downtown/ or /offices/austin-tx/. Clean, descriptive URLs help both search engines and customers understand what each page represents before clicking through from search results.
Next steps for your local SEO
You’ve configured the yoast local seo plugin and optimized your location pages with the right structured data. Your business now appears in local search results with accurate maps, hours, and contact information that help customers find you. The technical foundation works, but ongoing optimization keeps your rankings strong and brings more local traffic to your site.
Monitor your Google Business Profile to ensure consistency between your website data and your Google listing. Update your location pages when hours change, services expand, or new team members join. Add fresh content regularly that mentions local events, neighborhood updates, or customer success stories. Customer reviews on Google and other platforms boost your local search visibility, so develop a system to request and respond to feedback.
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