How to Build a Local SEO Strategy from Scratch with Claude

A new dentist opening a practice in a competitive Dallas suburb needs a local SEO strategy before they open. They have a GBP set up but nothing else — no citations, no reviews, minimal website optimization.

Starting with the Competitive Landscape

Before strategy, understand what you’re entering.

Step 1 prompt:

"What does the local search landscape look like for dentists in Frisco TX?
Who is in the top 3 for 'dentist Frisco TX'? What does it take to compete?"

What Claude returns:

Local Search Landscape: Dentists in Frisco TX

MARKET CHARACTERISTICS
Competition level: HIGH
Established players: 5+ practices with 200+ reviews
Average top 3 reviews: 187
Average top 3 GBP completeness: 91%
Average top 3 Domain Rating: 32

TOP 3 CURRENT RANKING
1. [Dentist A] | 4.9★ | 312 reviews | DR 38 | Est. 2015
2. [Dentist B] | 4.8★ | 203 reviews | DR 29 | Est. 2018
3. [Dentist C] | 4.7★ | 156 reviews | DR 27 | Est. 2019

WHAT IT TAKES TO COMPETE
Reviews: 150+ to be competitive
GBP completeness: 90%+ is table stakes
Authority: DR 25+ helps, not strictly required
Timeline to top 3: 9-18 months for a new practice
Quick wins matter: Execute perfectly from day one

The Keyword Strategy

Step 2 prompt:

"Do local keyword research for a new dental practice in Frisco TX.
What keywords should we target in the first 90 days vs. 6-12 months?"

What Claude returns:

Local Keyword Strategy: New Dental Practice — Frisco TX

90-DAY KEYWORDS (achievable for new practice)

Primary (high volume, competitive):
- "dentist frisco tx" (720/mo) — long-term target
- "frisco dentist" (590/mo) — long-term target

Secondary (lower competition, faster wins):
- "dentist near [neighborhood]" — focus on immediate area
- "[specific service] dentist frisco" — less competitive
- "new patients dentist frisco" — specific intent

Long-tail (quick wins):
- "weekend dentist frisco tx" (90/mo) — if you offer
- "emergency dentist frisco" (170/mo) — if you offer
- "pediatric dentist frisco tx" (140/mo) — if applicable

6-12 MONTH KEYWORDS (after establishing presence)

Competitive primary:
- "dentist frisco tx" — full competition
- "frisco dental office" — broader terms

Service-specific:
- "invisalign frisco tx" (320/mo)
- "teeth whitening frisco" (110/mo)
- "dental implants frisco" (90/mo)

KEYWORD PRIORITY
90 days: Focus on long-tail and service-specific
6 months: Expand to secondary terms
12 months: Compete for primary keywords

The 90-Day Launch Plan

Step 3 prompt:

"Build a 90-day local SEO launch plan for [Business Name] in Frisco TX.
We launch in 30 days. Prioritize what gets the fastest results."

What Claude returns:

90-Day Local SEO Launch Plan: [Business Name] — Frisco TX

BEFORE OPENING (Days 1-30)
Foundation work — no visibility without this:

WEEK 1
□ GBP Profile completion (Day 1-2)
  - Primary category: Dentist
  - Secondary categories: Cosmetic Dentist, Pediatric Dentist, Emergency Dental Service
  - All attributes checked
  - Business description (150-200 words, include "Frisco" naturally)
  - Hours set including lunch break handling

□ Photos (Day 3-5)
  - Exterior: 2-3 shots
  - Interior: 5-7 shots (waiting room, operatories, equipment)
  - Team: Professional headshots of all staff
  - Total: 15-20 photos minimum

WEEK 2
□ Citation foundation (Day 8-14)
  - Submit to 4 data aggregators (Factual, Neustar, Foursquare, Data Axle)
  - Submit to top 10 tier-2 directories
  - Ensure NAP consistency across all

□ Website local optimization
  - LocalBusiness schema added
  - Location page: /dentist-frisco-tx/
  - NAP in footer (matching GBP exactly)
  - Google Maps embed

WEEK 3-4
□ Apple Business Connect claim and setup
□ Bing Places claim and setup
□ Yelp profile claim (for Alexa/Bing visibility)
□ Final pre-launch GBP review

Before You Open vs. After You Open

Pre-opening (Days 1-30): Foundation building

This work can happen before doors open:

  • GBP setup and optimization
  • Citation submissions
  • Website optimization
  • Profile claims across platforms

Opening month (Days 31-60): Visibility push

OPENING MONTH (Days 31-60)
Visibility push — capitalize on launch energy:

WEEK 5 (Opening Week)
□ Announce opening via GBP posts
  - "Now Open" post with photo
  - Grand opening special post
  - Service introduction posts

□ Begin review generation immediately
  - Ask every patient before they leave
  - Email follow-up within 24 hours
  - Target: 10 reviews in first month

WEEK 6-8
□ Continue review momentum
  - Track review velocity
  - Respond to every review within 24 hours
  - Target: 10 reviews minimum first month

□ First geogrid scan (baseline)
  - Run geogrid for "dentist Frisco TX"
  - Document starting position
  - Identify strongest/weakest zones

□ GBP post consistency
  - 1 post per week minimum
  - Mix: service highlights, team features, tips

Review Generation from Day One

Reviews are the biggest differentiator. Start immediately.

REVIEW GENERATION STRATEGY

From day one:
- Ask every patient before they leave
- Make it easy: QR code at front desk, text link
- Follow up: Email within 24 hours if no review

The ask (by front desk staff):
"We're so glad you chose [Practice Name] for your dental care!
If you had a great experience, we'd really appreciate a Google review.
Here's a card with the link, or I can text it to you right now."

90-day targets:
Month 1: 10 reviews
Month 2: 15 reviews
Month 3: 20 reviews
Total at day 90: 45 reviews

Why this matters:
Top 3 average: 187 reviews
You need velocity, not just count
45 reviews at 90 days = competitive trajectory

The 12-Month Roadmap

Beyond 90 days, sustained effort:

12-MONTH LOCAL SEO ROADMAP

MONTHS 4-6: Momentum Building
- Review velocity: 10-15/month sustained
- Citation cleanup: Fix any inconsistencies
- GBP posts: Weekly consistency
- Local link building: Chamber, dental association, community groups
- Expected position: Appearing in map pack (positions 5-8)

MONTHS 7-9: Competitive Push
- Review count approaching 100
- Local press outreach: Expert source for dental health topics
- Content expansion: Additional service pages, blog content
- Expected position: Positions 3-6

MONTHS 10-12: Establishment
- Review count: 100+
- Authority building: Sustained local link acquisition
- AI visibility: Verify ChatGPT/AI Overview presence
- Expected position: Consistently top 5, occasional top 3

BEYOND 12 MONTHS
- Maintain review velocity
- Defend position against new entrants
- Expand to competitive keywords
- Consider additional locations if successful

Realistic Expectations by Timeline

HONEST TIMELINE

What's possible at 90 days:
- GBP fully optimized
- 40-50 reviews
- Appearing in map pack (usually positions 6-10)
- Foundation citations live
- Baseline established

What's possible at 6 months:
- 80-100 reviews
- Positions 4-7 typical
- Some top 3 appearances for long-tail keywords
- Local authority building showing results

What's possible at 12 months:
- 120+ reviews
- Positions 2-5 typical
- Competitive for primary keywords
- Established market presence

What's NOT realistic:
- Top 3 in 90 days (competitors have years of history)
- Instant results (local SEO compounds over time)
- Beating 300-review competitors quickly (takes sustained effort)

The Complete Strategy Building Workflow

  1. Research competitive landscape
  2. Identify keyword opportunities by timeline
  3. Build 90-day launch plan
  4. Execute pre-opening foundation work
  5. Generate reviews from day one
  6. Establish monthly rhythms
  7. Track progress against realistic timeline
  8. Adjust strategy based on results
  9. Extend to 12-month roadmap
  10. Maintain and defend position long-term

LocalSEOSkills provides the research, planning, and tracking. Success requires consistent execution over months. There are no shortcuts — just systematic effort that compounds.