Get found, chosen and called by local customers, the right way.
22 short lessons for local business owners in the US, UK and Australia. One task each, every rule checked against Google's own help pages, and no sign-up to watch.
5
modules
22
lessons
160
minutes
Take any lesson here, free, and download the printable workbook. Enrol free to track your progress, take the quizzes and earn your certificate.
Presented by Ranjit Shah, Founder, Flexi Local.
The course
22 lessons, about 2 hours 40 minutes in all. Take any lesson here; enrol free for the quizzes and the certificate.
Module 1 · 3 lessons · 22 minHow local search works
Understand how it works, then measure where you stand before changing anything.
- 1.1How customers find a local business today8 min · video coming soon
- 1.2Your starting point: a 15-minute local search check8 min · video coming soon
- 1.3Choose the searches that matter6 min · video coming soon
Module 2 · 6 lessons · 44 minYour Google Business Profile, done properly
A profile that's verified, accurate, complete and safe.
- 2.1Claim, verify and protect your profile8 min · video coming soon
- 2.2Name, address and service area: the rules that keep you visible8 min · video coming soon
- 2.3Categories and services: tell Google exactly what you do8 min · video coming soon
- 2.4Hours, contact buttons and attributes6 min · video coming soon
- 2.5Photos, videos and your description7 min · video coming soon
- 2.6Keep it right: suggested edits, posts and weekly upkeep7 min · video coming soon
Module 3 · 4 lessons · 29 minReviews: earn them fairly, answer them well
More genuine reviews and better replies, without breaking a single rule.
- 3.1Why reviews matter, and the rules you can't break8 min · video coming soon
- 3.2Build a review habit: the link, the moment, the message8 min · video coming soon
- 3.3Reply to reviews: quick, personal and safe7 min · video coming soon
- 3.4Fake, unfair or wrong-business reviews: what you can do6 min · video coming soon
Module 4 · 4 lessons · 29 minBack it up: website, listings and local links
Make the rest of the web agree with your profile.
- 4.1The website pages that back up your profile8 min · video coming soon
- 4.2Listings beyond Google: Bing, Apple and your country's directories7 min · video coming soon
- 4.3Local links and mentions you can earn7 min · video coming soon
- 4.4Showing up in AI answers7 min · video coming soon
Module 5 · 5 lessons · 36 minTurn searches into customers, and keep score
Catch the customers you've earned, and know what's working.
- 5.1From search to customer: answer every call and message7 min · video coming soon
- 5.2Read your Business Profile performance report7 min · video coming soon
- 5.3See where you show up across your area7 min · video coming soon
- 5.4When something goes wrong: suspensions, drops and wrong edits7 min · video coming soon
- 5.5Your 30-minute monthly routine, and your re-score8 min · video coming soon
What you'll have at the end
By the end you'll have a verified, complete Google Business Profile, a review routine your team can run every week, a website and listings that back your profile up, and a 30-minute monthly check. No one can promise where Google will rank you, and we won't. This course gives Google and your customers every reason to choose you.
- Know how Google chooses local businesses (relevance, distance and prominence) and what you can control.
- A starting-point scorecard from Lesson 1.2, re-scored at the end of the course.
- Ownership of a verified profile, with a name, address or service area and phone that follow Google's guidelines.
- Categories, services, hours, contact options, attributes, photos and description, all complete.
- A review request routine for every customer that follows Google's policy and your country's law, and replies to your reviews.
- A plan for the website pages that back up your profile, consistent listings and realistic local link ideas.
- A check of what AI assistants say about your business, with the wrong facts fixed.
- A test of how quickly calls and messages are answered, and a monthly tracker from your Performance report.
- Promise rankings
- Sell shortcuts
- Hide the rules
How it works
- Step 1
Learn
A short lesson, 5 to 10 minutes, on the page. Videos are being added.
- Step 2
Do the task
One task per lesson, with a free tool where it helps.
- Step 3
Enrol free
One free login tracks your progress and gives you the printable workbook.
- Step 4
Module quiz
Five real situations at the end of each module, with the reason and the rule for every answer.
- Step 5
Certificate
Pass the final quiz and get a certificate of completion.
Who it's for
Owners and managers of local businesses that customers visit, or that travel to their customers.
- Home services
- Plumbers
- Electricians
- Dental practices
- Clinics & medical practices
- Salons & spas
- Barbers
- Restaurants
- Cafés and coffee shops
- Gyms & fitness studios
- Veterinary clinics
- Auto repair shops
- Solicitors and law firms
- Accountants and bookkeepers
Who it isn't for
- Online-only businesses. Google's guidelines are for businesses that customers visit, or that travel to their customers.
- Agencies looking for client-management training. Your staff can still take it, but it isn't written for you.
- Large multi-location brands. Most lessons still apply, but there are no enterprise workflows.
Your presenter
Ranjit Shah, Founder, Flexi Local
Ranjit Shah is the founder of Flexi Local and of Start & Grow, the digital marketing and software company behind it. Start & Grow builds websites, runs local SEO and ads, and makes review and lead software for local and small businesses.
More about RanjitFree tools you'll use
Each one runs in your browser. No sign-up needed.
Google Business Profile score
Score your profile out of 100 and see what to fix first.
Open the tool: Google Business Profile scoreGoogle review link and QR poster
Your direct review link and a printable QR poster.
Open the tool: Google review link and QR posterReview reply generator
Three ready-to-post replies for any star rating.
Open the tool: Review reply generatorGoogle Business Profile UTM builder
Tracking links for your profile's website, booking and menu buttons.
Open the tool: Google Business Profile UTM builderMissed call cost calculator
What unanswered calls cost you each month and year.
Open the tool: Missed call cost calculatorTrack your progress and earn the certificate
The lessons and the workbook stay free on this site. Enrol free to add the quizzes and a certificate when you finish.
One free login for the whole course
- Track your progress across devices
- Module quizzes and the final quiz
- Your certificate of completion
Questions about the academy
Something else? Ask us directly.
Is it free?
Yes. Every lesson, task, quiz, the workbook and the certificate are free.
Do I need to sign up?
No. Every lesson on this site is open to everyone, and the printable workbook is a free download. Enrol free if you'd like to track your progress, take the quizzes and earn the certificate.
How long does it take?
Each lesson takes 5 to 10 minutes to read (about 2 hours 40 minutes in all), plus one task you can do the same day. Videos are being added. Go at your own pace.
Is there a certificate?
Yes: enrol free and pass the final quiz (12 out of 15) to get a certificate of completion. It shows you finished the course. It isn't a professional qualification, and it isn't from Google.
Which countries is it for?
The US, the UK and Australia. The lessons are the same everywhere, with country notes wherever Google's rules, the law or the popular sites differ.
Do I need a website?
No. Most lessons are about your Google Business Profile, your reviews and your listings, and work without a website.
Will this get me to number one?
No one can promise that, and Google says you can't pay for a better local ranking. This course gives Google and your customers every reason to choose you.
Do you sell anything?
Yes, services and software for local businesses, but the course works without them.
Start with Lesson 1.1. It takes 8 minutes.
Prefer a shorter version by email? The free 5-day email course covers the basics, one email a day.