There are a lot of Google Business Profile (GBP) optimization tools out there and as the former Director of Operations at Google and now, the Chief Operating Officer of Esquire Digital, I’d like to highlight the ones that I use. Today, I’m sharing the top three local SEO tools I recommend. No gatekeeping here. Let’s jump in.
Local SEO Tools I Recommend (And Why)
Let’s face it: optimizing and managing your GBP takes time, and you may not always have the time to dedicate to it as often as you’d like. Or, you may be new to optimization altogether and need a bit of a helping hand.
Below, I’ve gathered the top local SEO tools for affordability, automation, and grid mapping that I personally recommend (and that I believe will help your business).
GMBapi.com
GMBapi.com’s tagline is Your Best Value Local SEO Software, and I’d have to agree. Its AI system allows for easy management of both single and multiple office locations. For those with multiple office locations, GMBapi’s dashboard lets you update business details with a few quick clicks. Furthermore, they allow you to have multiple users (without granting individual access to the listing), which comes in handy for larger organizations.
This software’s key strength is the ability to streamline the GBP management process by automating updates to your business details, responding to reviews, tracking your performance against your top 20 competitors, recommending service descriptions and secondary categories, and creating and posting new content, including photos. In the era of Google AI Mode, adding quality photos, creating fresh content, and getting more brand mentions is a key component of getting visibility and outranking the competition. Check out my blog on how Google’s changing in 2025 to learn more.
However, though GMBapi.com recommends how many reviews you should get, I caution you against solely relying on their suggestions. Right now, brand mentions are getting a significant push in Google’s AI Mode, so the more reviews you have, the better your visibility. Don’t tap out at a certain number.
Aside from their affordability, one key aspect of GMBapi.com I really like is how they notify you when a Google review is taken down. In most cases, reviews are removed because Google has identified spam or prohibited content. However, in cases when a review is incorrectly taken down (which does happen), this notification lets you take immediate action with Google to get the review reinstated.
The bottom line: Even though it doesn’t offer 100% automation, GMBapi.com gives you the most bang for your buck. It’s affordable and does a great job in doing much of the heavy lifting, so you can focus on other parts of growing your business.
If a task can be automated, why wouldn’t you want to take advantage of it?
Paige by Merchynt
It can seem like search engine optimization (SEO) is a guessing game, and that’s on purpose so businesses don’t game the system. But with Paige by Merchynt, you can stay a step ahead of Google’s changing algorithm. Paige offers 100% GBP automation, but takes it a step further by learning the ins and outs of your business so you can enjoy the benefit of a customized marketing effort.
Paige does it all, including generating, scheduling and publishing posts, Q&As, drafting responses to reviews (including photos customers uploaded), generating reports and so much more. While you can customize Paige to handle everything on its own, the dashboard does offer the option to edit and approve posts/replies ahead of time, if you prefer a more hands-on approach.
Still, Paige’s automation system, and the many ways in which you can customize it are pretty spectacular. For example, you can train Paige to add a custom hashtag to the end of every post (i.e. #NJLawyer), brand your photos with your company logo, and tailor its language so it responds to reviews with the proper tone. Even uploading photos to the dashboard comes with a helping hand, as Paige will scan the images to create keyword-rich alt text that also includes geo-tagging.
In my opinion, Paige really shines when it comes to automating the ongoing maintenance of your listings.
My final thoughts: Paige is a great tool, especially for beginners who may have limited SEO knowledge or GBP experience. The platform’s ability to scan your website, rewrite descriptions, identify new service opportunities, and notify you of reviews pending your reply ensures that your GBP isn’t just fully fleshed out, but that you’re keeping track of its health for optimal ranking among your competition.
The only drawback is the price, at $99 per month per listing, it is a more expensive listing management option, but for companies that prefer a “set it and forget it” strategy, this is a great tool to ensure Google is getting all the engagement signals it needs to keep your listing ranking.
Currently, they’re offering a three day trial for $1.
Local Dominator
Data-driven insights are incredibly important to your ability to grow your business, and this is where Local Dominator really shines. Also known for its GBP management, the aspect of Local Dominator that impresses me most is its real-time grid mapping. Local Dominator provides invaluable, real-time insight into how you rank in Google’s search results.
Here’s how it works:
Once logged into Local Dominator, type the name of your business in the dashboard. Then, customize your search grid (I usually do a 10x10 grid, set a mile apart). After that, type the keyword you’re trying to rank for in that particular geographical location. For example, divorce lawyer or local pediatrician.
With all the details filled in, Local Dominator will display your business on a map that’s located within the grid dimensions you specified. Each dot on the grid symbolizes a location in the geographic region you’re trying to rank in, which will be marked with a number. Let’s say, for example, that you see your business is ranking at a 5. When you click on that number, it will show you the businesses that are ranked above you.
Essentially, Local Dominator’s grid mapping gives you a glimpse into what the competition is doing, including what keywords they’re using and successfully ranking for. These insights are invaluable and give you a blueprint into how much work you still have to put into your GBP and likewise, what’s working well so you can replicate the strategy in your other profiles.
I know grid ranking software is not unique, but a lot of the time I am not interested in all the extra fluff that comes with it. Local Dominator is a great, lightweight solution for anyone looking for grid ranking software without paying for a bunch of features you don't need.
The bottom line: Local Dominator is a great, affordable tool that gives you an edge over the competition.
These local SEO tools can be invaluable to your business. If you want to elevate your organic search ranking, Esquire Digital can help! Contact us today to speak with a member of our team.
