Quick Guide to the BrightLocal Free Trial

More than half of all Google searches — nearly 60% in the EU and 58% in the U.S. — now end without a single click to a website (SparkToro/Datos). That means people are getting the answers they need right on Google’s results page, leaving businesses fighting for attention.

If you’re trying to get noticed in local search, that’s a wake-up call. You need to show up where it matters — not just in search, but in a way that actually drives customers to your business. The BrightLocal free trial is a risk-free way to see what’s working, fix what’s not, and get ahead of competitors before they even know what hit them.

Let’s dive into how you can make the most of it.

What Is BrightLocal? A Quick Overview of Its Features

BrightLocal is an SEO tool built for local businesses and marketing agencies. Instead of drowning in generic SEO data, it focuses on helping businesses rank higher in:

Local search results
Manage online listings
Keep up with customer reviews.

Think of it as your go-to dashboard for local SEO, designed to track, fix, and improve the way your business appears online. BrightLocal makes it easier to stay on top of your local search presence.

Here’s what stands out:

Local Rank Tracking: See exactly where your business ranks in Google’s local search results—both on desktop and mobile. It even tracks rankings across different locations, so you know how you’re performing in key areas.
Citation Building & Management: Get listed on hundreds of directories like Yelp, Apple Maps, and Facebook. Plus, BrightLocal scans for incorrect or missing citations and helps you fix them fast.
Reputation Management: Monitor and respond to customer reviews from multiple platforms in one place. No more jumping between Google, Facebook, and Yelp—everything is streamlined for you.
Google Business Profile (GBP) Audits: Get a deep dive into your Google Business Profile, including missing details, ranking insights, and optimization tips. If you rely on GBP for customer leads, this feature is a game-changer.

BrightLocal takes the guesswork out of local SEO, giving you clear insights and easy-to-use tools that help you rank higher and attract more customers, without spending hours on SEO

spreadsheets.

How Long Is the BrightLocal Free Trial and What’s Included?

State the exact length of the trial (14 days)
List what users can access during the trial (e.g., reporting, tracking, audits)
Clarify any limits (e.g., number of searches or reports available)

Step-by-Step Guide to Signing Up for the Free Trial:

Getting started with BrightLocal is fast and hassle-free. Here’s how:

Go to the BrightLocal website
- Visit BrightLocal.com and look for the "Start Free Trial" button.
Click on "Start Free Trial"
- Fill in your name, email, business type, and industry.
Choose a plan
- Don’t worry, you won’t be charged — you’re just picking a plan to preview.
Set up your first campaign
- BrightLocal will guide you through setting up rank tracking, citation management, or a Google Business Profile audit.

Once you’re in, start testing the features that matter most to you.

Making the Most of the Free Trial: What to Test First

Fourteen days might seem like plenty of time, but if you want to get real value from BrightLocal’s free trial, you need a game plan. The key isn’t just exploring the tools—it’s using them strategically to uncover issues, improve your local rankings, and walk away with insights you wouldn’t have had otherwise.

Start With a Google Business Profile Audit (And Fix What It Flags)

Your Google Business Profile (GBP) is often the first and last thing customers see before deciding whether to visit or call. If there are inconsistencies or missing details, Google might push your listing lower in search results.

Run BrightLocal’s GBP Audit on day one, it’ll highlight any errors, missing categories, or optimization opportunities.

If you spot duplicate listings, get them merged or removed (a common issue that can hurt rankings).

Ensure NAP (name, address, phone number) consistency, even a minor mismatch can cost you visibility.

Set Up Local Rank Tracking (But Get Creative with It)

Most businesses track their main keywords (“plumber in Chicago”), but that’s not enough.

Go hyperlocal: Add variations based on neighborhoods, landmarks, or long-tail searches (“plumber near Lincoln Park” or “best plumber for water heater repair in Chicago”).

Check mobile vs. desktop rankings, your visibility can be wildly different depending on how people search.

Spy on competitors: Add a competitor’s business name as a keyword to see where they show up compared to you.

Run a Citation Tracker Report (And Fix Your Weakest Links First)

Citations — your business info across the web — boost trust with Google. But inconsistent or missing citations? Those tell Google your business isn’t as legit as your competitor’s.

Focus on authoritative directories first (Yelp, Apple Maps, Bing Places, industry-specific sites).

BrightLocal shows which listings need updates — fix those early to see faster ranking improvements.

If you find listings with old addresses or phone numbers, submit correction requests immediately.

Reputation Management: Respond to Reviews the Right Way

Online reviews directly influence search rankings and click-through rates. BrightLocal’s review monitoring tool pulls in feedback from across the web so you can spot trends.

Sort reviews by star rating — address negative ones first (a thoughtful reply can turn a bad review into a win).

Look at keywords in reviews — are customers praising your “fast service” or “friendly staff”? Use those words in your GBP description for better relevance in local search.

Didn’t get a review in the last two months? Use the trial period to launch a request campaign (BrightLocal has tools to help).

Export Reports Before the Trial Ends (So You Keep the Data!)

Even if you don’t continue with BrightLocal after the free trial, you don’t want to lose your insights.

Download your reports:

Rankings
Citations
Audit summaries give you a roadmap for future improvements

Use the data to track progress manually if you decide to go DIY with local SEO later.

What Happens After the Trial? BrightLocal’s Pricing Plans

So, you’ve spent two weeks improving your local SEO, fixing citations, and checking rankings. Now what? If BrightLocal worked for you, here’s what to expect in terms of pricing.

Pricing Plans and What They Include

So, you’ve spent two weeks fine-tuning your local SEO, tracking rankings, and fixing citations. Now you’re wondering—what happens when the free trial ends? If BrightLocal worked for you, here’s what to expect when it comes to pricing.

BrightLocal’s Pricing Plans and What You Get

BrightLocal keeps things simple with three paid plans, all designed for businesses that want to rank higher in local searches without spending a fortune on SEO agencies.

Track Plan ($29/month for one location) – Best for businesses that want local rank tracking, citation tracking, and Google Business Profile audits. Think of it as a visibility check-up—you’ll see how you rank, where your citations stand, and what’s helping (or hurting) your local SEO.
Manage Plan ($36/month for one location) – Everything in the Track Plan, plus Google Business Profile post scheduling and full listings management. Perfect for businesses that need to actively manage their online presence instead of just monitoring it.
Grow Plan ($44/month for one location) – The full package. You get review management, advanced Google Business Profile insights, and more reporting tools to stay ahead of competitors. If you’re serious about scaling up and want to automate your reputation and SEO efforts, this is the one to look at.

Managing multiple locations? BrightLocal’s pricing adjusts based on how many locations you track. For example, if you manage 2-5 locations, the Track Plan jumps to $59/month.

Pricing subject to change. Please check BrightLocal for more information.

Do You Need to Enter Payment Info Upfront?

Nope! No credit card is required to start the free trial, so there’s no risk of being charged if you decide it’s not the right fit. You’ll only pay if you choose to subscribe once your trial ends.

Should You Try the BrightLocal Free Trial?

The BrightLocal free trial gives you 14 days of full access to real SEO insights, and even if you don’t continue, you’ll walk away with valuable data about how your business ranks locally. If you’re ready to take control of your local SEO, now’s the perfect time to test-drive BrightLocal and see what it can do for you.

Start your free trial today.

Happy Trials!

~ freetrials.com

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