Frequently Asked Questions

Get clear answers about the Authority Score, local marketing services, pricing, timelines, and what it is like to work with Your Local Authority.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Quick Links: Authority Score™  |  Authority Blueprint™  |  Services  |  Pricing & Timelines  |  Working With Us 

What is an Authority Score?
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The Authority Score is a 0–100 assessment of your business's local digital presence. It measures the factors that influence whether prospective customers can find your business, trust what they see, and take the next step.

The score evaluates seven marketing categories:

  • Website & Conversion
  • Google Business Profile
  • Search Engine Optimization
  • Reviews & Reputation
  • Content & Authority
  • Social Presence
  • Trust Signals

These categories are then organized under the Four Pillars of Authority to show both your overall position and the areas that need attention.

Is the Authority Score really free?
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Yes. The initial Authority Score is free and gives you a high-level assessment of your current local marketing position. There is no obligation to hire Your Local Authority after receiving it.
What happens after I request my score?
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We review the information you submit, research your current digital presence, assess the key authority categories, and prepare your results. Afterward, we can explain the most important findings and discuss possible next steps. You decide whether you want to take action on your own or explore additional help.

How much do YLA’s services cost?
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How soon should I expect results?
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Turnaround time depends on current demand and the complexity of the business. After reviewing your request, we will confirm what information is needed and let you know when to expect your assessment.
_ Authority Score FAQs

Authority Score™ Questions

Authority Score Assessment example
1What is an Authority Score?

The Authority Score is a 0–100 assessment of your business's local digital presence. It measures the factors that influence whether prospective customers can find your business, trust what they see, and take the next step.

The score evaluates seven marketing categories:

  • Website & Conversion
  • Google Business Profile
  • Search Engine Optimization
  • Reviews & Reputation
  • Content & Authority
  • Social Presence
  • Trust Signals

These categories are then organized under the Four Pillars of Authority to show both your overall position and the areas that need attention.

2How is the Authority Score calculated?

The Authority Score uses a weighted 100-point framework:

  • Website & Conversion (20)
  • Google Business Profile (20)
  • SEO (20)
  • Reviews & Reputation (15)
  • Content & Authority (10)
  • Social Presence (5)
  • Trust Signals (10)

The weighting reflects the relative importance of each category to local visibility, credibility, and lead generation. The score is a strategic assessment—not a Google metric, ranking factor, or guarantee of future performance.

3What do the score classifications mean?
Score Classification
  1. 90–100: Market Leader
  2. 80–89: Strong Authority
  3. 70–79: Competitive
  4. 60–69: Average
  5. 50–59: Needs Improvement
  6. Below 50: At Risk

Your classification provides a useful snapshot, but the most valuable part of the assessment is understanding why you received the score and which improvements should come first.

4Is the Authority Score really free?
Yes. The initial Authority Score is free and gives you a high-level assessment of your current local marketing position. There is no obligation to hire Your Local Authority after receiving it.
5What information do you need?
In most cases, we need your business name, website address, primary location, main services, and contact information. We may ask a few additional questions if your business has multiple locations, serves a large geographic area, or operates under more than one brand.
6Does a high score guarantee rankings or leads?
No responsible marketing company can guarantee specific rankings, traffic, or lead volume. Search results depend on competition, location, demand, platform changes, your market, and many other factors. A strong Authority Score indicates that important local authority signals are in place; it does not guarantee a particular outcome.
7Can my score change over time?

Yes. Your score can improve as your business strengthens its website, Google Business Profile, SEO, review profile, content, trust signals, and lead-generation process. It can also change as competitors improve, customer expectations shift, or search platforms evolve.

We are banking on that it will change!

8Can I request another score after making improvements?
Yes. A follow-up assessment can help measure progress and identify the next set of priorities. The timing will depend on the work completed and how long those improvements need to take effect.
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_ Authority Blueprint FAQs

Authority Blueprint™ Questions

Authority Blueprint Preview
1What is an Authority Blueprint?

The Authority Blueprint turns your assessment into an actionable growth plan. While the Authority Score shows where your business stands, the Blueprint explains what to improve, why it matters, and what should happen first.

Depending on your needs, the Blueprint may include priority recommendations, competitive insights, implementation phases, suggested deliverables, and measurable goals across the Four Pillars of Authority.

2What is the difference between the Authority Score and the Authority Blueprint?

The Authority Score is the diagnosis. The Authority Blueprint is the treatment plan.

The Score identifies strengths, weaknesses, and gaps. The Blueprint organizes those findings into a prioritized strategy your team can implement independently, with guidance, or with Your Local Authority handling the work.

3Do I have to hire YLA to implement the Blueprint?
No. The Blueprint can be used as a roadmap for your internal team or existing vendors. If you want support, Your Local Authority can also help through do-it-yourself guidance, collaborative implementation, or done-for-you services, depending on the project.
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_ Service FAQs

Service Questions

1What services does Your Local Authority provide?

Services may include:

  • Authority Score audits and Authority Blueprints
  • Local marketing strategy
  • Website design and conversion improvements
  • Local SEO
  • Google Business Profile optimization
  • Reputation and review strategy
  • Content planning and development
  • Trust-signal improvements
  • Analytics and conversion tracking
  • Lead-generation and follow-up systems

Recommendations are based on the gaps identified in your assessment rather than a one-size-fits-all package.

2Can you build or redesign our website?

Yes. We design and improve websites for local service businesses. Our focus goes beyond appearance: the website should clearly communicate your value, support local search visibility, build trust, and make it easy for qualified prospects to contact you.

3Can you help with Google Business Profile optimization?

Yes. We can help improve the completeness, accuracy, categories, services, photos, posts, review strategy, and overall quality of your Google Business Profile. We can also review how your profile supports your website and broader local SEO strategy.

Google controls its platform and search results, so optimization cannot guarantee placement in the local map pack.

4Can you help us get more Google reviews?
Yes. We can help you build a compliant, repeatable process for requesting and responding to customer reviews. We do not recommend buying reviews, using misleading incentives, or filtering customers based on whether they are likely to leave positive feedback.
5Do you provide SEO services?
Yes. Our SEO work is designed for local businesses and may include technical improvements, service and location pages, on-page optimization, internal linking, local citations, content strategy, Google Business Profile alignment, and performance measurement.
6Do you manage social media?
Social media support may be included when it serves the larger authority strategy. We focus on useful, credible content that reinforces expertise and trust. For many local businesses, social media is a supporting authority signal rather than the primary source of leads.
7Can you work with our existing website, marketing team, or vendors?
Absolutely. We can identify priorities, clarify responsibilities, and support an existing team or vendor when appropriate. Access, platform limitations, and the condition of the current website or marketing systems may affect what can be implemented.
8Do you work with businesses that have multiple locations?
Yes. Multi-location marketing requires careful management of location pages, Google Business Profiles, tracking, reviews, local content, and brand consistency. We evaluate each location individually while also considering the strength of the overall brand.
[Request Your Free Authority Score]
_ Authority Blueprint FAQs

Working With Us Questions

Working with Us FAQ
1What happens after I request an Authority Score?
We review the information you submit, research your current digital presence, assess the key authority categories, and prepare your results. Afterward, we can explain the most important findings and discuss possible next steps. You decide whether you want to take action on your own or explore additional help.
2Do you offer one-time projects or ongoing marketing support?
Both. Some businesses need a focused foundational project, such as a website improvement, tracking setup, or Google Business Profile optimization. Others need ongoing SEO, content, reputation, and authority-building support. The recommended engagement depends on your starting point, goals, resources, and competition.
3How much do your services cost?
Pricing depends on the scope of work, the current condition of your digital presence, the number of locations, the competitiveness of your market, and whether you need strategy, collaborative support, or full implementation. After the initial assessment, we can recommend priorities and provide a clear proposal before work begins.
4Will I be locked into a long-term contract?
Engagement terms depend on the service. One-time projects have a defined scope and timeline. Ongoing services may require an initial term so there is enough time to implement improvements and evaluate progress. All deliverables, responsibilities, fees, and terms are provided in writing before work begins.
5How soon should I expect results?
Some improvements—such as clearer calls to action, corrected business information, or better tracking—can be implemented quickly. SEO, reputation growth, content authority, and competitive local visibility usually take longer. Timelines depend on your starting point, market, implementation pace, and competition.
6How do you measure progress?
The right measurements depend on your goals, but may include qualified leads, calls, form submissions, conversion rates, local search visibility, Google Business Profile actions, website engagement, review growth, and progress across the < a href="/authority-score-audit/">Authority Score categories. We focus on meaningful business outcomes rather than vanity metrics alone.
7Do we own the website, content, and accounts?
Ownership and licensing terms are defined in the agreement for each project. Whenever practical, core business accounts should be established under the client's ownership, with appropriate access granted to Your Local Authority. Any third-party platforms, themes, plugins, stock assets, or software remain subject to their own licensing terms.
8Is my business too small to benefit from an authority strategy?
No. Smaller businesses often benefit from having a focused strategy because they cannot afford to waste time or budget on disconnected marketing tactics. The scope should match the size of the business, the opportunity in the market, and the owner's capacity to follow through.
9What if my business is already busy?
Being busy is a great thing, if you are profitable but does not always mean your marketing is optimized. Your best services may not be generating enough demand, leads may be inconsistent, your business may depend too heavily on referrals, or your online presence may not reflect the quality of your work. An Authority Score can reveal whether your current growth is supported by a durable marketing foundation.
10How do I know if Your Local Authority is the right fit?

YLA may be a good fit if you want to understand your current position before investing, value clear priorities and education, serve a defined local market, and are prepared to improve the customer journey from search to inquiry.

We may not be the right fit if you are looking for guaranteed rankings, instant results, artificial reviews, or high-volume tactics without a sound strategy.

[Request Your Free Authority Score]
_ Pricing FAQs

Pricing, Timelines & Results

Every business has a different starting point, market, and set of priorities. Our recommendations are based on what will create the greatest impact—not a one-size-fits-all marketing package.

1How much do Your Local Authority’s services cost?

We know this isn't the best answer but the investment depends on your goals, current marketing foundation, number of locations, competitive market, and the amount of work required.

After reviewing your Authority Score and priorities, we can recommend an appropriate scope and provide a clear proposal before work begins.

2Why don’t you publish fixed prices?

I have found that local businesses rarely need the exact same services. One company may need foundational website and tracking improvements, while another may need local SEO, reputation management, or an ongoing authority-building strategy.

Publishing a single price without understanding your needs could be misleading. Our goal is to recommend only the work that supports your objectives.

3Is the Authority Score free?

Yes. The initial Authority Score is free and provides a high-level assessment of your visibility, credibility, and lead-generation readiness. There is no obligation to purchase additional services.

4Do you offer one-time projects or ongoing services?

Both. One-time projects are appropriate for clearly defined needs such as website development, conversion improvements, analytics setup, or Google Business Profile optimization.

Ongoing support may include local SEO, content development, reputation strategy, website improvements, performance tracking, and continued authority building.

5Will I receive a proposal before committing?
Definitely. Your proposal will outline the recommended scope, deliverables, responsibilities, estimated timeline, investment, and engagement terms. You will have an opportunity to review the proposal and ask questions before deciding whether to move forward.
6Will I be locked into a long-term contract?

Contract terms depend on the service. One-time projects have a defined scope and timeline. Ongoing marketing services may include an initial commitment because SEO, content, reputation, and authority-building strategies require time to implement and evaluate.

All terms will be clearly explained before work begins.

7Are there any additional costs?

Any anticipated third-party expenses will be identified whenever possible before the project begins. These may include hosting, software subscriptions, premium plugins, advertising costs, stock assets, or other services outside YLA’s professional fees.

I will not intentionally add work or expenses outside the approved scope without discussing them with you first.

8How long does a typical project take?

Timelines depend on the scope, complexity, platform, and availability of required content or access. A focused optimization project may move relatively quickly, while a new website or broader foundational implementation will require more time.

Your proposal will include an estimated timeline based on the recommended work.

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Pricing, timelines and results
Why I Built Your Local Authority

“I created Your Local Authority because most local business owners do not need another confusing marketing report. They need a clear answer to a simple question: Why are my competitors getting found, trusted, and chosen before me?

The Authority Score gives them that answer.”

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_ INDUSTRIES WE CAN SERVE
Attorneys
05
Electricians
02
Plumbers
03
HVAC Companies
04
Dentists
06
Professional Services
07

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