By Google's own admission, they make between 500-600 changes to the algorithm every year, so being aware of all of them and how they affect your site can be a full time job. If you're frustrated trying to keep up with all the changes that take place within the Google Local search space, then take heart, you're not alone!

If your head starts spinning at the mere mention of things like Pigeon, the Local Carousel, and MobileGeddon, then we have good news for you.

We've assembled a list of 7 local SEO best practices you can use when it comes to optimizing your pages for local SEO. Most won't require a huge technical effort, but can yield significantly better results for you if you get them done!

7 Easy to do Local SEO Best Practices

1 – Don't stop link building

But do it naturally! Make sure you are creating awesome content that is getting shared as widely as possible, and watch the links flow in. These are the best types of links you can acquire.

Did you know that Google warned us about link building?

Google's webmaster trends analyst, John Mueller, recommends you do not focus on link building and if you do, it may lead to more harm for your web site than anything good. ~ Search Engine Land

Watch this video, particularly at the 55 minute and 40 second mark, to better understand the statement.

Related: See How to Build Better backlinks in 2015!

2 – Be sure to GEO-target your pages

The Pigeon update was all about preferring local content over global when possible. Make it possible on your pages with local geo-modifiers.

Do you know what is geo-targeting? Learn more about geo-targeting from a post by Kissmetrics: Increase Conversions with Geo Targeting.

3 – Keep getting citations

These still matter, but it's again more about quality and accuracy than it is about the number. Strive for the best you can find.

4 – Solicit customer reviews

This is the highest form of social proof available, and studies are showing that the overwhelming majority (90%) consult product reviews before purchasing. Ask your present customers; they'll usually be more than happy to comply.

Related: Managing Unfavorable Reviews in a Favorable Way

5 – Use Google My Business

Google's local business tool suite is an remarkable tool you'll want to be fully invested in. There are so many ways this helps your business, but one of the main ones is being able to easily manage reviews.

Personally, we're using Google My Business. Please check out our BWM Google+ page.

6 – Use local images

Make sure you are using your own local images and that they are geo-tagged for your locations. This is a local ranking signal for Google, and will help you in a variety of ways with Google. Simply name your images properly and you're good to go.

7 – Be social

Yet another Google search signal, giving your audience the opportunity to share your content by including social media icons on your pages and content is a no-brainer. Give your content a chance to be seen outside your walls!

It's very easy to screw up your own SEO, and if you've hired someone else to do it for you, that doubles the anguish when they also make these sorts of mistakes. (You just paid for it!)

Whether do it yourself or hire your SEO out, you have to be aware of what not only just doesn't work, but also what may indeed be counter-productive, and harm you even more.

Let's examine 5 ways SEO mistakes can happen, and how they can be avoided.

5 bad SEO mistakes you'll want to avoid at all costs!

Misusing keywords and anchor text – Today the Google algorithm has wised up to the point where it can sniff out attempts to game the rankings with keyword manipulation from a mile away. The best practice today is to use keywords naturally on your pages, utilizing related keywords and synonyms, and diversifying your anchor text accordingly, using natural combinations, naked URLs, and some generic terms like “click here”.

Avoid using Tags – The primary reason you'll need to avoid the use of tags is that they automatically create a duplicate content issue for you. Use categories instead. And if you use a tag cloud you've only compounded the problem by using valuable front page real estate as well.

Using Flash on your pages – While this may be necessary to achieve some sort of visual effect you'd like to use, you should ask yourself if it's worth it, as it can be bad for SEO and how well your site renders in mobile.

Not optimizing for Mobile – Since over half of all web users now get here via a mobile device, you need to make sure you recognize and account for this. Google also now devalues unresponsive pages in search with the label that your page “May not work on your device”.

Poor internal linking – The spate of recent Google updates has made this one of the last bastions of effective on-site SEO that really works well. Strive to make your site user friendly in this respect, and this is one area to not be shy about using keywords. (With prudence and diversity, of course!)