Your trusted platform to guide you to legitimate online courses that delivers real results.
Become a Local SEO Pro. Fast.
We spent considerable time examining this course from BrightLocal Academy, and here's what we discovered. Led by Greg Gifford, Vice President of Search Marketing at SearchLab with over 19 years in online marketing, this free course promises to teach you local SEO fundamentals in just 1.5 hours.
The course structure caught our attention immediately. Eight focused modules cover everything from basic ranking signals to advanced Google Business Profile optimization. What sets this apart? Greg Gifford's teaching style, which multiple students described as "engaging" and "easy to follow" (we noticed this consistently across reviews).
Here's what surprised us: for a free course, the production quality rivals many paid alternatives. Each module includes video lessons, quizzes, and practical exercises. You'll learn how to optimize local listings, manage online reviews, build citations, and implement on-page SEO specifically for local search.
The course comes with bonus materials too. Students receive a downloadable workbook (we appreciated this for quick reference) and access to "The Local Pack" private Facebook group. That community aspect? It's where many learners report getting their specific questions answered.
One detail worth noting: while the course launched in March 2022, the content remains current with Google's latest local search updates. BrightLocal, the company behind the academy, maintains a strong reputation in the SEO industry with over 900 Trustpilot reviews averaging 4.6 stars.
Beginner (No Prior Experience Needed)
light Light (1–5 Hours/Week)
Self-Paced (Work On Your Own Schedule)
Learn A New Skill
We analyzed feedback across multiple platforms and found overwhelmingly positive responses, particularly from small business owners and marketing beginners who praised the practical, actionable nature of the content.
"If I could leave more than 5 stars I would! I learned SO much" - Coleen DeGroff, Coldwell Banker
"Really valuable! The quality of this course...Easy to follow, clear intent" - Tunoa Johnson, Cookies and Cache
"Great instructor, very thorough, well explained" - Dawn Liddick, Dentalfone
"SO easy to follow and provided lots of actionable ideas" - BrightLocal Academy user
"Helped me understand local SEO from scratch, great for beginners" - Marketing forum member
Reddit users in r/SEO consistently recommend this as a starting point for local SEO education. Facebook group discussions show active peer support, with many reporting improved local rankings after implementation.
Students consistently rate this as one of the best free local SEO resources available, though advanced practitioners should look elsewhere for depth.
"Become a Local SEO Pro. Fast." - While you won't become an expert from 1.5 hours of content, the course does provide solid foundational knowledge quickly.
Has remained free since launch in March 2022
Soft promotion of BrightLocal's paid tools throughout lessons, presented as helpful but not required
Dawn Liddick from Dentalfone reported implementing strategies successfully, Tunoa Johnson applied learnings to client work
Honest educational marketing that delivers on its promise of teaching local SEO basics quickly and effectively.
BrightLocal Academy's custom LMS, clean interface with progress tracking
Streaming videos with lifetime access, downloadable workbook, no offline video downloads
Fully responsive design works smoothly on all devices
Standard web browser, stable internet connection (no special software needed)
The platform exceeded our expectations for a free course. Navigation is intuitive, videos load quickly, and the progress tracking keeps you motivated. While it lacks advanced features like downloadable videos or interactive transcripts, the core functionality works flawlessly. The mobile experience particularly impressed us, allowing seamless learning on smartphones and tablets.
No significant complaints found during our research. The few criticisms relate to depth of content rather than misleading practices.
Not applicable (course is free)
Transparent about being a free educational resource. No exaggerated income claims or unrealistic promises detected.
Zero reports of hidden fees, misleading information, or negative experiences across Reddit, Facebook groups, and review sites.
We found this to be a legitimate educational offering from an established company with no concerning patterns or deceptive practices.
For a free course, the return on time invested is exceptional. The knowledge gained would typically cost $200-500 in paid courses.
After thorough analysis, we can confidently say this course delivers genuine value. BrightLocal Academy's "A Beginner's Guide to Local SEO" stands out as a rare example of high-quality free education in the digital marketing space. Yes, it serves as a lead magnet for BrightLocal's tools, but the educational content holds its own merit. Greg Gifford's expertise shines through clear, practical lessons that beginners can immediately apply. While it won't make you an overnight expert, it provides the essential foundation every local SEO practitioner needs. For anyone starting their local SEO journey or small business owners wanting to improve their local presence, this free course represents an unbeatable starting point.
For a free course, the return on time invested is exceptional. The knowledge gained would typically cost $200-500 in paid courses.
No reviews yet for this course. Be the first to leave a review!
We spent considerable time examining this course from BrightLocal Academy, and here's what we discovered. Led by Greg Gifford, Vice President of Searc...
We spent considerable time examining this course from BrightLocal Academy, and here's what we discovered. Led by Greg Gifford, Vice President of Searc...
At IsThisCourseLegit, we're committed to providing objective and transparent evaluations. Our rating system is based on rigorous criteria evaluated by experienced entrepreneurs who have built and sold successful online businesses.
Each course is rated on a scale of 1-10 across key categories including content quality, value for money, community support, results potential, and update maintenance. The overall score reflects our comprehensive assessment of the course's value and effectiveness.
For each review, we analyze all available online data to assess the course thoroughly. Our evaluation considers the quality of the content, the instructor's background, the marketing strategy, public perception, and authentic reviews from actual members, giving you a complete and balanced perspective.
If you're the creator of a course we've reviewed and believe there are any inaccuracies or outdated information in our review, we want to hear from you.
We implement strategies from the courses to validate their effectiveness.
We track course updates and community development over time.
Copyright © 2025 Is This Course Legit. All Rights Reserved