HEARD vs. BrightLocal vs. Yext: Which Is Right for Your Local Business?
Three brands. Three completely different products. Here is exactly what each one does, what it costs, and who it is built for.
What BrightLocal Actually Is
BrightLocal is a software platform. You log in, run reports, and manage your local SEO data yourself. It is a good tool for marketing agencies or in-house teams who want dashboards, citation tracking, and rank monitoring. It does not do the work for you. Someone on your team still needs to know what they are looking at and what to do about it.
Starting price: around $29 per month for the lowest tier. That gets you software access. Execution is on you.
What Yext Actually Is
Yext is also software, focused on syndicating your business listing information across directories and data networks. It is strong at keeping your NAP (name, address, phone) consistent across the web. Like BrightLocal, it requires someone to manage it. It also requires an ongoing subscription to maintain those listings. Cancel and your data reverts.
Starting price: several hundred dollars per year for basic listing management. No strategy. No content. No ads. No results unless you drive them yourself.
What HEARD Is
HEARD is a done-for-you local marketing agency. You do not log into dashboards. You do not manage anything. We handle your SEO, your Google Business Profile, your review generation, your lead automation, and your ads. You get monthly reports showing exactly what is working. We guarantee booked leads in 90 days or we keep working free.
The difference is not just price. It is who does the work.
Side by Side
| Feature | HEARD | BrightLocal | Yext |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Done-for-you agency | DIY software | DIY software |
| Local SEO execution | Yes, included | No (data only) | No (listings only) |
| Google Business Profile management | Yes, weekly | Reporting only | Partial sync |
| Review generation | Automated system included | Manual tracking | No |
| Missed-call lead recovery | Included | No | No |
| Paid advertising | Optional add-on | No | No |
| Strategy and consultation | Ongoing | No | No |
| 90-day results guarantee | Yes | No | No |
| Cancel and lose everything | No | Partial | Yes (listings revert) |
| Best for | Business owners who want results without doing the work | Marketing teams who want reporting tools | Businesses managing their own listing distribution |
The Real Question
If you have a marketing team in-house with the skills and time to execute local SEO, BrightLocal and Yext are legitimate tools. If you are a business owner who wants more calls, more booked appointments, and more reviews without adding another job to your plate, a done-for-you system is the only thing that will actually move the needle. HEARD is built for the second type of business owner.
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