In today’s digital age, consumers frequently use their smartphones and computers to search for local businesses and services nearby, which means that optimising your website is more important than ever. “Near me” searches have become an increasingly popular way to find local businesses such as nearby restaurants, stores, professional services, and more in areas near them.
If you are a business owner who offers local business, ranking for “near me” searches can significantly boost your local visibility as well as attract and increase potential customers. Find out how to rank for near me searches and utilise SEO on your website here.
What is a Near Me Search?
“Near me” searches are where a keyword is searched in search engines such as Google followed by ‘near me’. A “near me” search is a type of online search query which indicates that users are searching for businesses, services, or points of interest located near their current location.
For example, someone might make a “near me” search for “pizza near me,” “pharmacy near me,” or “petrol station near me.” The search engine’s goal is to provide the user with results that are relevant to their immediate geographic location, making it easier for them to find nearby options quickly.
“Near me” searches have become increasingly popular as algorithms, phone searches and the integration of location services in search engines and mapping applications have developed. These searches help users discover local businesses and services conveniently, which has made near me searches an essential part of local search marketing for businesses aiming to attract nearby customers.
Performing well in search engines for these types of queries is key to your website and business beating local competition. Find out how to optimise for near me searches below.
How to Optimise for Near Me Searches
“Near me” searches typically involve users entering phrases like “restaurants near me,” or “dentist near me” into search engines. These searches aim to find businesses or services near the user’s current location in a quick and easy search.
To make your website rank for these searches, utilise the following SEO strategies to improve your search engine performance:
Optimise Your Google My Business (GMB) Listing
A good way to help your business rank well for near me searches is by claiming or creating a GMB listing for your business if you haven’t already. Ensure your listing includes accurate business information, such as your name, address, phone number, website URL, hours of operation, and high-quality photos of your services.
It is also good practice to encourage customer reviews on your GMB listing, as positive reviews can boost your local rankings and help potential customers see honest opinions about your service.
Utilise Local SEO
Implementing onsite and technical SEO for local searches is key to boosting your website in search engines. Ensure to include location-based keywords in your website content and meta tags to help indicate the location of your business.
Schema markup can also help search engines understand your business information better, improving your chances of appearing in “near me” search results for people requiring your services in the nearby area.
Optimise your website for mobile devices
The vast majority of “near me” searches are performed on smartphones, so ensuring that your website is compatible with mobile and works well will improve user experience and help the chances of ranking in the SERP.
Create Local Content
Develop informative and engaging content which is relevant to your local audience. This can include blog posts, articles, or resources related to your industry or niche known as local SEO.
You should also incorporate location-specific keywords in your content to signal your relevance to local searches, which will ultimately help you to rank for near me searches.
Local Link Building
Build a strong backlink profile with a focus on local links – you can seek partnerships with local businesses, join local directories, and collaborate with local influencers to help you rank well locally.
Guest posting on local websites and earning local media coverage can also help improve your local SEO.
Online Directories and Citations
Ensuring that your business information is consistent across online directories and adding your website on authoritative platforms like Yelp, Yellow Pages, and TripAdvisor can boost your visibility for “near me” searches.
Local Social Media Engagement
Another great way to actively engage with your local audience is by posting regularly on social media platforms. Use location-based hashtags and geotags to increase your content’s visibility to local users who may be searching for local services.
Monitor and Analyse SEO and Local Competition
Regularly monitor your local SEO performance using tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console and track your rankings for relevant “near me” keywords. By doing this and researching competitor tactics, you can make adjustments to your strategy as needed to help you rank well for near me searches.
Key Things to Note With “Near Me” Searches
The majority of near me searches are searched on mobile phones whilst in the local area and are commonly more urgent types of keyword queries as the user searches for a service nearby them in the moment.
The most common category “near me” searches include:
- Food-related services
- Entertainment
- Banks
- Taxi/bus/train services
It is also very important to ensure you answer any queries that a person completing a near me search wants to know. This includes your address, open hours, costs, distance and services available.
Get Help to Rank for Near Me Searches
Ranking for “near me” searches requires a strategic approach that combines local SEO, optimisation of your GMB listing, and a strong online presence. By following these strategies, you can increase your website’s visibility and attract local customers who are actively searching for products or services in your area.
You need to stay committed to ongoing optimisation and monitoring of your website to maintain your competitive edge in local search results. If you do not have the time to commit to SEO or want to seek the help of local SEO professionals to help beat the competition in your local area, we can help.
Our SEO experts offer local SEO services and can help your website rank for near-me searches. Optimising your website can take time and expertise – enquire about our search engine optimisation services today.
Posted on Friday, November 17th, 2023 in Latest News.
