What is a “Near Me” search? Basically it’s a geo-based query similar to local requests. People use it to find businesses, products, or services that are located physically close to their location at the time of search. Now, as more and more people are using this kind of search, businesses have to adapt their visibility to it. Furthermore, due to a strong intent, such queries can offer you more than just traffic – it’s basically potential sales coming right to your threshold.
In this guide, we’ll tell you how to build a Near Me SEO strategy that works, so that you capture these opportunities.
Understanding the Intent Behind “Near Me” Searches
Before we delve into the specs of SEO optimization Near Me, let’s talk about the intent hidden behind these searches. As was mentioned earlier, the big thing about this kind of search is that it goes far beyond traffic. People who are using “Near Me” queries are normally seeking instant solutions. They are located somewhere, and they look up the product or service they want to purchase in the nearby area. That is, they have a very strong intent, which often results in a purchase.
The reason why you should care about this now is very simple. When your potential buyer gets out there to find local products or services and doesn’t find your business, it means that they find your competitors. You don’t just lose traffic. You lose revenue that could walk through your door. And although it’s not about traffic, it still affects it. Your local visibility directly impacts your business’s relevance and credibility. That is, it can improve your position in traditional SERPs and AI overviews, which leads to more traffic and better conversions.
Due to these reasons, local SEO Near Me should become an integral part of your marketing efforts.
How “Near Me” Searches Work: Key Local Ranking Factors
Basically, appearing in such searches is a result of local search optimization. To implement it, you need a complete and up-to-date Google Business Profile, which is where Google algorithms extract your business information (such as physical address, working hours, and others) from.
Creating and optimizing an account is half the effort. To ensure that your business is seen, you also need to meet local ranking factors. There are three of them:
- Relevance is the first factor. It reflects how accurately your business matches the intent and needs of the user. And you can optimize for it. To do this, you need to conduct thorough market and audience research and adjust your offerings and content to TA’s needs. It’s also important to optimize for user intent and leverage Near Me keywords SEO to rank for this specific type of query.
- Distance is the second important element. It means just that. Google uses the device’s GPS to detect the user’s current location. Based on it, algorithms match users with the nearest relevant businesses. If GPS is disabled, Google algorithms form the results based on what they already know about a particular user, for example, based on their past search history.
- Prominence is the final factor. It reflects the overall visibility of your business. Additionally, algorithms consider authority and trustworthiness. It involves multiple elements, including:
- Rankings in SERPs
- Rankings in different SERP features
- The frequency of appearing in the map results
- Rankings and reviews on Google
- Backlinks and mentions by reputable sources
If you have it all, you are more likely to be prominent in local SEO Google maps results. How do you ensure this? Link-building, reputation management, and overall ranking-oriented SEO techniques will help.
These are the primary factors that help Google offer the best-matching results for users’ queries. Now, let’s see which steps you need to implement to build your effective Near Me SEO strategy.
Near Me SEO Strategy: Step 1 – Optimize Google Business Profile for Local Visibility
Local search optimization begins with your Google Business Profile. You need to add or claim one if you don’t have it yet. To add a new business, visit the business.google.com/add page and create a new listing using your business information. Then, verify it. If you can see your business on a map but don’t own the listing, find it and click the Own this business button.
Next, do the following:
Complete Your Information and Maintain It Well
Include the essentials into your profile. These include:
- Business name
- Working hours
- Address
- Phone number
- Website
Next, write a relevant description that explains what you do. Integrate the keywords for better rankings. Then, when everything is set up, implement an ongoing maintenance process to keep it complete and up-to-date at all times.
Add Details of Your Offering
In order to appear relevant to your prospects’ needs, you need to give more details on what you offer. Enhance your profile with a list of products/services and provide concise descriptions. Google Profile gives you the possibility to match your products/services to specific areas of operation. To do this, you need to specify cities or provide postal codes, and it will help you increase relevance further. Additionally, you can share links to well-optimized landing pages related to each product or service to give users a way to learn more.
Benefit From Additional, User-Focused Features
Google Business Profile comes with several customer-focused features that aim for greater engagement. Using photos, posts, and updates helps improve relevance and credibility. And it’s a great way to grab attention. Leverage them all for maximum impact.
Near Me SEO Strategy: Step 2 – Create Landing Pages That Focus on “Near Me” Searches
You need content tailored to “Near Me” searches in order to appear in such results. Simply put, you need to create landing pages that target queries with this phrase.
It starts with the Near Me keywords SEO research. Your goal is to find “Near Me” variations of your existing target keywords. Then, you can build your pages.
City- and Region-Specific Pages
Build separate landing pages for the regions and cities you operate in. More pages will help you expand your outreach further. Each page should contain local-specific queries with the “Near Me” phrase in them. You can target one primary and several secondary keywords for every landing page. But don’t go solely for keywords. Remember to stick to a customer-centered approach to deliver engaging content.
Implement Structured Data
You need to add schema markup on your landing pages. Use structured data to specify the type of business. You should also implement an address schema to appear as a local company.
Optimize for AI
According to BrightLocal’s survey, 48% of buyers read AI Overviews when deciding to use a local company or not. That is, appearing in AI results can also help you increase your visibility. To do this, use conversational language and target long-tail, conversational Near Me keywords on your landing pages. This strategy will also help you appear as a result for voice searches.
Consider using trusted AI visibility analysis software to monitor how visible your brand is in AI results and find areas for improvement.
Near Me SEO Strategy: Step 3 – Strengthen Directory Presence and Citation
List your brand in general business and industry-specific directories. Most importantly, leverage uniform and up-to-date information and your target Near Me keywords across different listings. Collaborate with the media representatives and create news-worthy content and press releases to build brand citations.
This will give you additional exposure. And citations will help expand your backlink profile and gain greater credibility.
Near Me SEO Strategy: Step 4 – Build Local Authority
Use PR and link acquisition strategies to grow your authority in the specific area. First, work with your content:
- Pitch press releases to reputable media platforms.
- Guest post in popular local blogs.
- Deliver quality local-focused copy that other creators will want to share.
Wise collaborations can also help. You can use the HARO approach to share your expert opinion with the local media. This grows trust and builds your authority. Also, it’s possible to earn mentions through influencer marketing. Or you can collaborate with other brands.
Next, pay attention to reputation management. Ask existing customers to share their experiences. Reviews left on Google and in directories shape your rating. And remember that responding to testimonials also matters. Enable alerts on new customer reviews in your account, so that you can answer instantly.
Near Me SEO Strategy: Step 5 – Adapt to Voice Search and Ensure Mobile Friendliness
Often, when users need to find a product or service nearby, they use voice search because it’s more convenient for browsing on the go. Obviously, they typically use their mobile devices to do this. You can optimize both for mobile and voice using these tricks:
- Write like it’s a conversation.
- Target question-based queries.
- Use caching for speed. Also, consider implementing a content delivery network.
- Implement a responsive design and improve navigation to provide a good mobile experience.
Gain a New Competitive Edge With “Near Me” Optimization
Today, local maps optimization for “Near Me” queries is essential to maintain your online presence and get your brand discovered by prospects with a strong buying intent. Capturing them can give you a strong competitive edge. And now, you have the tools to shape a strategy that actually works.
Implement the steps we shared here now to get ahead of the competition. But don’t stop there. Don’t forget about continuous monitoring and improvement. Remember that SEO is a long-term commitment. So, be sure to monitor how well your strategy works and improve it in the long run. You can leverage tools like local rank trackers, heatmaps and geo-grid tracking, and GBP insights for this purpose.
nandbox App Builder
when you make an app with nandbox App Builder, it makes it easier and faster for people nearby to find and interact with your business. You can add location-based features, showcase your services, add instant messaging, and share updates or deals right in the app.
