Leveraging Local SEO: How to Rank for “Near Me” Searches

Gasoline prices are soaring. People want instant gratification. Search terms like “pizza chain near me” and “clothes stores nearby” are very popular. Terms like “gyms near me” and “restaurants near me” also rank at the top of Google search trends worldwide. 

“Near me” searches are growing rapidly, as people use these keywords to find products and services close to their location. If you are a local business, you want to attract more foot traffic. Start using these location-based search queries to your advantage. 

Learn how you can leverage local SEO solutions to rank higher for ‘near-me’ searches and boost your bottom line. 

Work On Your Google Business Profile

Google’s search algorithm assesses the distance of a business. It also evaluates the prominence and relevance of a business to a ‘near me’ search. The algorithm then shows the user the best results. If your business isn’t listed on Google Business Profile, then start using this free tool today. Google uses the information mentioned on the profile. This includes name, address, and phone number. This information helps attract customers based on their GPS location. This is why it’s important to fill in your Google Business Profile correctly.

Select the primary business category that best describes your business. Write a business description that mentions your hours of operation. Include products on offer, a unique selling proposition, and acceptable payment methods. Mention other attributes of offering your business. 

Don’t forget to add high-quality photos that can give your target audience more confidence in the credibility of your firm. 

If you don’t want to risk errors that can jeopardize your profile, outsource to a local SEO provider. They can create and optimize it for you.

Get More Citations

Citations from high-quality directories are favorable for your quest to rank higher on “near me” searches. 

Find other local business directories that are relevant to your industry. Make sure your business information is included in them. This will help Google understand that your business is credible and relevant for these searches.

Use Local Keywords in All Your Content

Optimize your website for local keywords that people in your area search for.  To optimize for “near me” searches, you need to start including local keywords in your content pieces.

Include your city and state in your titles and meta descriptions. Be cautious not to resort to keyword stuffing. This can lead to the Google algorithm penalizing your business. Create local pages on your website with relevant content that your demographic will find interesting.

Mention neighborhood names as well as important landmarks in the vicinity you are targeting on your site. This will help convince the Google algorithm that you are a business that serves these regions. 

Get Reviews

Reviews from customers act as social proof that your business is credible and delivers on expectations. Google needs to see positive sentiment about your business to help you rank higher. People should echo this sentiment on platforms such as Google Business Profile and others specific to your industry or locality.  

You also need to make the process of leaving a review easy. No one is going to bother giving you their time if it feels like a complicated question. An affordable local SEO services provider can help you find more creative ways to get reviews. This includes building compelling CTAs for reviews.

Backlink Profile 

Backlinks are like cheat codes in computer games. They can help you dominate the local search engine rankings faster. 

Find relevant sites in your industry and locality that enjoy a high domain authority. Pitch them a guest post idea. When they agree to the idea, they will link back to your site. Google will consider that backlink as a geographic anchor. This will catapult you to the top. 

If you feel that you don’t know websites that will agree to this, then it’s important to outsource. Find a local link-building provider who already has a list of websites interested in hosting your content.