Near me searches on Google are when people search on their phones to find places to eat or shop close to them at that moment. Is your business ready?
Your business needs to be ready for all the new “near me” searches as tourist season in northern Michigan gets into full swing.
What is a Near Me Search on Google?
A near me search is when someone uses location-related words to find things close to their current geographic location.
For example, someone might search for “coffee shop near me” or “pizza near my location.”
Google will show search results that are geographically close to the user’s location at that moment. Google uses the device location (if enabled) or the location specified in the search to deliver results that are physically nearby.
Optimizing your online presence for “near me” searches will help your business attract local customers and increase foot traffic.
To increase your visibility in “near me” searches on Google, I have a few steps you can take to optimize being found.
Claim Your Google Business Profile Listing
Claiming and verifying your Google Business Profile is crucial for local searches!
Make sure your business information is accurate, complete, and up-to-date.
Include your address, phone number, website URL, business hours, and relevant categories.
Optimize Your Google Business Profile
Add high-quality photos of your business, encourage reviews from satisfied customers, and respond to all reviews promptly.
You can also add Google Business Profile posts and updates, just like you do on social media. This helps keep your listing fresh and engaging.
Sharing content on your profile also tells Google you are an open and active business.
Optimize Your Website for Local SEO
Great SEO starts with great content!
- Make sure your location is included in title tags, header tags, and text content on your website.
- Create location-specific landing pages if you have multiple locations.
- Schema markup will give search engines structured data about your business, such as your address, phone number, and operating hours.
Consistent NAP Information
Make sure that your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) are formatted exactly the same on all of your online platforms, including your website, social media profiles, directories, and listings.
Get Listed in Local Directories
Submit your business to local directories, chamber of commerce member links, industry-specific directories, and review sites like Yelp and TripAdvisor. These listings can improve your visibility in local search results.
Optimize for Mobile
Since most “near me” searches come from mobile devices, make sure your website is mobile-friendly and loads quickly to provide a seamless user experience.
Create Localized Content
In addition to creating location-specific landing pages, create content that relates to your local audience and your surrounding communities. This includes blog posts, articles, staff spotlights, and videos about local news and industry trends.
Encourage Local Backlinks
Build relationships with local businesses, organizations, and influencers to earn backlinks from authoritative local websites. This can improve your website’s authority and relevance for local searches.
Monitor Local Search Queries
You can monitor your website’s performance with tools like Google Search Console and Google Analytics.
Analyze the keywords that are driving the most traffic to your site and adjust your strategies to include keywords that might be missing from your content.
Stay Active on Social Media
Engage with your local community on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Be sure to write great captions with good keywords!
If you produce engaging video content, TikTok is a great place to share videos, especially if your audience is younger..
Share local updates, promotions, and events to increase your visibility and attract local customers.
So… Are You Ready for Near Me Searches on Google?
These strategies will help improve your chances of appearing in “near me” searches on Google so you can reach potential customers in the local area.
Remember to monitor your progress regularly and adapt your strategies as needed to stay competitive in local search results.
