Why Near Me Search Can Help Your Local Business Rank Higher and Explode

As a local business owner, you know that reaching your target audience is the key to increasing sales and growing your business, right? That's where 'Near+Me' comes in. This powerful term helps you tap into the growing trend of local SEO, putting your business in front of potential customers who are actively searching for your products or services.

But what exactly is Near Me? Well here at Reviewly we love this two-word terminology because it allows users to search for businesses and services in close proximity to their home, business or current location. By optimising your business for Near Me searches, you can dramatically increase your visibility on google maps and attract new customers who are looking for exactly what you offer. Those people who don't want to drive all over town.

So why is this so important for local businesses? Simply put, these searches have grown and are going to continue. If you're not focusing on local SEO, you're missing out on a huge opportunity to build your business. By ensuring that your business appears in Near Me results, you can connect with customers who are ready to buy, and buy right now!

And like our clients, we don't want you to miss out on this chance to explode your business - start optimising for Near Me today! 

What is Local Search?

Local search is a powerful tool that can help businesses of all sizes. That's what's so exciting about improving your online footprint. If you have a small company, with a tiny marketing budget but you use those funds correctly you can compete with the giants in your industry.

In other words, your online presence is what a customer can find and research about your company. And it's how you reach your target audience more effectively. By leveraging Google Maps, google products and Google search techniques, you as a business owner can increase visibility.

By doing so, you can attract more customers to your physical address or online location, and drive more traffic to your digital assets. Optimising your local SEO strategy also offers a range of benefits, including improved customer engagement, increased credibility, and more accurate targeting. Just remember Google's here to help, if you help them.

Whether you are a small business owner looking to increase your visibility in your local market or a large corporation looking to expand your reach globally, google local search is a must-have tool.

So why wait?

Understanding the Basics of Local Search

Some businesses are not being seen by potential customers and I hope that's not you. Recent research suggests that organic rankings increase CTR ( Click Through Rates) by as much as 30%. Understanding the basics of local search can make all the difference! By optimising your online presence to show in your local listings, you can increase your business visibility and attract the right customers, now.

That's why not letting your business fade into the background of search engine results is so important - take control!

Start by optimising your website with location-specific keywords and pages. Creating and managing your Google My Business listing recently updated to Google business profile. These simple steps can greatly improve your chances of showing up in neighbourhood mobile device results.

And don't forget about regular posting on your GBP - It surprises me consistently how many businesses spend a fortune on Facebook but don't spend any time posting on Google. Ask yourself... where does your ideal client find you? On Facebook or Google?

By actively engaging with your local community, and answering FAQs and reviews, you can establish your brand as a trustworthy and reliable source for your products or services.

So what are you waiting for?

Take charge of your online presence today with the power of search marketing! 

The Importance of Google Maps for My Business.

Ranking in Google searches is important for your business if you aim to attract customers from your surrounding area and suburbs. With roughly 80% of searches carried out on a mobile device or some sort of smart technology, people tend to search for businesses or services nearby. So optimising your business with local keywords plays a critical role in ensuring that your business appears at the top of search queries. 

It is vital to optimise your website and online presence for local searches so that potential customers can easily locate and contact your business. Here's a tip: Make sure to link those pages to your GBP.

To do that include your hours of operation after making sure your business name is correct, including your phone number and business address is displayed the same across all listings. Make sure your business name is accurate and consistent across all platforms before adding your hours of operation, phone number, and addresses to each listing. 

Local search engine optimisation (SEO) strategies such as creating and verifying your Google My Business listings, listing your business in online directories, and using relevant keywords are essential for boosting your visibility in local search results. 

Additionally, local search can increase your chances of getting positive reviews and feedback from satisfied customers, which may lead to more business and referral opportunities.  Google has an algorithm called EAT  (Expertise, Authority and Trust) and when you generate reviews, it helps build EAT.

More trust means more customers.

What are the key elements of local SEO?

1. What is ranking locally and why is it important?

Local ranking is where you show up organically in search for the area you are searching in because of your geolocation or IP address. The higher you show up increases your ability to be found and build credibility and trust. 

2. Why are sending signals to Google paramount for my business to rank?

There are several key practices to rank higher and send Google signals. Some of the most important practices include:

• optimising your online business listings, including information about your business with name and location.

• increasing your NAP ( Name, Address & Phone number), 

• using local keywords, as well as near me',

• building local links,

• make sure to optimise your website for mobile searches,

• having a location page on your website,

• add schema data helps search engines find you,

• and having a strong Google My Business profile.

3. How important is my Google My Business profile?

Here at Reviewly, we like to think that your Google Business profile listing is the source data of everything Google knows about you and your business. So if you think about it like that, it's incredibly important for local SEO. As it's one of the primary ways for you to be found in searches on Google. The more customers find and interact with your business online, the higher you rank. And your profile is a free tool.

Make sure that your profile is completely filled out, with accurate and up-to-date information, and that you're actively managing your profile and responding to local customers' reviews and inquiries. Otherwise, you might not show.

4. How can I optimise my business for voice search and AI search?

As more people use voice search on their mobile devices and smart speakers, optimising your business for voice search is becoming increasingly important.

As does the new AI browsers, where Q&A is so important. This requires using more conversational, natural language on your website and your Google Business profile, and making sure you answer your ideal client's biggest questions and concerns.

How to Optimise for 'Near+Me' Search

What are near-me searches?

Near+me refers to queries made on search engines to find businesses, products or services in close proximity to the user's current location. The user typically includes phrases such as "near me", "near me searches", "open now near me", "business for near me", etc. in their queries.

How does Google use near+me in searches and show them in local results?

Google uses near+me in searches to show the top Google presence of local businesses that match the user's search query. When a user searches for products or services with location-specific keywords, Google shows a pack of three local businesses with their contact details, reviews, and other information. This is known as the top Google local search result.

What does it mean to optimise for 'near me' searches?

Optimising for near me means making changes to your website and online presence to make it easier for customers to find your business when searching for products or services in close proximity. It includes optimising your website's content, Google My Business profile, and local directories.

How can I optimise my website for near-me searches?

To optimise your website for near-me search, start by including location-specific keywords in your website's content, title tags, and meta descriptions. Add location base pages. You can also add schema markup to your website to provide search engines with more information about your business and location.

How can I optimise my Google Business Profile for 'near me' search?

To optimise your GBP for near-me criteria, ensure that your NAP (name, address, phone number) information is accurate and up-to-date. You can also add photos, descriptions, and other relevant information about your business to make it more attractive to potential customers.

How can local citations help with near-me optimisation?

Local citations are mentions of your business NAP information on other websites such as local directories, social media, and review sites. These mentions help improve your business's online visibility and can also improve your search engine rankings for location-specific keywords.

Why is mobile optimisation important for 'near me' search?

Mobile optimisation is important for 'near me' enquiries because most users make these queries on their mobile devices. If your website is not mobile-friendly, or just slow, google will penalise your site. This means you will not show up in mobile search results. That's why it's important to have a fast-loading website because your customer will not want to sit and wait for your page to show up. As we all know, no one likes the spinning wheel!

Importance of Local Search Update:

What is the LSU?

The Local Search Update is a Google algorithm update that aims to improve the accuracy and relevance of local business search results that are displayed to users. It was first rolled out in 2014 and has undergone several upgrades since then. Google regularly updates its algorithms as they want the best user experience.

Why is the Local Search Update Important for Businesses?

It's important for local businesses because it improves their chances of being found by potential customers who are searching for local services or products online. By optimising your website for local search, your business can improve its search engine rankings and increase its visibility to your local audience.

What are the key factors that influence local search rankings?

The key factors that influence local search rankings are proximity, relevance, and prominence. Proximity refers to the physical distance between the user and the business, relevance is based on how well the business matches the user's search query, and prominence is determined by the business's overall online presence.

What are the benefits of optimising for local search?

The benefits of optimising for local search include increased website traffic from local users, higher search engine rankings, improved visibility in Google Maps and other local directories, and a greater likelihood of attracting new customers to your business.

How often does the Local Search Update occur?

The update does not have a fixed schedule, but it typically occurs several times per year. Google continuously updates its algorithms to improve search results, so it is important for local businesses to stay up-to-date with the latest changes.

Conclusion

If you want to rank, and be the top local business in your area, I don't have to tell you the importance of local SEO. You already understand search engines like Google and are using local SEO tactics, I'm sure. While searches continue to grow, optimising your business for local products and search terms is your goal and you may even be using local influencers to support your brand. With the 'near me' search so popular, I just wanted to congratulate you on your success.

If however, your still struggling, that's ok. We have absolute heroes who can do this for you. Just reach out to [email protected] or book a time here in our calendar to find out more.