Have you ever found yourself quickly typing “coffee shops near me” or “grocery store near me” into Google looking for a quick result?
If that sounds familiar, you’re certainly not alone. ‘Near me’ searches have exploded in recent years due to the convenience of mobile devices and users looking for instant results.
HubSpot states that a whopping 46% of all Google searches are geared towards local information.
When someone searches “near me,” it’s not just casual browsing, they’re looking for something specific. They want local businesses, services, or products, and they want them now.
This makes these searches goldmines for businesses ready to meet those needs. It can range from a piping hot cup of coffee, a quick haircut, or an emergency plumber.
In fact, our SEO agency in Singapore is fine tuning our services to local SEO. Ever since the introduction of the helpful content update on Google’s algorithm, traditional SEO hasn’t been that stable!
Let’s get into how to optimize your website for “near me searches”.
Claim and Optimize Your Google Business Profile
Step one is to claim and fully optimize your Google Business Profile (GBP)—what used to be called Google My Business. Think of this as your virtual storefront, the digital face of your business on Google’s search results.
Getting started is simple:
- Head over to the Google Business Profile page and sign in with your Google account.
- Enter your business name, physical address, and other essential details.
- Verify your business through mail, phone, or email.
- Fill out every single field—business name, address, phone number (NAP), operating hours, services, photos, and more.
Providing thorough and accurate information doesn’t just help potential customers find you; it signals to Google that you’re trustworthy.
Verify Your Locations
If you have multiple locations, each one needs to be verified. Each verified location then can show up in its own ‘near me’ search results.
Set Up a Dedicated Page for Each Location
Instead of linking all your locations to a generic homepage, create a separate, dedicated page on your website for each city or region you serve. Make these pages detailed. Include location-specific content, relevant maps, and unique selling points.
Use Dedicated Phone Numbers for Each Location
For businesses where customers call or visit a specific location (like a restaurant or a dentist), using a local phone number rather than a central hotline is crucial. It adds that localized touch and boosts your credibility in the eyes of both users and search engines.
Customize and Optimize Photos for Each Location
Your photos should tell a story unique to each location. Use custom logos or images that incorporate local landmarks or contextual backgrounds. Real photos such as interior shots, exterior shots, team photos give customers a sense of what to expect.
Stay clear of stock photos. Authenticity resonates better and builds trust.
Consistency in NAP Data
Your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) should be uniform across all platforms—Google, Yelp, Facebook, your website, and more.
You can use tools like Moz Local for auditing and fixing these inconsistencies.
Create Social Media Business Pages
By publishing business pages on popular social platforms, you increase your chances of appearing multiple times in search results. The more visible you are, the more likely potential customers will choose your business over a competitor’s.
Utilize Schema Markup for Local SEO
Schema markup, particularly the LocalBusiness schema is a type of code that helps search engines better understand and display your business information.
Steps to Implement Local Business Schema Markup:
- Identify key details like your business address, services, and contact info.
- Use tools such as Google’s Structured Data Markup Helper to generate JSON-LD code.
- Embed the generated schema directly into your website’s HTML.
When implemented correctly, schema markup can help your business appear in those eye-catching rich snippets, making it more prominent in local search results.
Acquire Local Backlinks and Citations
Local backlinks signals to search engines that your site is not only authoritative but also relevant within a specific area.
You can earn these local backlinks by:
- Collaborating with local influencers or bloggers. Reaching out and publishing a guest article.
- Creating localized content that speaks directly to your community, such as local guides, local news, or event roundups.
- Local Citations
Local citations, mentions of your business’s NAP on local directories like Yelp or TripAdvisor are also crucial. They reinforce your business’s credibility.
This can sound like a daunting process, to create local pages, coordinate citations, and then do outreach to localized sites to get placements on.
That is why whenever we consult SEO clients in Singapore, we build these steps into a mechanized process!
Encourage Customer Reviews and Engagement
Customer reviews are more than just feedback. They can be a powerful local SEO tool. Positive reviews build trust, drive more business and directly impact your search rankings.
Strategies to Encourage Reviews:
- Simply ask satisfied customers to leave a review on platforms like Google, Yelp, or Facebook.
- Provide direct links in follow-up emails to make the process seamless.
- Respond to reviews, whether they’re glowing or less-than-stellar. Show your audience that you value feedback and are committed to continuous improvement.
Conclusion
Optimizing for ‘near me’ searches is essential and can be a potential goldmine for your local business.
If you’re in local services: lawyers, plastic surgeons, dentists, landscaping companies, home services. You can “print money” if they are ranking in the Maps Pack.
The reason is that when people search for those keywords like “lawyer near me” or “dentist near me,” that Maps Pack is incredibly prominent.
Start with an SEO optimized Google Business Profile, ensure good local SEO practices on your website pages, have local citations coorindated, build local backlinks and encourage customer reviews.
These steps will significantly enhance your visibility in local searches.
Lastly, remember that local SEO isn’t a one-off task. Keep fine tuning your strategy, and soon, those ‘near me’ searchers will be finding their way right to your door!
