How Do Businesses Get Shown in “Near Me” Searches?
Whenever customers look for local businesses, there’s a good chance they’ll hop on Google and type in the service they’re looking for with the phrase “near me”—such as “event catering near me.” The results that show in Google with these searches are incredibly helpful for small business visibility online and can help connect customers to local businesses close to them.
How can your business show up in these searches? There are a few things that impact when and where your business appears in Google local search results, but the most important are:
- a Google My Business listing
- your business’ physical address
- ratings and reviews of your business
An essential first step to getting found for “near me” searches is creating a Google My Business listing. Google My Business is a free local listing directory that allows you to share your business contact information—more specifically, your business name, address, phone number, website URL, and hours of operation—so that customers can find you through Google search.
The other thing you’ll want to do is ensure your business address is listed accurately and consistently in online business directories. Google shows local business results to its searchers based on location, so telling Google where your business is physically located helps it understand when you’re close to someone searching for a “near me” service.
In addition, you should encourage customers to leave ratings and reviews of your business through Google, Facebook, Yelp, and other online business directories. Good ratings and reviews tell Google that you’re a credible business worth showing in local search results whenever someone looks for “near me” options.
If you need help building out local business listings in Google and other small business directories, Local Search Fuel by Hurrdat can help. With our small business solution, all you have to do is provide us with your business contact information, and we’ll claim, manage, and optimize your listings so that you can connect with more local customers online.
Need help getting found in “near me” searches? Local Search Fuel is the affordable solution you’ve been looking for. Visit localsearchfuel.com to get started with a free local listings scan!