If you’ve ever searched something like “coffee shop near me” or “AC repair near me,” you’re not alone—and neither are your customers.
“Near me” searches have exploded over the last few years, especially on mobile devices.
And here’s what matters for your business:
If your website and Google Business Profile aren’t optimized for this kind of search, you’re not even in the running.
That means missed traffic. Missed leads. Missed revenue.
In this blog, I’ll show you:
What “near me” searches actually are and how Google interprets them
Why they matter for small, local businesses
How to naturally use “near me” phrases in your content
What we do at MSW to optimize for this inside our Performance Marketing Program
And how to get started—even if you’ve never thought about this before
Let’s make sure your business shows up when it matters most—right when someone near you is looking.
A “near me” search is exactly what it sounds like: someone asking Google (often with voice or mobile search) to find a business close to their current location.
Examples:
“Bakery near me”
“Dog groomer near me open now”
“Best chiropractor near me”
“Affordable divorce lawyer near me”
These types of searches don’t always include a city or state—because Google already knows the user’s location.
Instead, Google relies on a combination of:
Proximity (where the searcher is)
Relevance (how well your site matches the search)
Prominence (reviews, content quality, and local authority)
If your site doesn’t signal relevance or local intent, you won’t show up—no matter how close you are.
Mobile traffic now makes up over 60% of all Google searches.
“Near me” searches have grown over 500% in the last five years. (Google)
76% of people who search for a nearby service visit a business within 24 hours.
That means people aren’t just looking—they’re ready to take action.
If your competitors show up in those results and you don’t, you’re handing them warm leads.
We worked with a roofing contractor based in the Lake of the Ozarks area. Great team, great reputation—but their website didn’t show up in any “near me” search results.
Why?
No location pages
No service areas mentioned in the site copy
No use of “near me” language in meta or blog content
Their Google Business Profile categories were vague
Here’s what we did inside their Performance Marketing Program:
Updated their site content to include phrases like “serving homeowners near Osage Beach”
Added FAQs and blog posts with natural “near me” phrasing
Optimized their Google Business Profile to reinforce proximity + services
Ran a visibility audit to identify opportunities across directories
Result: within 45 days, they ranked in the top 3 for “roof repair near me” and saw a 32% increase in calls from Google Maps.
This isn’t about stuffing your site with robotic keywords. It’s about writing the way your customers search.
Here’s where we recommend including “near me” phrases:
Include phrasing like:
“We proudly serve homeowners near Lake Ozark and throughout Camden County.”
“Looking for a family dentist near you? We help patients in [city] and surrounding areas.”
This speaks directly to the way people search—and tells Google what to associate your business with.
This is what shows up in search results. Make it count.
Example:
“Trusted HVAC repair near you—serving Osage Beach, Eldon, and surrounding communities.”
FAQs are a great place to weave in natural, question-based “near me” phrasing—especially for voice search.
Examples:
“Where can I find a reliable electrician near me?”
“What should I look for in a chiropractor near me?”
Blog posts give you space to answer local questions and build relevance.
Titles like:
“How to Choose the Best [Service] Near You”
“What to Look for in a [Service] Provider in the Lake of the Ozarks Area”
These posts not only help with SEO—they build trust with the reader.
Google indexes images. Make sure yours include:
“before-and-after photo of driveway sealing near Camdenton”
“team installing HVAC system near Osage Beach”
Every small detail helps reinforce your location signals.
Don’t stuff the phrase awkwardly.
Bad: “We are the best bakery near me for people looking for bakery near me.”
Good: “Looking for a bakery near you? We serve the Lake of the Ozarks area with fresh, made-from-scratch pastries daily.”
Don’t create duplicate content for every variation.
Instead of making 10 pages with “plumber near me” in different cities, create one solid, informative page that naturally incorporates the regions you serve.
Don’t ignore your Google Business Profile.
Your GBP is critical for showing up in local + “near me” searches. Make sure your NAP is consistent and your categories are specific.
Inside the Performance Marketing Program, we help small business owners show up in more “near me” searches by:
This is not about gaming the algorithm. It’s about speaking to your audience the way they’re already searching.
Add a line to your homepage or footer that says:
“Serving clients in [city], [region], and surrounding areas.”
Create a FAQ with:
“How do I find a [your service] near me?”
Update your Google Business Profile categories and services to be as specific and local as possible.
When someone types “near me,” they’re not in research mode—they’re ready to act.
The question is:
Will they find you, or your competitor?
With just a few smart changes, you can increase your chances of showing up at the exact moment someone is ready to buy.
Let’s help them find you.
We’ll run a custom report that shows how your business ranks for “near me” searches in your area—and exactly what to improve.
📞 Call us at 573-552-8403
Or book your free local SEO strategy call at:
https://mswinteractivedesigns.com/pages/request-a-quote
Let’s make sure your business shows up when your next best client is searching nearby.
Related Reading:
→ How to Naturally Add Location Keywords to Boost Local Rankings
Learn where to place your city, county, and service area keywords for better visibility in local search.
Sandy Wardenburg Waggett is the Founder & CEO of MSW Interactive Designs, a premier digital marketing agency specializing in SEO, AI-powered content strategies, and website optimization. With over a quarter century of experience (eek!), Sandy has helped thousands of business owners increase visibility, generate leads, and dominate their local markets through strategic online marketing.
As a Certified High-Performance Coach, Certified Maxwell Leadership Coach, and LXCouncil Moderator, Sandy is not just a marketing expert—she’s a trusted mentor and business strategist who equips entrepreneurs with data-driven insights and future-proof tactics. She leads AI & Marketing Mastery Training and exclusive CEO mastermind groups, helping business leaders stay ahead in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Sandy is also the author of the upcoming book, The Future-Proof SEO Blueprint: AI, AEO, and SEO Tactics for Small Business Dominance—a must-read for business owners looking to outsmart competitors and win in the new era of search marketing. The book provides cutting-edge strategies on AI-driven SEO, Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), and how to leverage AI tools to future-proof your digital presence.
When she’s not crafting game-changing marketing strategies, Sandy enjoys coaching entrepreneurs, speaking at business conferences, and empowering leaders to make bold moves in their industries.
🚀 Want to take your digital marketing to the next level? Connect with Sandy at MSWInteractiveDesigns.com or call 573-552-8403.
