6 Tips for Small Businesses to Rank in “Near Me” Searches
Being the best at what you do doesn’t help much if no one knows you exist. For small businesses, having a strong local presence is often the difference between steady foot traffic and an empty shopfront. The good news? You don’t need a huge budget to compete—you just need to show up when and where people are searching. And that’s why you need strong local SEO to help you achieve this goal.
“Near me” or local searches—like “café near me”, “travel agency nearby”, or “SEO services Auckland”—are now part of everyday life, especially on mobile. People who make these searches usually have a specific reason behind their queries, whether that’s looking for a store’s location or booking a service on the spot. Think of them as fundamentally different from your general SEO, which targets wide audiences and zeroes in on specific locations. Overall, local SEO is a perfect match for small businesses looking to make a big impression in their own backyard.
This blog post walks you through some practical tips for improving how your business ranks in “near me” searches, so you can stay visible, competitive, and just a few taps away from your next customer.
Optimise Your Google Businenss Listings
Let’s be honest—if your business doesn’t show up on Google Maps, it might as well not exist for a lot of potential customers. Claiming and fully optimising your Google Business Profile is one of the most powerful things you can do to boost visibility in “near me” searches.
Make sure your listing is accurate, complete, and regularly updated. That means checking your business name, hours, phone number, website link, and address. Add quality photos that reflect your services or space, and pick the most relevant category for your business. It’s also worth posting updates like promotions, events, or occasional announcements. The more active and informative your profile is, the more Google (and potential customers) will trust it.
Get Listed in Reputable Local Directories
It’s not just your own site that affects how much you show up in people’s search results—it’s everywhere else you appear online too. Local directories act like digital signposts that guide people and search engines towards your business. The more consistent, trustworthy mentions you have across the web, the better.
Reputable websites like Yelp, Yellow, and Finda are perfect places to start. From there, you can look into niche or industry-specific directories as well. Just make sure your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) are consistent everywhere—right down to the formatting. You’re effectively giving Google extra proof that your business is real and easy to find.
Add Local Schema Markup to Your Website
Search engines are clever, but they’re not mind readers. Schema markup is a bit of behind-the-scenes code that helps clarify what your business is all about—your location, services, hours, and more. It’s like giving Google a cheat sheet to better understand your site.
Local business schema tells search engines, “Hey, this page belongs to a business located right here that offers these services.” While it may sound technical, most website platforms or SEO plugins make it fairly easy to add. If you’ve got a developer or agency helping you out, it’s worth asking them to check that this is properly set up. You’ll be helping your website speak Google’s language more fluently.
Write Local-Focused Blog Posts or Content
If your website only talks about your products or services, you’re missing a golden opportunity to connect with your local audience. Why not write content that highlights your community involvement, supports local events, or simply answers questions people in your area are asking? It may just surprise you what a big impact that bit of extra effort can make.
Think blog posts like “5 Easy Plumbing Fixes Before You Call a Pro (Wellington Edition)” or “Where to Find the Best Flat Whites in Hamilton.” Not only does this help with your rankings, but it also shows you genuinely know and care about the people you’re serving. It’s local relevance with a personal touch.
Use Google Maps Embed on Contact Pages
Nothing says “we’re right here” quite like a live map on your contact page. Embedding a Google Map is a basic but extremely useful way to help customers figure out where to find you. In the process, it reinforces your physical presence to search engines too.
This simple addition acts like a little trust signal. It tells Google, “Yes, this business really does operate at this location,” and it helps users get directions in just one click. For a step that takes only a few minutes to implement, it packs a solid punch in the local SEO department.
Link to Other Businesses in the Area and Get Links in Return
When it comes to search rankings, links are like digital endorsements. And local links? Even better. Getting backlinks from nearby websites—other small businesses, local blogs, community groups—can help boost your authority in your area.
You can start small by linking to a nearby partner on your website, and ask if they’d be open to doing the same. Collaborate on content or events. Support a local fundraiser and get a mention on their site. These reciprocal connections help loads with SEO. They also build a stronger sense of community around your business, which customers tend to notice and appreciate.
At the end of the day, the steps you take to make sure your site shows up consistently in people’s “near me” searches all help stitch your business into the local fabric. Ready to claim your rightful place as a community favourite in your niche? Let us at Author Digital help you out. Get in touch with us today for an up close and personal chat about improving your SEO rankings, digital marketing, website design, and anything else you need.
A note
Henry Blackwell
Henry Blackwell is a marketing professional. He has spent the last 10 years working in-house and within agencies, growing profitable businesses through brand and customer-centric digital marketing in New Zealand, Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom and Europe.
“My approach to marketing is a combination of heart and head. My heart brings an empathetic and intuitive approach to deeply understanding the qualitative requirements of marketing that many simply do not care to do. My head brings an analytical mindset that leverages data-driven insights to deliver profitable performance for the businesses I work with.
This skill set allows me to deliver systematic customer acquisition, conversion, and retention.”
– Director