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- How to Dominate “Near Me” Searches in Every Town Around You
How to Dominate “Near Me” Searches in Every Town Around You
Small-Town Entrepreneurs, Here’s Your Playbook
Look, we all know how this goes. You’ve got a business in Town A, and you’re killing it. But guess what? People in Town B, C, and D also need what you’ve got. They’re searching “best [your business] near me,” but you’re not showing up because Google thinks you’re stuck in your little bubble. Well, let’s fix that. Today, we’re going to break out of the one-town mindset and show up in every search around you.
Why “Near Me” Searches are Your Ticket to Regional Domination
"Near me" searches are blowing up more than ever. People want the closest, easiest option. They’re not looking for the best coffee in the world, they’re looking for the best coffee down the street. And guess what? If you’re not there when they’re searching, they’re going to the next place. Period.
But the trick isn’t just showing up in Town A. It’s showing up in Town B, C, D, and even that random town with 300 people and a gas station. Here’s how you do it.
Gif by snl on Giphy
Step 1: Claim Your Territory (AKA Optimize Your Google Business Profile)
If you haven’t claimed your Google Business Profile yet… what are you waiting for? Your competition to win?
Here’s the hack: You don’t need a physical location in every town to show up there. All you need to do is list multiple service areas.
Here’s the play:
- Go into your Google Business Profile, hit up the “Info” section, and under “Service Areas,” add every town you want to rank in.
- Keep it focused. Don’t get greedy. Stick with the places people actually come from to do business with you.
- Make sure your business category matches what you’re doing. If you’re selling coffee but you’ve listed yourself as a furniture store, good luck with that.
Boom! Now Google knows you serve Town A… and B, C, and D.
Step 2: Be Everywhere with Local Landing Pages
Want to own search results in every town around you? It’s time to build a page for each one.
Here’s why it works: When someone searches for “best plumber in Town B,” Google looks for websites that talk about—surprise—Town B. So, give Google what it wants!
How to crush it:
- Create separate landing pages for each nearby town, like “[Your Business] in Town B” or “Why [Town C] Residents Love Our [Service].”
- Talk about what matters to those towns. Mention landmarks, local events, whatever connects your business to that community.
- Use keywords like, “best [service] near Town B,” “affordable [service] in Town C,” etc.
Pro Tip: Keep these pages specific. Don’t just copy-paste the same content. Google’s smart enough to catch lazy SEO, and let’s face it, so are your customers.
Step 3: Blog Like You Mean It (and Like You Serve Multiple Towns)
If you’re not blogging about the towns around you, you're leaving money on the table. It’s like opening a restaurant and forgetting to put out a sign.
Here’s the hack: Write blog posts that call out multiple towns. Something like “Top 5 Reasons [Town B, Town C, Town D] Residents Trust [Your Business].” You’re sprinkling keywords in and you’re making it clear you care about the whole area, not just your own little corner.
Here’s how to pull it off:
- Write about things locals care about. If Town B has a county fair every year, mention how your business helps people prepare (or recover from!) it.
- Use “near me” keywords naturally. Something like “Looking for the best [service] near [Town B]? We’ve got you covered.”
- Bonus: Throw in some local testimonials or customer shoutouts from different towns.
Suddenly, you’re the hometown hero in every town.
Step 4: Get Google to Love You with Local Backlinks
Google loves a good backlink, especially from local sources. It’s like a digital high-five from another website, saying, “Hey, these guys are legit.”
Here’s how to hustle backlinks:
- Hit up local bloggers, news outlets, or even community websites in the towns you want to rank in. Offer to write guest posts or get featured in their “local business” sections.
- Partner with other small businesses in the area. You give them a shoutout on your website, they give you one on theirs. Everyone wins.
- Get listed in local online directories and Chamber of Commerce websites. This gives you a huge local SEO boost.
Remember: More backlinks = more credibility with Google = more customers from Town B, C, and D finding you.
Step 5: Own the Reviews (and Get Customers to Mention Their Towns)
Reviews are your secret weapon. Not only do they build trust, but they also help you rank higher in local searches. And here’s the kicker: Reviews that mention the customer’s location are even better.
Here’s the play:
- Ask customers to leave reviews that mention where they’re from. Something like, “I drive all the way from Town C just to go to [Your Business]—worth every mile.”
- Run a promo or giveaway where customers from different towns get entered to win something if they leave a review and shout out their town.
Google will see that people are coming to you from other places, and guess what? It’ll start showing you in search results for those towns too. Game. Set. Match.
Step 6: Geotag Like a Pro on Social Media
Instagram, Facebook, TikTok—every platform is your playground. And geotagging is your ticket to spreading the word in nearby towns.
How to win:
- Every time you post, tag multiple towns around you, not just your own.
- Encourage customers to tag your business and the town they’re from. It’s a great way to show that people from all over trust you.
- Run local promotions on Facebook or Instagram Ads, targeting those specific towns. This isn’t just about boosting a post—it’s about getting seen where it matters.
Step 7: Supercharge It with Local Google Ads
Want to speed things up? Google Ads are your fast pass. You can target ads specifically to people in Town B, C, D, or wherever. You don’t need a huge budget to start making an impact.
Here’s the play:
- Create ads using keywords like “Best [service] near Town B” or “Affordable [service] near Town C.”
- Make sure your ad copy mentions how close you are to that town and why it’s worth the drive. Something like, “Just a short drive from [Town B], we’ve got the best deals waiting for you.”
With the right targeting, you’ll start showing up in the top results—even in towns you’re not in.
Final Thoughts:
You don’t need to be stuck in a small-town bubble. You’ve got the tools to rank in every nearby town, from your Google Business Profile to local blogs and backlinks. Start small—maybe add a town or two. Then expand. Soon enough, you’ll be the go-to business for everyone in the area, not just your little corner of it.
It’s time to claim your turf and own those “near me” searches. Now get out there and make it happen!