More Customers Are Searching “Near Me” – Are You Showing Up?
Ever searched for “coffee shop near me” or “emergency plumber near me”? You’re not alone.
Over the last few years, “near me” searches have shot up by 500%, and 84% of them happen on mobile. People aren’t just browsing. They’re actively looking for a business right now. Even better, 28% of these searches turn into a purchase.
For UK businesses, this is a massive opportunity. If you’re not showing up when people are looking for what you sell, you’re handing business to your competitors. Simple as that.
So, how do you get found in “near me” searches? Let’s break it down.
Why “Near Me” Searches Matter
People searching “near me” aren’t messing around. They need a solution fast, whether that is a place to eat, a gym to join, or someone to fix their boiler. These searches have:
- High intent. The user is already interested in buying.
- Local impact. Customers nearby will visit your shop or call your service.
- Trust-building power. If Google ranks you high, people assume you’re reliable.
This is why local SEO isn’t optional anymore. Get it right and you’ll bring in more customers without paying for ads.
How to Optimise for “Near Me” Searches
- Get Your Google Business Profile Right
Google Business Profile is your biggest weapon in local search. If you haven’t claimed it yet, do it now.
- Claim and verify your profile.
- Make sure your name, address, phone number, and opening hours are correct.
- Upload high-quality photos. Businesses with images get 42% more requests for directions and 35% more website clicks.
- Get reviews and respond to them. They boost rankings and influence buying decisions.
- Use Location-Based Keywords
Google needs clear signals about where you are and what you do.
- Use town, city, and area names in:
- Your website copy
- Page titles
- Meta descriptions
- URLs (e.g., yourbusiness.com/plumber-brighton/)
- Optimise service pages for searches like “best Italian restaurant in Leeds” or “emergency electrician in Bristol”.
- Get Listed in the Right UK Directories
Google loves consistency. Your business details should match across trusted UK directories.
Start with:
- Yell.com
- Thomson Local
- Scoot
- 192.com
- Checkatrade (for tradespeople)
- Trustpilot (for reviews)
- Your local chamber of commerce
Getting listed in these directories improves your local SEO and boosts trust.
- Make Your Website Mobile-Friendly
Since most “near me” searches happen on mobile, your site needs to be fast and easy to use.
- Check your speed with Google PageSpeed Insights.
- Make navigation simple. People should find what they need in seconds.
- Add click-to-call buttons. Do not make people copy and paste your number.
Google now prioritises mobile-friendly sites, so if your site is clunky, you are losing customers.
- Get More Reviews and Use Them to Rank Higher
Google values businesses with great reviews, and so do customers.
- Ask happy customers to leave a Google review. Send them a link. You can generate one here.
- Respond to every review, good or bad. Here is why it matters.
- Embed Google reviews on your website to build trust instantly.
- Use Social Media to Drive Local Engagement
Social media helps with local brand awareness.
- Geo-tag your posts on Instagram and Facebook.
- Post local offers and updates, for example, “50% off today at our Nottingham store.”
- Partner with local influencers. Even small ones can help bring in customers.
- Track Performance and Adjust
SEO is not a one-and-done task. You need to track results and tweak your strategy.
- Use Google Analytics to monitor local traffic and conversions.
- Check Google Business Profile Insights to see how people find you.
- Look at search queries in Google Search Console to find what is working.
If you are not seeing results, something needs to change.
Get Found or Get Left Behind
“Near me” searches are not slowing down. If you are not showing up, your competitors are getting those customers instead.
- Claim your Google Business Profile.
- Add local keywords to your site.
- Get listed in UK directories.
- Make sure your website loads fast and works on mobile.
- Get more reviews and respond to them.
- Use social media to engage with local customers.
The businesses that take action now will be the ones benefiting from local search traffic for years to come.
So, are you going to wait, or are you going to make sure customers find you first?
