Whether travelling, exploring their neighbourhood, or just attempting to recall the name of their local dry cleaners, thousands of consumers are using their mobile Near Me tools to identify local businesses. Are you making the most of an open opportunity to drive customers to your business’s doorstep?
Verify Sites for Accurate Representation
The first and most important step in making the most of the Near Me features available to consumers through mobile apps is to confirm that all information available to potential customers is accurate. One of the best ways to do this is by searching your business through Google – and preferably from a mobile device. What do you see? This is exactly what your customers and potential customers see. If any information is incorrect or missing, clean it up.
Cultivate Curb Appeal
Once customers have located your business and have the information they need to find you, they will need a better reason than proximity to get them in the door. This is especially true in densely populated areas. Apps like Yelp and Foursquare allow businesses to advertise special deals for new customers. Offers usually request that customers “check-in” using various social media sites such as Facebook or Instagram which then multiplies exposure and increases your visibility within the market. Finding a way to stand out amongst prospects is imperative in leveraging the benefits of the Near Me feature.
Business Be Aware, Not Business Beware
When consumers use the Near Me now feature, they are bombarded with a plethora of information, not just your location and phone number. A majority of mobile apps and search engines also provide shoppers with reviews and ratings from other customers and clients. Being aware of your reputation is vital in creating a reputation and image that attracts local business. Encourage happy clients to write reviews on a variety of sites. Don’t be afraid to ask satisfied customers for positive feedback and be sure to spread that feedback out over a variety of search-based apps and sites. It’s best to consider both criticism and compliments. After all, a bad review is still a review.
Consider Keywords
Keywords are also important in optimizing Near Me leads. Many location-based search apps allow you to explore speciality services or deals within a location or proximity. Properly using keywords throughout your website or page should be a familiar internet marketing strategy that is utilized frequently.
Research the competition and make small changes to your existing sites. What makes your company distinct amongst the rest? Keywords that include your businesses location (city or well-known neighbourhood) within the Meta tag can increase your Near Me leads. Headings and anchor text can also help to improve search engine ranking. Consider using phrases such as, “SEO Experts in Stockton on Tees.” This provides your location as well as important phrases, drawing business through your doors as opposed to your competitors.
Millions of people each day use location-based mobile and social media apps to make decisions such as where to eat, which plumber to use, or other service or product based choices. A few simple tweaks to your existing sites or commonly used search engines can assist in making sure that your business receives its optimal share of their potential buying power.