Would You Put “Near Me” In Your Business Name?
With search engines, especially Google, driving significant traffic to local businesses, it's become increasingly important for businesses to optimize their online presence for "near me" searches. We do this every day at BeLocal, optimizing listings to improve results for this search and others related to brands. One thing we don’t do, but that is quite amusing, is encourage businesses to put “near me” in their actual company name - but, as it turns out, some businesses are attempting to rank more highly in these search results by including the “near me” phrase: for example, take a look at "Thai Food Near Me" below.
By including "near me" in their name, these businesses are attempting to make it clear to both search engines and potential customers that they offer products or services available in a specific location. The idea is that this literal testimony to being “near me” for the searcher will help increase their visibility in local search results and improve their chances of being found by nearby customers.
It's important to note that simply adding "near me" to a business name is not a guaranteed way to rank more highly in search results - we’ve got no data on the efficacy of this, as it’s quite probably that Google doesn’t look for the words “near me” at all and instead uses more important signals like opening hours, review quality, listing quality, and the like - and it also seems like the kind of thing Google will ultimately filter out if it really is making a difference for no reason that actually benefits searchers. Google and other search engines use a variety of factors to determine local search rankings, including proximity to the searcher, relevance to the search query, and the business's overall online presence.
It’s an amusing tactic, though, and as the Twittersphere accurately called out, t
his strategy of adding "near me" to a business name is reminiscent of the practice of businesses naming themselves with a series of A's in front of their name to be shown higher in the Yellow Pages. While this tactic may have worked in the past, it's important for businesses to focus on providing high-quality products or services and optimizing their online presence in ways that are beneficial for both customers and search engines.
In conclusion, while adding "near me" to a business name may be a helpful tactic for improving local search rankings, it's just one part of a comprehensive local marketing strategy. By providing excellent customer service, optimizing their online presence, and using a variety of marketing tactics, businesses can increase their visibility and attract more local customers.
