“We tried ‘near me’ keywords… didn’t work.”

I hear this a lot — and it’s true: just adding “near me” to your PPC campaigns won’t drive leads on its own.

Here’s what usually goes wrong:

• Broad targeting → Ads show to users nowhere near your location
• Generic copy → “Best dentist near me” ad says nothing about where you actually are
• Weak landing pages → No address, no map, no local trust signals
• No tracking → You don’t know if local clicks turned into calls or visits

But when you do it right, “near me” keywords are conversion gold.

Here’s a quick framework:

1. Start with intent-based variations

• “Wedding photographer near me”
• “Emergency plumbers near me open now”
• “wedding boutiques near here”

Use phrase or exact match to avoid wasted clicks.

👉 Use Google Ads phrase match or exact match to avoid wasting money on irrelevant clicks.

Research high-intent local keywords easily with tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs.

2. Geo-target your real service area

• Set a tight radius (e.g. 10 miles)
• Exclude irrelevant areas — don’t just pick the whole city

Smart advertisers use audience insights tools like LinkedIn Ads if they're also mixing B2B lead gen into their strategy.

3. Hyperlocal ad copy works

• Mention city/neighborhood: “Trusted by families in Camden”
• Add location extensions
• Use dynamic location insertion if scaling across areas

4. Mobile-friendly landing pages are a must

• Include maps, directions, and click-to-call
• Feature local testimonials or trust badges
• Build quick, mobile-optimised pages on platforms like Squarespace or Webflow.

5. Track local conversions

• Use call tracking (e.g., via CallRail if you want easy attribution).

When done right, “near me” PPC turns searchers into real customers — fast.

Want us to set up a high-converting 'near me' PPC campaign for you? Contact us