How to Find Keywords for Local SEO
Here is how to find keywords for local SEO: list your services, add the towns you serve, then check what customers actually type using Google’s autocomplete, “People also ask,” your Google Business Profile search terms, and a keyword tool. Group the keywords by service and assign each group to one page.
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Step 1: What Services Do Customers Search For?
Start by listing every service you sell, in the words customers use — “water heater repair,” not “thermal appliance service.” Your phone calls and emails are the best source: write down how customers describe their problem.
Google explains how local results are ranked in its Business Profile help guide.
Step 2: How Do I Add Location to Local Keywords?
Add location by combining each service with the towns, counties, and neighborhoods you serve: “drain cleaning Hempstead,” “AC repair Nassau County.” Also include “near me” versions; you don’t put “near me” on the page, but it tells you which services people search for locally.
Step 3: How Do I Use Google to Find Local Keywords?
Type your service into Google and note the autocomplete suggestions, the “People also ask” questions, and the “related searches” at the bottom. These are real searches. Questions make great section headings; related searches show other services worth a page.
Step 4: Where Do I Find My Google Business Profile Keywords?
Your Google Business Profile performance report shows the search terms people used to find you. Open your profile, go to Performance, and check “Searches breakdown.” It shows which services you already appear for and which are missing.
Step 5: How Do I Check Search Volume and Difficulty?
Use a keyword tool such as Semrush, Ahrefs, or Google Keyword Planner to see monthly searches and difficulty. Local keywords often show low numbers — that’s normal. A keyword with 30 searches a month can still bring several high-value jobs.
Step 6: How Do I Map Keywords to Pages?
Group keywords that mean the same thing and give each group one page. One page per main service, plus area pages only for your most important towns. Never make two pages that target the same keyword — they compete with each other.
| Keyword group | Page |
|---|---|
| water heater repair, water heater replacement, no hot water | /water-heater-repair/ |
| drain cleaning, clogged drain, sewer line clog | /drain-cleaning/ |
| plumber Hempstead, plumbing Hempstead NY | /plumber-hempstead-ny/ |
Then write the pages: how to create content for local landing pages.
Get Your Local Keyword Map — Free
Knowing how to find keywords for local SEO is step one. Our free audit shows which keywords you already rank for, which your competitors win, and which pages to build next.
How to Find Keywords for Local SEO: FAQs
Should I put “near me” in my website text?
No. Google already knows where the searcher is. Use your service and town names naturally instead.
How many keywords should one page target?
One main keyword and a handful of close variations that mean the same thing.
Written by Faisal Zahoor, founder of RankAutomate Agency (Semrush Academy certified in Local SEO). Read our editorial policy.
