Local keywords & search intent
Keywords are the exact phrases customers type to find a business like yours. Knowing which ones — and the intent behind them — is how you get found.
A keyword is simply the phrase someone types into Google. Local keywords are the ones with local intent — "barber near me," "botox in Austin," "emergency plumber open now." Knowing which phrases your customers actually use, and what they mean by them, is the starting point of getting found.
Why it matters for your business
You can't show up for searches you don't know about. The phrases customers use are often different from how you describe your business — they search "teeth whitening near me," not "cosmetic dental aesthetics." Tracking the real phrases tells you:
- Where you actually rank for the searches that bring in customers
- Which searches you're missing — and competitors are winning
- What to focus on — your profile, posts, and website should speak the customer's language
Search intent: not all keywords are equal
What someone wants when they search is their intent, and it changes how valuable the search is to you:
High intent — ready to buy. "near me," "open now," "book," "[service] [city]." These people want a business today. They're the most valuable to rank for.
Research intent — comparing. "best [service] in [city]," "[service] cost." Still valuable — they're choosing who to call soon.
Informational — learning. "how does [service] work." Useful for content and trust, but further from a booking.
For most local businesses, the goldmine is high-intent local searches — the "near me" and "[service] [city]" phrases where the searcher is ready to act. Those are the ones worth tracking and winning first.
How Aaptly helps
You don't start from a blank page. Aaptly builds a market map of the real searches customers use near you — pulled from your profile, services, website, and live demand — tracks where you rank for each, shows the competitors winning them, and refreshes weekly. See Keywords & rank tracking.
Frequently asked questions
Why post to your Google profile?
Google Business Profile posts keep your listing active, show offers and updates right in search, and signal to Google that you're open and engaged.
What are local citations (and NAP)?
A citation is any online mention of your business name, address, and phone. Consistent ones build trust with Google; inconsistent ones quietly hurt you.