Here’s a tip I’ve been quietly testing for a few local clients, and it’s shown some real results:

Start using natural, preposition-based phrases in your GBP posts and site content — like “by the stadium,” “along Main Street,” or “off Highway 26.” These match how people actually speak when searching, especially on mobile and voice search.

Most businesses are still stuck on “service + city” keywords. But Google’s understanding of location context has gotten a lot better lately. If you weave in phrases like “just off the loop near the farmers market” or “between downtown and eastside,” it helps Google anchor your listing more precisely.

It sounds small, but this kind of language shows up in real-world searches, and very few people are optimizing for it. Worth trying if you’re targeting hyper-local visibility.

— Celia Winslow