'Near me' is not a specific keyword — it is a query intent that Google interprets based on the searcher's location. Ranking for 'near me' is therefore primarily a function of how well Google understands your business as a relevant local option for searchers in your area, not how many times you mention the phrase 'near me' on your site. The inputs that move 'near me' rankings most: a fully optimized Google Business Profile with the most accurate primary category (not the most aspirational one); a steady cadence of recent reviews from customers whose own Google profiles are local to your area; consistent NAP across major Canadian directories (Yelp.ca, YellowPages.ca, 411.ca, plus vertical-specific directories); service-area pages that genuinely cover the neighbourhoods and municipalities adjacent to your physical location; and locally-relevant backlinks from Canadian sources. For businesses serving multiple municipalities or neighbourhoods, the highest-leverage tactic is creating substantive service-area pages for each — not thin doorway pages, but pages that cover the genuine local context (neighbourhood demographics, transit and parking realities, local landmarks). Generic 'we serve [city]' pages with the area name pasted in produce minimal lift. For service businesses without a public storefront, switch your Google Business Profile to a service-area business and explicitly define the polygons you serve. Hide your address per Google's guidelines for service-area businesses; the address being hidden does not suppress 'near me' visibility for searchers within your defined service area.