How Landmarks Can Anchor Your Local SEO Strategy

When someone searches for a local business, what do they type into Google?

Sometimes it’s your business name. Sometimes it’s your industry and city. But often—especially for people who aren’t familiar with your area—it’s landmarks.

Think about it. If you were in an unfamiliar part of town and wanted coffee, you might type, “coffee near Union Station” or “café by Central Park.” You’re not thinking in addresses—you’re thinking in landmarks. And your potential customers are doing the exact same thing.

If you’re trying to strengthen your presence in local search, you can’t afford to ignore the power of nearby landmarks. When used intentionally, they can serve as anchor points for your content, map listings, and digital strategy, putting your business exactly where searchers are looking.

Let’s dig into why landmarks matter for Local SEO—and how to make them work for you.

Why Landmarks Are Gold for Local SEO

Landmarks are physical, well-known reference points in a community. They can be anything from a famous statue to a busy shopping plaza or public transit station. What matters is that people in your area use them to navigate and describe places.

In the context of Local SEO, landmarks provide:

• Context: They help people and search engines understand where you are.
• Relevance: Google prioritizes businesses that are close to what the user is asking for.
• Trust: Being near a known location makes your business feel more credible and established.

If you’re near a landmark—but you don’t mention it anywhere in your content—Google may not associate your business with that location. As a result, you’re left out of “near [landmark]” searches that could bring high-intent local traffic your way.

Search Behavior Is Shifting—Get Specific

Searchers aren’t just typing in generic phrases like “restaurants in Dallas.” More and more, they’re using local landmarks as part of their queries:

• “Brunch near Navy Yard”
• “Dry cleaner by Union Square”
• “Parking garage close to the art museum”
• “Best tacos near Convention Center DC”

If your business happens to be near any of these places, and you’ve failed to mention them anywhere on your site, you’ve just missed an opportunity to show up for a highly targeted and relevant search.

By referencing landmarks in your website copy, Google Business Profile, and metadata, you help Google connect the dots between your location and that local reference point.

How to Find Landmarks That Matter to Your Business

Not every landmark is worth optimizing around. You want the ones that:

• Appear in local search queries
• Are close enough to your business to be relevant
• Are known to both residents and visitors
• Have clear names (avoid nicknames unless they’re widely recognized)

Examples of usable landmarks include:

• Train stations (e.g., “Union Station,” “BWI Rail Terminal”)
• Tourist attractions (e.g., “The Liberty Bell,” “National Aquarium”)
• Major intersections (e.g., “Route 1 and 301”)
• Parks, malls, colleges, or hospitals
• Event venues and sports arenas

Use tools like Google Autocomplete and “People Also Ask” sections to find out what people are already searching. Search your service with terms like “near,” “next to,” or “close to” and see what landmarks pop up.

Where to Mention Landmarks on Your Website

Once you’ve identified 1–3 nearby landmarks that are relevant to your business, integrate them naturally into your content. Here’s where you can do that:

1. Homepage

Your homepage should make it immediately obvious where you are. Mention a landmark in a sentence like:
“Located just steps from Lincoln Park, our shop welcomes walk-ins daily.”

2. About Page

Tell a story. Share your connection to the neighborhood:
“We opened our doors near the Jefferson Memorial in 2012…”

3. Service Pages

Use landmarks as location qualifiers:
“Offering HVAC repair in homes around Camden Yards and nearby areas.”

4. Meta Titles and Descriptions

These are often what users first see in search results. Try:
“Family Dentistry | Near Georgetown Waterfront | [Your Business Name]”

5. Google Business Profile

Mention landmarks in your business description. Be subtle—this isn’t about keyword stuffing. Just help Google understand your proximity to known locations.

6. Blog Content

Write blog posts that tie your service to the area. Examples:

• “Top 5 Lunch Spots Near Dupont Circle”
• “How to Spend a Morning Near Patterson Park”

This kind of content can pick up long-tail traffic from location-based searches that other businesses are ignoring.

Anchor Your Content with Directional Language

Landmark-based content doesn’t always need to name-drop. You can create spatial references to help users understand where you are:

• “Across from the city library”
• “Right behind the stadium”
• “Two blocks east of the courthouse”
• “Across the street from the farmers’ market”

This kind of language also creates a more relatable and conversational tone that feels human—something Google is increasingly rewarding.

Combine Landmarks with Local Events

If your business benefits from foot traffic or seasonal activity, you can tie landmarks to local events:

• “Parking for concerts at the Civic Center”
• “Open late during First Fridays on Main Street”
• “Snacks and cold drinks across from the parade route”

These temporary boosts in visibility can lead to long-term gains, especially if your event-focused content continues ranking after the event ends.

Don’t Overdo It—Stay Natural

While it’s tempting to stuff every page with your landmark-rich location, resist the urge. Google is smart enough to detect keyword manipulation. Instead, write naturally and sprinkle location references where it makes sense.

If a user reads your page and it sounds like a real person wrote it to explain where you are, you’re on the right track.

Professional Support Can Make It Easier

If you’re managing your local presence alone, the idea of updating your website with all this location-based nuance can feel overwhelming. That’s where tailored Local SEO Packages can help. The right partner can help you identify the most searched-for landmarks in your area, optimize your content for proximity, and ensure your listings are synchronized across the web.

You get the benefit of showing up where it matters—without having to dive into every technical detail yourself.

Final Thought: Landmarks Build Trust and Visibility

When you mention a landmark in your content, you’re doing more than improving your SEO—you’re creating trust.

People feel more confident doing business with someone who’s “right across from the museum” than someone who’s vague about their location. Landmarks humanize your location. They ground you in the community. And in a crowded digital landscape, that’s something your competitors may be completely ignoring.

So here’s your action step: pick one landmark that’s near your business. Update your homepage, service pages, or Google listing to reference it clearly. Then track your local search visibility over the next few weeks. You might be surprised by how quickly search engines—and people—start paying closer attention.