Jiu-Jitsu Academies Local SEO: How to Rank Higher in “Near Me” Searches

The moment someone starts searching “Jiu-Jitsu near me,” they’re not just browsing casually. They’re on the hunt for a place to train—and probably ready to get started ASAP.

At this stage, you want to be absolutely certain that your academy is showing up in those search results. Otherwise you could be missing out on what is currently one of the best lead-generation sources available: local SEO.

The great news is that you don’t need a massive marketing budget to boost your ranking and grow your Jiu-Jitsu school. In fact, you can actually help it show up in search results simply by focusing on a few key local SEO tactics.

Here’s how it works—and how to do it right for a consistent flow of new Jiu-Jitsu students.

Why “Jiu-Jitsu Near Me” Searches Are a Gold Mine

Local searches are incredibly powerful because they’re clear indicators that a prospective student is ready to take action. Most of the time, they’re not just curious about the sport. Instead, they’re actively searching for a place to train. Examples of these searches include:

• “Jiu-Jitsu near me”
• “Jiu-Jitsu in [city name]”
• “BJJ schools near me”

If someone searches one of these terms—or something similar—Google provides results in three main sections:

1. The top three local businesses (or “the Map Pack”)
2. Organic website results
3. Additional Google Business Profile listings

Now, think of the way you search local businesses. The Map Pack stands out the most, right? That’s why getting your Jiu-Jitsu academy to show up in the Map Pack can significantly increase your visibility and credibility. And these are the factors that can boost your likelihood of getting new students to inquire.

For most academies, ranking this high on the page can result in local SEO being their biggest lead-generation source.

Your Google Business Profile is the Key to Local SEO

If you skim everything else in this blog and only choose one thing to prioritize, this is it. The Google Business Profile for your Jiu-Jitsu academy is the foundation for your local SEO strategy.

To fully optimize your Google Business Profile, make sure it includes everything on this list:

• The correct name of your academy
• Your current address and phone number
• A link to your website
• The current class schedule (update this on holidays or for any events)
• Regularly-updated, high-quality photos—include classes in action, your facility, group photos, events, and promotions

Pro Tip: Make sure the information on your Google Business Profile exactly matches what you have on your website, social media, Yelp, and other local directories. Even small inconsistencies can be detrimental to your local ranking.

Lastly, be sure to include a helpful, keyword-rich description about your academy. For example, don’t say, “Jiu-Jitsu academy offering instructor-led classes.” Instead, “[Academy name] is a Jiu-Jitsu academy in [City, State] offering beginner, intermediate and advanced classes for adults and kids. Our experienced team of instructors help students build confidence, improve fitness, and learn real-world self-defense skills.”

The more clear your profile is, the better Google will understand what you offer. That way, you’ll show up in the right searches for your target audience.

Want Better Ranking? Focus On Reviews for Your Jiu-Jitsu Academy

Once you’ve set up your Google Business Profile, it’s time to start strengthening it with reviews. The truth is, academies with more positive reviews simply tend to rank higher in “near me” searches. And that’s because it’s Google’s job to recommend businesses that people trust. Positive reviews are a sign that people like doing business with you, helping you build credibility and therefore rank higher.

Once again, this doesn’t have to be complicated. Create a steady strategy to consistently get several new review per month. Some of the best times to request them include:

• The end of a new student’s first month
• After a belt ceremony or when someone receives a promotion
• After a student achieves a major milestone or completes a competition

Keep your messaging simple. For example, “Hey [client name]! We’re hoping to fill our academy with more students like you, and reviews help people find us. Would you mind leaving us a quick Google review?” Then, don’t forget to insert the Google Review link for your business. No need to add extra work to their plate making them try to find it!

Don’t Forget Your Website

Your website is the online public face of your Jiu-Jitsu academy, and generally the first place people will go to find out more information about your business. It’s also how Google verifies your legitimacy and relevance to decide where to rank you.

Therefore, designing a professional, helpful, and fully search-engine-optimized website is a non-negotiable for the success of your business. Make sure it includes:

• Your Jiu-Jitsu academy name, address, email and phone number
• The city you’re located in and the surrounding areas you want to target
• Naturally-integrated, location-specific phrases like “Jiu-Jitsu classes in [City, State]”
• Pages with helpful info about your programs and services
• Clear CTAs (calls to action) so visitors know what next steps to take
• A fast, mobile-friendly design

Another benefit to a well-designed website is improved retention for your Jiu-Jitsu academy. When the experience in your school matches what you portrayed it to be online, you build trust and credibility. And that’s one of the key factors in getting students to stick around for the long term.

Need help? Wodify Sites is here to build you a custom, search-engine-optimized website for your academy. Your website will be designed for conversions and fully integrated with Wodify so you can manage leads, schedules, membership sales and more—all in one place.

TL;DR: 5 Simple Steps to Improve Your Jiu-Jitsu Academy Local SEO

Ready to get started? Here’s the simple, plug-and-play strategy to start boosting your local SEO today.

1. Fully optimize your Google Business Profile, including each item listed above. Don’t leave anything off the list, as each part significantly impacts your ranking.
2. Create a plan to ask for reviews consistently. An effective idea is to build them into your automated workflows for student communication.
3. Ensure that the information on your website is current, helpful, professional and informative.
4. Do a “consistency check,” double-checking that all of your business information is the same across all online platforms.
5. Upload photos regularly to engage prospective clients and signal to Google that your Jiu-Jitsu academy is active and legitimate. Academies with consistently-updated photos and activity often outperform competitors with inactive profiles.

These five steps don’t have to take up an overwhelming amount of your time, and can significantly improve your local SEO for better ranking and visibility.

Plus, one of the biggest advantages of local SEO is that it compounds over time. Unlike a paid-ad strategy—which stops working when you turn it off—local SEO is the gift that keeps on giving. Once your academy begins to rank well, you can continue to generate traffic and leads to consistency attract new students.

The Bottom Line: A Few Simple Steps Can Make a Massive SEO Impact

To consistently get new, ultra-qualified leads in your door, your goal is to be one of the first places they see when they search, “Jiu-Jitsu near me.”

Local SEO is the play, and many of the most successful academies get a majority of their new leads from Google searches.

Start by optimizing your Google Business Profile and then strengthening it with positive reviews. Update your website to be fully search engine optimized and provide helpful info, giving prospective students a clear CTA. Then sit back and enjoy the benefits of a strategy that’s designed to compound over time—once it’s working, it keeps working.