Local Business Tracker

A Next.js application that tracks local business rankings for specific keywords and locations using the Google Places API.

Features

• Search for businesses by keyword and location
• Display ranked results with business details
• Show ratings, reviews, price levels, and business types
• Responsive design with Tailwind CSS
• Real-time search with loading states

Setup

1. Install dependencies:

   npm install

2. Get Google Places API Key:

   • Go to the Google Cloud Console
   • Create a new project or select an existing one
   • Enable the Google Places API
   • Create credentials (API Key)
   • Restrict the API key to Google Places API for security

3. Configure environment variables:

   • Update .env.local with your Google Places API key:

   GOOGLE_PLACES_API_KEY=your_actual_api_key_here
   

4. Run the development server:

   npm run dev

5. Open your browser: Navigate to http://localhost:3000

Usage

1. Enter a keyword (e.g., "pizza", "dentist", "coffee shop")
2. Enter a location (e.g., "New York, NY" or "10001")
3. Click "Search Business Rankings"
4. View the ranked results with business details

Project Structure

src/
├── app/
│   ├── api/
│   │   └── search/
│   │       └── route.ts          # Google Places API integration
│   ├── components/
│   │   ├── SearchForm.tsx        # Search input form
│   │   └── BusinessResults.tsx   # Results display component
│   ├── globals.css              # Global styles
│   ├── layout.tsx               # Root layout
│   └── page.tsx                 # Main page component

API Endpoints

• POST /api/search - Search for businesses using Google Places API
  • Body: { keyword: string, location: string }
  • Returns: { businesses: Business[] }

Technologies Used

• Next.js 15 - React framework
• TypeScript - Type safety
• Tailwind CSS - Styling
• Google Places API - Business data

Important Notes

• Rankings are based on Google Places API results and may differ from actual search engine rankings
• Results are ordered by relevance and proximity to the searched location
• API usage is subject to Google Places API quotas and pricing
• Always keep your API key secure and restrict its usage appropriately