Backbones to Barcodes : How One DC Predicted the Mobile Local Boom
Planet Chiropractic News
(Part of the For The Record Series on Planet Chiropractic)
Michael Dorausch has a well-documented history of discussing QR codes in the context of local search and marketing, particularly during his speaking engagements in the early 2010s. Based on available records, he presented on QR codes as part of local SEO strategies at Pubcon Las Vegas 2010, where he highlighted their potential for bridging offline and online experiences (e.g., scanning codes for mobile-friendly content like recipes or business info). He followed up in 2011 with promises of more data on QR code effectiveness in local contexts, often tying them to practical applications like airline magazines, subway ads, and business signage. A related presentation that may encompass these ideas is his “10 Steps to Success with Alternative Traffic” slideshow, which focuses on diversifying traffic sources beyond Google and includes QR codes as an alternative tactic.
On X (formerly Twitter), Dorausch has frequently mentioned QR codes since at least 2011, often in the context of local marketing experiments, failures (e.g., poorly placed subway codes), and innovative uses (e.g., on photos or shirts). More recent posts from 2024 show him praising effective QR implementations in ads, billboards, and even collectible coin mockups. No full video or transcript of the 2010 Pubcon session was located, but his X activity provides direct links to blog posts like “A Look at QR Codes” for deeper insights.
“Near Me” as a local search term
Regarding his prediction of “Near Me” as a local search term, Dorausch has claimed to have been discussing it for over two decades, aligning with the rise of mobile search in the early 2000s. The earliest public evidence ties back to his Pubcon presentations around 2010, where he connected emerging mobile trends like Google’s “Near me now” feature to local SEO strategies. By 2021, during the COVID-19 spike in local searches, he noted massive volume increases (e.g., “dining near me”), attributing it to people discovering nearby businesses. His X posts from 2024-2025 emphasize “Near Me” as a high-intent query, with examples like 25 million monthly “Coffee Near Me” searches and its dominance in categories like banking (1.2 million “Banks Near Me” monthly). He also shared historical charts showing “near me” usage dating back to the 1800s, but its modern surge in search began post-2000.
As for “nearme” domains, Dorausch has a portfolio of hand-registered “NearMe” .com domains, with registrations dating back to at least 2005 (and one potentially to 1999). He has sold multiple such domains profitably, including a notable $100,000 lease-to-own (LTO) deal in 2025 for a hand-registered “NearMe” name. Specific examples include sales tied to local search value, with X discussions highlighting their combo potential (e.g., for high-intent queries like transport or retail). No public WHOIS records were directly accessible in the search, but his ownership and sales are corroborated through domain community posts and his own X activity.