Local Listing A Must For All Businesses

Once upon a time search engines really didn’t cater for local businesses. That has all changed and it is now essential for business to focus on local listings which in many cases is the first point of call for prospects seeking a solution to their problem. One of the popular search prefixes is “Near me”. If you are not listed locally you are missing out.

“More than half of ‘near me’ searches result in a store visit.” according to Mediapost via Streetfightmag.com

88% of consumer local business searches on a mobile device either call or visit the business within 24 hours. (Nectafy)

46% of all searches on Google are seeking local information.

86% of people look up the location of a business on Google Maps

72% of consumers, who search for local businesses, end up visiting stores within five miles. (Hubspot)

46% of all Google searches are local. The same article revealed that 60% of the people who search for local business use smartphones.  (Hubspot)

And yet…

56% of local retailers haven’t claimed their Google my business listing.” according to Brand Muscle via Local Search Association

82% of businesses haven’t claimed a business listing on Bing.” according to Brand Muscle via Local Search Association

Some Broader facts

“Seven out of ten customers visit a business or make a purchase based on info they found online.” via Google

Google now processes over 40,000 search queries every second on average, which translates to over 3.5 billion searches per day and 1.2 trillion searches per year worldwide. (intelllivestats)

92% of searchers will pick businesses on the first page of local search results.

70% of customers visit a store based on information found online.

Between 20% and 25% of organic traffic converts to a lead.

Search beats social media by more than 300% as a traffic source. (imForza)

61% of digital marketers treat search engine optimisation as a top priority.

85% of retailers rated Search Engine Marketing as the most effective acquisition tactic. A majority of retailers trust SEM. Retailers rated SEM higher than direct mail (15%) and offline advertising (8%). (Forester)

Mobile Search Trends & Statistics

67% prefer businesses whose apps or mobile sites target their location. (Think with Google)

50% of people who conduct mobile searches for a local business will visit the store within one day. (Search Engine Land)

More than three-quarters of searches for local businesses on mobile devices end up buying from local stores.

33% who use mobile phones to search for local companies are looking for the location. (Hubspot)

Almost 2 of 3 smartphone users are more likely to purchase from companies whose mobile sites or apps customise information to their location. ( Think with Google )

An average mobile user spends about 4 hours a day on their smartphones.

52.2% of all web traffic worldwide originated from mobile phones. (Statista)

By 2021, mobile devices will influence over $1.4 trillion in locally based sales.  (Forrester).

65 percent of people use their mobile phone in their buying moments. (Think with Google)

71% of customers look to confirm the address before visiting a new store.

75% of smartphone owners use search first. (Think with Google)

This is a clear sign that local searches have a positive influence on in-store traffic. This highlights the importance of having a consistent local business marketing strategy. Ensure that your business is listed on Google MY Business with a consistent name, address, and phone number.

Importance Of Reviews For Local SEO Marketing

Today, more people give importance to online reviews than ever before. BrightLocal’s 2018 Local Consumer Survey revealed that a majority of consumers would regard a local business highly based on positive online reviews. 73% of consumers trust a business based on positive reviews.

An average consumer reads seven reviews to develop an opinion about a company.

Key Statistics

86% of consumers read reviews for local businesses (including 95% of people aged 18-34)

Consumers read an average of 10 online reviews before feeling able to trust a local business

40% of consumers only take into account reviews written within the past 2 weeks – up from 18% last year

57% of consumers will only use a business if it has 4 or more stars

80% of 18-34 year olds have written online reviews – compared to just 41% of consumers over 55

91% of 18-34 year old consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations

89% of consumers read businesses’ responses to reviews

Online reputation management is important. It can be your biggest asset if managed well. It can also turn out to be your worst liability.

Google also gives weight to reviews in local rankings.

Summary on SEO For Local Businesses

Developing a local search engine strategy is now a must. Local SEO has the potential of capturing a considerable number of customers.

So, you need to optimise your business for Google local search right now. Call us to discuss on 01606 631044.