You may have heard the word “local SEO” if you run a business or look for marketing ideas. That being said, what is it, and why should you care? Local SEO actually means making changes to your website so that relevant local searches bring you more business. People usually use Google or another search engine to do these kinds of searches when they want to find goods or services “near me” or in a particular area.
Today, I’m going to show you some of the most crucial local SEO statistics and how you can use them to help your business grow. Local SEO might sound like tech stuff, but it’s straightforward to understand once you get the hang of it.
1. 46% of all Google searches are for answers in their area
One of the most important facts to start with is that almost half of all Google searches are for local information. It could be “best coffee shop near me” or “plumber in [your city].” This number alone shows that you might be missing out on half of the search traffic if you’re not preparing for local SEO.
Take a moment to think about how you act. While you’re hungry, you don’t just search for “pizza,” right? You look for “pizza near me.” It’s the same thing your customers do. People can only find your business if it shows up in search results for that area.
2. 78% of local mobile searches lead to a purchase in person
This fact is precious. Almost eight out of ten people who use their phones to look for something in their area end up buying it. It shows that people who search nearby on their phones are usually ready to act.
This means two things for business owners:
- Make sure that your website works well on phones.
- You need to make sure your local SEO is vital so that people who are looking for businesses like yours see you first.
3. 88% of people trust online reviews just as much as personal recommendations.
Online reviews have changed the way people talk about things. 88% of people say they trust online reviews just as much as suggestions from friends and family. This means that if someone reads excellent reviews about your local business, they’ll pick you over a rival who has few or alarming reviews.
This number shows how important it is for your local SEO to keep an excellent online image. Ask happy customers to write reviews about your business on Google, Yelp, or any other site that lists it. It shows that you care about your customers’ experiences when you respond to reviews, whether they are good or bad.
4. Businesses with Google My Business listings get five times as many views as businesses that don’t have listings.
Google My Business (GMB) is like an online business card for your company, but better. A study found that companies with a well-optimized GMB listing get five times as many views as those without one.
Set up and improve your Google My Business page. This is one of the simplest ways to Improve Your Local SEO. It’s free and puts your business at the top of Google Maps and search results. Just make sure that your information, like your hours, address, and phone number, is correct. Add pictures and posts to make it more exciting and keep everything up to date.
5. People who do a local search will pick a business from the first page 92% of the time.
People decide quickly when they search for a nearby business. In fact, 92% of people who look for something pick a company from the first page of the results. Possible buyers probably will only scroll down to find your business if it’s there.
Here’s where your SEO plan comes in handy. To get on the first page, you need to do a few things, such as making your GMB entry better, using relevant local keywords, getting good reviews, and making sure your website works well on mobile devices. It takes some work at the beginning, but it can pay off in a big way in terms of exposure.
6. Within a day, 18% of local mobile searches result in a purchase
The cherry on top is that almost 20% of local mobile searches lead to a buy within a day. They’re not just looking around; they’re ready to buy. If you do an excellent job with local SEO, these sales could come to your business.
Conclusion
Local SEO is essential for every business in today’s time. Whether your business is small-scale or big scale, making it work better for area searches can really help people find you. If you know these critical numbers, you can imagine how local SEO affects the visibility, customer engagement, and income of your business. Make a Google My Business page, ask people to leave reviews, and make sure your website works well on phones. You might think that local SEO is a small part of the whole, but it can really change how people find and choose your business.
