14 Great Stats for Convincing SMBs to Invest in Local Search

14 Great Stats for Convincing SMBs to Invest in Local Search

For those of us who work in local SEO, either in an agency or as a consultant, the value and benefits of local search are widely appreciated.

Local consumers are using multiple devices more frequently to search for, research and review local businesses. SMBs who don’t capitalize on this by having a useful and professional websites, monitoring their online reputation, or communicating with consumers online, may get left behind.

However, it’s not always easy to convince SMBs about the merits of local search. But there is a ton of supporting data which make the case for investing in online (almost) impossible to argue against. In fact there are almost too many great stats than can end up overwhelming business owners.

14 Local SEO Stats Which Prove that Online is Key for Local Businesses

We have curated and filtered this vast array of stats down to those that we think build the most compelling argument. We use these regularly in our own blog posts and presentations and we hope they are useful to you.

To make this list even more useful, we have produced a set of unbranded graphics that illustrate each statistic. These can be downloaded and reused as you see fit. They don’t mention BrightLocal (unless we are the source of the stat) and there is no obligation to reference us or link to us when you use them. Go wild!

The full set of 14 graphics can be accessed in PDF format here: Essential stats for convincing SMBs.

Or you can simply right click and download the specific ones you want to use.

See also – 10 Stats That Prove the Power of Mobile Marketing


Fact 1: Local consumers rely on the internet

  • 97% of consumers use internet when researching local products/services (BIA/Kelsey)
  • 54 percent of Americans have substituted the Internet and local search for phone books (comScore)

Consumers use internet to search business

 

Using internet over phone books


Fact 2: More users = more searches = more potential customers!

  • 140 billion local searches (on desktop and mobile) expected in 2014 (BIA/Kelsey Local Commerce Monitor (LCM) Survey, Wave 16, November 2012)
  • 95% of smartphone users have looked for local information (Source: The Mobile Movement Study, Google/Ipsos OTX MediaCT , Apr 2011)

Local searches both desktop and mobile

 

Users use smartphone for local business


Fact 3: Having a website is essential, but it’s just a start

Website gives credibility to business

 

Contacting local business with website


 

Fact 4: It’s crucial to be visible and prominent on the web

  • 98% of searchers choose a business that is on page 1 of the results they get.

Visibility on the web


Fact5: Your Reputation Matters!

local seo stats


FACT 6: Consumers trust what they read online

local seo statistics


FACT 7: Consumers make quick decisions about who to use

  • 77% of smart phone users contact a business after looking for local Information (Source: The Mobile Movement Study, Google/Ipsos OTX MediaCT , Apr 2011)
  • 59% of mobile users who look for local information visit the business on same day (Source: The Mobile Movement Study, Google/Ipsos OTX MediaCT , Apr 2011)

Contacting business using smartphone

 

Visiting a business after searching online


FACT 8: Even your existing customers are looking for you online

  • No 1 reason for doing an online search is to find the location for a ‘known’ business (comScore, Neustar Localeze, 15 Miles – Local Search Study 2014)

8


FACT 9: Your customers are social and so are your competitors

  • 72 percent of SMBs are using social media to promote their businesses (BIA/Kelsey Local Commerce Monitor (LCM) Survey Q3, 2013)
  • Seven out of ten consumers are more likely to use a local business if it has information available on a social media site (comScore Networks/TMP Directional Marketing)

Promoting business on social media

 

Local business on social media

 

Local SEO made simple

Myles Anderson
About the author
In my capacity as BrightLocal founder and CEO, I get involved in all areas of the business, but my two biggest passions are our tools and our customers. It's my job to ensure that we continue to extend and improve our platform to meet our customers' ever-changing needs. But it's just as important that we deliver excellent customer service to match our tools; one without the other just doesn't cut it!