The Importance Of Local SEO For Small Businesses & Startups

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According to a report from Google, 50% of people who make local searches on a smartphone visit a store within a day. In fact, most people today are turning to their smartphones and mobile devices to find nearby businesses and make purchases.

The report also found that 34% of tablet and desktop searchers will visit a business within a day of searching. Moreover,  18% of people conducting local searches on a smartphone will make a purchase within a day.

“Local searchers are often looking for products and services that they need relatively quickly compared to nonlocal searchers,” said Russell Wallace, CEO of small business online marketing company 29 Prime. “[This] means that your business must have not just a general online presence, but priority positioning in the local sphere.”

So how can we take advantage of the local-search trend? The answer is quite ‘simple’: SEO.

However, responsive web design is a must. With many of local searches taking place on smartphones and tablets, it’s also imperative that your website is properly formatted for mobile devices. While online shopping may be more convenient, Google’s report showed that one in three consumers would make their purchases in-store instead of online if they knew they were close to the store, could get the product faster or could buy it for a better price.

Consumers still recognize the advantages to shopping in-store as opposed to online. However, in order for potential customers to know that you even offer such values, they need to know your business is the answer for their problems by seeing its information in their search results. That’s where SEO comes in. It makes sure that consumers know that your local business provides benefits that matter to them.”

Moreover, customers don’t just conduct local searches before they buy. According to the similar report, 66% of consumers searching on a tablet or computer search locally to find inspiration for future purchases, 83% conduct active research on products and services, 64% search to make a purchase, and 40% search even after they’ve made a purchase. It indicates that customers take advantage of local search throughout their entire buying process.

Local SEO undoubtly plays a big role in affecting the decision-making process. It leads them to buy products and choose one business over another. In short, local SEO is a modern-day requirement for business growth.