It is common knowledge that Google is the most widely-used search engine in the United States. Therefore, when it comes to local search, Google Maps is a number one priority. We know that 65% of Americans use Google Maps for local search. However, for those of you who need a visual for a better understanding of the facts, this graph says it all.

As you can see, the blue line that increases as the years advance, represents the use of Google Maps in the United States. The red, yellow, green and purple lines (that are barely visible at the bottom of the chart) represent the other important local search platforms; YellowPages.com, SuperPages.com, Yahoo! Local and Bing.com. If you didn’t understand the importance of Google Maps before, you do after viewing this chart. It’s a clear indication that Google Maps dominates the other top local search platforms, which means making sure your business is listed in Maps is crucial.

Below is another graph that breaks down the local search engine use by region and language. Again, the blue line is Google Maps. The other lines (red, yellow, green and purple) represent the other leading local search platforms. Across the board, Google is the most-used search engine for local search.

These graphs illustrate the importance of being found in the Google Maps local search results. Although it is beneficial for your business to be found using a variety of different local search platforms, putting a concentration on Google Maps is a smart move. Make sure your Google Maps local listing is complete, providing as much information and enhancements (photos, videos, coupons) as possible. Doing this will surely attract new customers and help increase your profit. As part of the Local Splash service, we make sure your Google Maps listing is complete and optimized in order to get you to the top of the local search results.