A new study from Chitika showed that 43% of total Google search queries (both mobile and PC) have local intent. The study also showed that 25% of Yahoo and Bing searches are local. Two years ago, Google reported that 20% of all Google searches (on PC) were local. Since then, Google has improved its local search and Map applications, resulting in a 23% growth in local search queries.
According to Screenwerk, Google recently announced that 50% of mobile search is now local, an increase from 40% in 2011. However, Chitika’s breakdown of Mobile vs. Non-Mobile results shows that 74% of local search on Google is mobile and 26% is from a PC.
Consumers searching for local businesses from their mobile phones have clearly made an impact on the amount of local queries. It is more important now than ever for businesses to focus on getting ranked in the local search results.
Local SEO is very beneficial to small businesses, however many have yet to claim and verify their Google+ Local, Yahoo Local and Bing Local company pages. If you are a local business that has not dipped a toe in the local search pool, here are 5 good reasons why you should.
1. You get more control over your listings.Local businesses that claim and verify their local businesses pages have more control over their information. Business owners can edit the information to ensure that it is correct, search engine optimized and appealing to potential customers. Since these pages must be verified, they are more trusted by both search engines and consumers.
2. Local businesses have an increased presence in the SERPs. The local search results are more prominent in the SERPs than ever and eyetrack studies show that people look at the local results and Map before the organic results. Local SEO can help you get more eyes on your businesses.
3. Conversion rates are higher. Conversion rates for potential customers searching for local keywords are higher than those searching for general or national keywords. When the potential customer is near the location of the business this increases the chance that they will click on and visit the business.
4. Local SEO is easy. For small businesses that don’t have a huge marketing budget, local SEO is a breath of fresh air. It’s easy to claim and verify your listings on local directories and many are completely free. The only drawback is, local SEO can be time consuming.
5. Mobile searches for businesses are often local. Instead of scouring the Yellow Pages for a local pizza place, consumers are turning to their smartphones. Local map listings are perfect for companies that want to be found by consumers on-the-go. These consumers often have a higher purchase intent and are more likely to turn into loyal customers.
Local SEO is valuable to small businesses. It can help increase their presence, gain control over their online information and attract more customers. Ready to get started with you local SEO campaign today? Call Local Splash.
Consumers are doing more shopping and product research on mobile devices and according to a recent Google study, 75% of users prefer a mobile-friendly site, yet 96% of consumers have encountered sites that were clearly not designed for mobile. This means there is a lot of room for improvement for many business owners who have yet to go mobile. Here’s what else the study revealed.
A mobile-friendly website can help create loyal customers.
67% of mobile users say they’re more likely to buy from a site that’s mobile-friendly
74% of users say they’re more likely to return to a site that’s mobile-friendly
Without a mobile-friendly website, you could be sending customers to your competitors.
50% of users said that even if they like a business, they’ll use them less often if the website isn’t mobile-friendly
61% of users said if they didn’t find what they were looking for immediately on a mobile site, they would move to another website
When your website isn’t mobile-friendly, it frustrates most users and can hurt your company’s reputation.
52% of users said that a bad mobile experience made them less likely to engage with a company
48% of users said that if a website didn’t function well on a mobile device, it made them feel like the company didn’t care about their business
This Google study makes it clear that mobile-friendly websites are a must! Start taking steps to make sure your mobile website is user-friendly today.