The Importance of Local Search For Local Business
A new study from Chitika shows that 43% of total Google search queries (both mobile and PC) are targeted to a local search. The study also shows 25% of Yahoo and Bing searches are local search. 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. With the holiday season upon us and smart phones and tablets being at the top of everyone’s list expect the number of local searches to increase.
What does ‘local search’ mean for the local business owner?
It means that if you’re not searchable right now, that you better get on it. SEO is no longer for just for e-commerce businesses and the national companies, it’s about ‘local’. It’s not just about when they search your business name, its about when they preform a local search for your business category. SEO and ‘local searches’ are no different than when someone opened up the yellow pages and did a ‘local search’ for plumbers. What came up and how resulted in what company got the business. We all know that the yellow pages don’t deliver on ‘local search’ like they used to… Reason why, just a different tool, smart phones. We’re looking for the same info just not pulling over to a phone booth for the yellow pages for that local search info. So how do you optimize your website and make gathering information about your products or services as easy as possible? Be sure to keep these three tips in mind when starting your mobile optimization strategy:
- Provide a good user experience
- Create location or task specific pages
- Understand search queries used to find your website
- Updated: April 29, 2025Originally Published: November 28, 2012
- Author: Mike Frey
- Blog: Beyond the Pond Blog
- Category: Local Search Optimization Insights, Mobile Marketing Insights, Search & AI Strategy Insights, eCommerce Insights
- Tags: Google Search, SEO, Web search engine, google, local businesses, marketing, search engine optimization, website
- Comments:
Mike Frey
Before co-founding Paradux Media Group, Mike spent more than 15 years in the world of marketing and advertising. While working with hundreds of locally owned businesses, he developed an appreciation for minimizing clients’ dollars while maximizing tangible results for those clients.
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Local Search for Businesses is very crucial. It has expanded from the e-commerce businesses to the local businesses. Thanks for providing the guidelines and insight. Great share.