Local Marketing Statistics

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Local marketing has never been more important—mostly because we’ve all collectively forgotten how to stumble upon a business the old-fashioned way. Gone are the days of simply walking down the street and discovering a charming bakery or an oddly specific specialty shop. Now, if a business doesn’t show up on our smartphones, it may as well not exist. In fact, 89% of consumers search for local businesses on their phones at least once a week, presumably while standing just a few feet away from them. Even better, 72% of those searchers actually visit a store within five miles, which is a polite way of saying that convenience still trumps brand loyalty.

And it’s not just a minor trend—it’s a full-blown obsession. “Near me” searches have surged by 900% over the past two years, meaning we’ve reached a point where people would rather trust an algorithm than their own ability to navigate a neighborhood. Even more telling, 76% of consumers who conduct these searches visit a business within a day, and 28% make a purchase within 24 hours. Essentially, if someone searches for “best coffee shop near me,” they’re not just curious—they’re already reaching for their wallet.

For businesses, ignoring local SEO is the equivalent of hanging a “Closed Forever” sign on their storefront. Those that invest in it see substantial returns, with 40% of local SEO campaigns delivering a staggering 500% ROI. Which, to be fair, is a much better use of time than hoping a passerby will just happen to look up from their phone and notice you exist.

In this article, we’ll dive into the latest local marketing statistics, exploring how businesses can harness local search optimization, online reviews, and targeted digital advertising to make sure they’re not just visible, but impossible to ignore. Because if a business doesn’t show up on Google, does it even exist? (Spoiler: No. No, it does not.)

  1. Smartphone Searches for Local Businesses: 89% of people search for a local business on their smartphone at least once a week. hyperlocology.com
  2. Impact of Retargeting on Purchases: Customers are 70% more likely to purchase a product when a company utilizes retargeting strategies. hyperlocology.com
  3. Brand Awareness Through Online Ads: Online advertisements can increase brand awareness by 80%. hyperlocology.com
  4. Proximity of Store Visits After Local Search: 72% of consumers who performed a local search visited a store within five miles. hyperlocology.com
  5. Growth of “Near Me” Searches: Searches containing “near me” or “close by” grew by more than 900% over two years. hyperlocology.com
  6. Dominance of “Restaurants Near Me” Searches: “Restaurants near me” is the most popular “near me” search, with 6.2 million organic searches per month. hyperlocology.com
  7. Click-Through Rate of Top Paid Ads: 46% of clicks go to the top three paid ads in search results. hyperlocology.com
  8. Reach of Google Display Network: The Google Display Network reaches 90% of internet users worldwide. hyperlocology.com
  9. Consumer Use of Search Engines for Local Information: Four out of five consumers use search engines to find local information and businesses. hyperlocology.com
  10. Perception of Paid Ads: 75% of people say paid ads make it easier to find the information they need. hyperlocology.com
  11. Demand for Accurate Business Information: 86% of customers seek local business information on major search and social channels. hyperlocology.com
  12. Consumer Reliance on Google for Local Business Information: 89% of consumers use Google to find local business information. onthemap.com
  13. Prevalence of Incorrect Business Information: 85% of consumers have found incorrect information about a business on a business information site. onthemap.com
  14. Conversion Rate of Local SEO Leads: Local SEO leads have nearly a 15% close rate. localiq.com
  15. Rapid Purchase Decisions After Local Searches: 28% of local searches result in a purchase within 24 hours. localiq.com
  16. Adoption of Local SEO by Small Businesses: 64% of small businesses have a local SEO presence. localiq.com
  17. High ROI from Local SEO Campaigns: 40% of local SEO campaigns achieve a 500% or better return on investment. localiq.com
  18. Willingness to Pay More for Businesses with Good Online Reputation: People are willing to pay 22% more for a local product or service if the business has a good online reputation. localiq.com
  19. Influence of “Near Me” Searches on Store Visits: 76% of consumers who search for “near me” visit a business within a day. backlinko.com
  20. Local Intent in Google Searches: 46% of Google searches have local intent. backlinko.com
  21. Smartphone Users Visiting Stores After Local Searches: 88% of individuals who use a smartphone for a local search visit a related store within a week. backlinko.com
  22. Increase in “Can I Buy” or “To Buy” Mobile Searches: Local mobile searches with a variant of “can I buy” or “to buy” have increased by 500% over the past two years. backlinko.com
  23. Consumers Learning About Local Businesses Online: 96% of people learn about local businesses online. webfx.com
  24. High-Performing Brands and Local Marketing Strategies: 94% of high-performing brands have a dedicated local marketing strategy, compared to 60% of average-performing brands. brightlocal.com
  25. Consumer Visits After Local Searches on Smartphones: 88% of people conducting a local search on their smartphone visit the chosen business within a week. loopexdigital.com
  26. Consumer Trust in Online Reviews: 70% of consumers trust online reviews, second only to personal recommendations. en.wikipedia.org
  27. Impact of Yelp Ratings on Revenue: A one-star increase in Yelp rating leads to a 5–7% increase in restaurant revenue. en.wikipedia.org
  28. Influence of Half-Star Rating Improvements: A half-star improvement on a five-star rating can make it 30–49% more likely that a restaurant will sell out its evening seats. en.wikipedia.org
  29. Consumer Preference for Localized Social Media Engagement: 72% of social media brand engagement happens on local pages. thezoeteam.com
  30. Effectiveness of High-Value Social Media Engagement: “High value” social media engagement — comments, shares, direct messages, reviews — occurs 66% more on local pages than on national pages. thezoeteam.com
  31. Consumer Use of Google for Local Business Information: 72% of people use Google search to find services and products in their location. seoprofy.com
  32. Impact of “Near Me” Searches on Store Visits: 76% of consumers who search for “near me” visit a business within a day. backlinko.com
  33. Proportion of Google Searches with Local Intent: 46% of Google searches have local intent. backlinko.com
  34. Smartphone Users Visiting Stores After Local Searches: 88% of individuals who use a smartphone for a local search visit a related store within a week. backlinko.com
  35. Increase in “Can I Buy” or “To Buy” Mobile Searches: Local mobile searches with a variant of “can I buy” or “to buy” have increased by 500% over the past two years. backlinko.com
  36. Consumer Learning About Local Businesses Online: 96% of people learn about local businesses online. webfx.com
  37. High-Performing Brands with Dedicated Local Marketing Strategies: 94% of high-performing brands have a dedicated local marketing strategy, compared to 60% of average-performing brands. brightlocal.com
  38. Consumers Visiting Businesses After Local Searches on Smartphones: 88% of people conducting a local search on their smartphone visit the chosen business within a week. loopexdigital.com
  39. Consumers Using Google for Local Business Information: 89% of consumers use Google to find local business information. onthemap.com
  40. Consumers Finding Incorrect Business Information Online: 85% of consumers have found incorrect information about a business on a business information site. onthemap.com
  41. Local SEO Leads Close Rate: Local SEO leads have nearly a 15% close rate. localiq.com
  42. Purchases Resulting from Local Searches: 28% of local searches result in a purchase within 24 hours. localiq.com
  43. Small Businesses with a Local SEO Presence: 64% of small businesses have a local SEO presence. localiq.com
  44. Local SEO Campaigns Achieving High ROI: 40% of local SEO campaigns achieve a 500% or better return on investment. localiq.com
  45. Willingness to Pay More for Businesses with Good Online Reputation: People are willing to pay 22% more for a local product or service if the business has a good online reputation. localiq.com
  46. Consumers Using Search Engines for Local Information: Four out of five consumers use search engines to find local information and businesses. hyperlocology.com
  47. Consumers Seeking Local Business Information on Major Search and Social Channels: 86% of customers seek local business information on major search and social channels. hyperlocology.com
  48. Consumers’ Perception of Paid Ads: 75% of people say paid ads make it easier to find the information they need. hyperlocology.com
  49. Click-Through Rate of Top Paid Ads: 46% of clicks go to the top three paid ads in search results. hyperlocology.com
  50. Reach of Google Display Network: The Google Display Network reaches 90% of internet users worldwide. hyperlocology.com

A well-executed local marketing strategy can be the difference between a thriving business and one that’s inexplicably empty, despite being right there on Main Street. Local SEO leads boast a 15% close rate, which, in marketing terms, is practically a standing ovation. And yet, businesses continue to sabotage themselves in the simplest of ways—by failing to provide accurate information online. A full 85% of consumers have come across incorrect business details, which is both frustrating and a bit mystifying. There’s something deeply unsettling about a restaurant listing its hours as “Open,” only for you to arrive and find it locked up like a crime scene.

To avoid such tragic missteps, businesses should at least pretend to care about their Google Business profiles, invest in hyperlocal paid ads (which conveniently snag 46% of clicks in search results), and encourage online reviews—because, as it turns out, a single extra star on Yelp can increase restaurant revenue by 5-7%. Which means that your local burger joint’s fate could very well depend on whether Brad from accounting thought the fries were crispy enough.

With digital advancements continuously shaping local search behavior, businesses that embrace these strategies won’t just survive—they’ll thrive. Because in the end, success isn’t just about having the best product or service; it’s about making sure Google knows you exist. And if that means bribing a few customers for five-star reviews with free appetizers, well, who’s really judging?

Tony Zayas, Author

Written by: Tony Zayas, Chief Revenue Officer

In my role as Chief Revenue Officer at Insivia, I am at the forefront of driving transformation and results for SaaS and technology companies. I lead strategic marketing and business development initiatives, helping businesses overcome plateaus and achieve significant growth. My journey has led me to collaborate with leading businesses and apply my knowledge to revolutionize industries.