What Percentage of Google Searches Are Local?

Nearly half (46%) of all Google searches consist of users seeking local information. These local searches consist of people searching for businesses in their local area or within a specific service area.

What this means is that the search results are often tailored to geo-specific searches, with Google’s algorithm determining which businesses are relevant to the user and worthy of ranking high in the search results.

If you have a local business, you’ll want to implement local search engine optimization (SEO) to increase your chances of ranking, driving traffic, and attracting customers.

Why Local Search Matters for Businesses

There can be stark competition for businesses online, especially for smaller, less-established businesses. Small local restaurants, law firms, photographers, and the like rely on local searches to attract potential customers in their local area.

When a user searches for geo-specific keywords (like “family lawyer in Seattle”) or seeks out businesses in their area (“family law firms near me”), Google’s algorithm then ranks businesses that have been optimized for these search terms.

Without local SEO, local businesses risk getting buried in the search results, never to be found by potential customers. However, if a business invests in its local SEO, it can increase its chances of getting found, outrank local competitors, and attract new customers. We know this based on years of experience in providing lawyer SEO services to law firms all over the country.

Local Search Stats for Businesses:

46% of all Google searches are those in search of local information. (GoGulf)
4 in 5 users use search engines (namely, Google) to find local information. (Think with Google)
By 2021, mobile devices are expected to influence over $1.4 trillion worth of local sales. (Forrester)
Searches for “Near me” or “close by” keywords grew by more than 900% since 2018. (Chat Meter)
It’s expected that local search will send 70% of customers to a physical store. (Joel House Search Media)
78% of location-specific mobile searches result in an in-store purchase. (SEO Tribunal)

How to Rank for Local Searches

The key to ranking for local searches is to optimize your websites and online profiles for the localized keywords your audience is using to find businesses like yours. This practice of optimizing for local search is called local SEO.

To get started, you’ll need to identify which keywords your audience is using to find businesses in the local area. Keyword research tools like Ahrefs.com or SEMrush.com will tell you the approximate search volume for these keywords, how competitive they are, and what other terms you can attempt to rank for.

Next, you’ll want to follow technical SEO and on-page SEO best practices to optimize your site for these key terms. Some of these best practices include ensuring your website is accessible on mobile devices, fixing any broken links on your website, using your target keywords in your page titles, and improving your website load speed.

Finally, you’ll implement off-page SEO to build out local listings, optimize your Google My Business profile, and attract high-authority links to your website. All of this works to increase your site’s authority and therefore visibility in local search.

Drive Local Traffic with Expert-Level SEO

If you own a local business, you can’t afford to miss out on this massive traffic potential. Potential customers are already searching for businesses like yours – it’s time to make your business easier to find by ranking high in local search.

Local SEO is the key to getting found in Google’s local search results, but implementing local SEO best practices isn’t always easy. That’s why it’s best to trust the pros to optimize your site from the inside out so you can attract as many customers as possible.

Want to get started with local SEO? Contact the local SEO pros at Hennessey Digital today.