15 Powerful Local SEO Statistics You Can’t Ignore in 2024

Are you struggling to stand out in your local market? With so many businesses competing for the attention of local customers, it can be tough to make your mark. That’s where local SEO comes in. By considering the most important local SEO statistics making an impact in 2024 and implementing a comprehensive local SEO strategy, you can boost your visibility in local search results, reach your target audience more effectively, and drive valuable leads to your business. In 2024, local SEO will be more important than ever for small businesses looking to grow their online presence, improve their SEO rankings, and attract more local customers. 

To help you understand the significance of localised search efforts, we’ve compiled 15 unmissable local SEO statistics that demonstrate the importance of a robust local SEO strategy. From the rise of “near me” searches to the impact of Google My Business listings, these statistics highlight the significant role that local search plays in driving traffic and revenue for small businesses.

Whether you’re a local business owner or a marketer looking to improve your client’s online visibility, these statistics will provide valuable insights into the latest trends and best practices in local SEO. So let’s dive into the world of local SEO and discover the key trends and statistics you need to know in 2024.

15 Unmissable Local SEO Statistics for 2024

Google “near me” searches have increased by 250% in the past two years.¹

The great surge in “near me” searches in recent years reflects the growing importance of local SEO, as customers increasingly use their mobile devices to search for nearby businesses. By optimising your website and online presence for local results, your business can improve its chances of appearing in relevant “near me” searches and attracting more customers from your local area. As a result, it is those businesses that ignore local SEO that risks losing out to competitors who have prioritised it.

88% of potential customers look for online reviews before choosing local services.² 

88% of potential customers look for online reviews before choosing local services

Almost 9 out of 10 potential customers have a vested interest in the experiences that their fellow consumers have faced, and that’s why online reviews have become so crucial to local SEO. Your customers are looking for evidential proof that your business can offer them the experience they’re looking for, so genuine and positive online reviews from satisfied customers can go a long way in building your credibility. So make sure that you provide enough information about your business, beyond simply providing your address and phone number. But don’t forget, it’s not just fairy tales that your customers are looking for. Nearly 85% of customers actively search for negative reviews that warn them away from businesses, showing hesitation clearly remains until the real thing has been experienced. Make sure you not only encourage positive reviews but are also vigilant of the less favourable experiences shared by your customers. 

46% of all Google searches have local intent, making mobile search crucial for local SEO.³ 

With almost half of all Google searches having local intent, businesses that don’t optimise for local search will miss out on a significant portion of potential traffic and customers from their local area. Don’t forget, Google receives more than 3.5 billion searches each day, so you don’t want to miss out on your share of the 1.6 billion searches that are written with a localised focus. This is particularly important for businesses with a physical storefront or location, as these searches can drive your foot traffic no end. If your business doesn’t invest in a quality local SEO campaign, that captures local results, you’ll be missing out on endless opportunities to increase your visibility and organic reach.

97% of consumers check a company’s online presence before deciding to visit them.⁴

In today’s digital age, having a strong online presence is crucial for businesses that want to attract local customers. The fact that nearly every consumer places value on a robust online presence, including a website, social media profiles, and other digital assets, just shows how important local SEO has become. Such value is placed on the credibility of an online presence that 50% of users visit a store within a day of a local search where the business was displayed on local results. If you want to attract interested customers that are ready to buy, you’ll need to make sure you provide a quality first impression online and capitalise on local search traffic. 

Businesses with a claimed Google My Business listing receive 7x more clicks than unclaimed listings.⁵ 

If your business hasn’t claimed its Google My Business listing, you’re missing out on a lot of potential traffic and customers from your local area. Once you do, you’ll open your business up to a wealth of opportunities centred around bolstering your visibility and simply making it easier for potential customers to find you. Your Google My Business listing can help you showcase important information about your business, such as your address and phone number, hours of operation, and customer reviews, and by providing this information, you’ll be making sure that you’ve done everything in your power to capitalise on the traffic that you do generate. 

86% of customers use Google Maps to find local businesses.⁶

In case you need more encouragement to register or claim your Google My Business listing, consider the fact that 86% of customers use Google Maps to find local businesses. Unless you’re very confident in your business’s abilities and existing SEO rankings, it’s fair to say that you’d be unsatisfied if you only engaged with 14% of your potential market. So, why not open as many doors as possible and optimise your listing for Google Maps? By doing so, you can ensure that your business appears in relevant searches, stands out from your competitors, and captures the attention of potential customers in your local area who are actively searching for businesses like yours. Local listings are among the most crucial SEO tools you can use, so be sure to remember their importance. 

56% of local businesses have not yet claimed their Google My Business listing.⁷

56% of local businesses have not yet claimed their Google My Business listing

Despite the vast benefits of having a Google My Business (GMB) listing, and regardless of the fact that the majority of customers use these platforms to search for local businesses, more than half of local businesses have yet to claim theirs. Failing to claim your GMB listing means that potential customers won’t be able to find you when they’re searching through local results for businesses like yours. Moreover, it means that your competitors who have a claimed listing are likely to receive the clicks and conversions that could have been yours. A GMB listing also helps to establish your business’s online presence, build trust with customers, and improve your SEO rankings. In today’s digital landscape, it’s more important than ever to have an online presence, and a GMB listing is a crucial component of any local SEO strategy. Don’t miss out on the benefits – claim your GMB listing today.

78% of local searches on mobile result in an offline purchase.⁸ 

For many businesses in the modern day, a quality website is their go-to, all-encompassing method of contact, sale and aftercare. However, that’s not the case for many physical stores and service providers that rely on physical interaction, but that doesn’t mean that local SEO and a solid web presence are unimportant. For these businesses, a sound web presence and quality local SEO strategy that’s informed by local keyword research and optimised for mobile searches can be the key that unlocks the door to offline sales. With almost 80% of customers who use mobile search for local businesses ending up making a purchase offline, it’s crucial for all business to consider their local SEO, regardless of the nature in which they conduct business.

The first result of local business searches gets 24.4% of all clicks.⁹ 

If you need any more encouragement to optimise your local SEO strategy, consider the fact that nearly a quarter of all clicks are enjoyed by the business that ranks first in local results. Even though the competition is strong, local SEO success reaps its rewards and then some, giving your business the opportunity to interact with more customers than you thought possible. If you want to access untold local opportunities, consider starting your local SEO campaign today to give your business the best chances of appearing at the top of the SEO rankings and converting your visitors into paying customers. 

58 % of consumers use voice search to find local businesses in the last year.¹⁰

The rise of voice search is changing the way consumers find and interact with local businesses. With more than half of consumers using voice search to find local businesses, it’s clear that voice search optimisation is becoming increasingly important for local SEO. What’s more, the trend shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, more than three-quarters of voice-enabled speaker owners use voice search each week to discover a local company. This means that if your local business isn’t optimised for voice search, you’re missing out on a significant portion of potential traffic and customers. So, revisit your keyword research strategy and make sure you’re using natural language and long-tail keywords, providing accurate and up-to-date information about your business, and focusing on providing a seamless user experience for voice search users.

92% of users choose businesses on the first page of local search results.¹¹

92% of users choose businesses on the first page of local search results

When it comes to local SEO, there’s almost no metric more important than ranking on the first page of search results for localised searches. Nearly all users, 92%, choose a business that appears on the first page of local search results, making it imperative to optimise your website for local search. What’s more, three-quarters of users don’t even scroll past the first page of search engine results, meaning their search for a reliable business to interact with is restricted to just those few top-ranking providers. If your business doesn’t hit that first page of local search rankings, you could be restricting yourself to just 8% of the market, making conversions enormously difficult to achieve.  

80% of people lose trust in a business with inaccurate or inconsistent contact details.¹² 

Having accurate and consistent contact details across all online platforms is crucial for building trust with potential customers. When nearly 9 in 10 customers check a company’s online presence before deciding to visit them, the last thing you want is to give them a reason to doubt your legitimacy or reliability. With 4 out of every 5 consumers prone to losing trust in businesses that have inaccurate or inconsistent contact details online, you need to carefully monitor and assess your essential online details, making sure you don’t turn away potential customers for truly trivial reasons. Taking the time to ensure all information about your business is consistent and up-to-date, especially on third-party websites and directories, is crucial in building trust with potential customers and ensuring that they can easily find and connect with your business.

91% of consumers 18-34 years-old trust businesses with positive reviews.¹³ 

Positive reviews can have a significant impact on a business’s success, particularly for those targeting the younger demographic. Word of mouth has been among the most powerful and influential marketing tools since the dawn of business, and its imperative that your business capitalises on the inherent trust consumers have in one another. Younger consumers in particular are most respectful and trusting of their peers, so it’s crucial for your business to generate positive reviews that act as social proof, allowing customers to feel confident that they are making the right choice by engaging with your business. There truly is no substitute for a positive online reputation, and an effective local SEO strategy can help your local business leverage the power of the spoken, or more accurately, written word, that younger consumers place such value on.

61% of mobile searchers are more likely to contact a local business with a mobile-friendly site.¹⁴

With mobile usage on the rise, it’s no surprise that 61% of mobile searchers are more likely to contact those local businesses that have mobile-friendly websites. In today’s digital age, your business needs to be prepared for consumers to search in even the most unorthodox means, so it’s crucial that you invest in a quality web presence that translates well into the mobile space. Not only will it improve the user experience you offer, but it will also give you an edge over those competitors that have not yet optimised their site for mobile, and trust us, there are more than a few! Plus, with 88% of consumers interacting with a local business within 24 hours of searching for it on a mobile device, the rewards for establishing a quality mobile arm of your web presence couldn’t be greater. 

29% of people search for local businesses at least once a week.¹⁵

92% of users choose businesses on the first page of local search results

In today’s digital age where information is constantly at our fingertips, it’s no surprise that more and more people aren’t settling on the first provider they find and are instead continuing to search for businesses on a regular basis. In fact, nearly a third of people search for local businesses at least once a week. However, it’s important to keep in mind that even though searches for local businesses are constant, search rankings are not permanent. To stay at the top and continue to generate the leads and conversions you need, your local SEO efforts shouldn’t stop. Stay ahead of the game by continuously optimising your online presence and improving your local search ranking, and you’ll remain a strong competitor in your field and set your business up for a prosperous future.

Capitalise on the Great Power of Local SEO Statistics

In today’s digital landscape, local SEO is not just important, it’s essential. Our list of local SEO statistics has shown that optimising for local search can have a huge impact on your business’s visibility, foot traffic, and revenue. With the vast majority of consumers conducting online research before making a purchase decision, it’s crucial for businesses to invest in a comprehensive local SEO strategy. This includes claiming your Google My Business listing, making sure your website is mobile-friendly, and maintaining positive online reviews. Neglecting local SEO means missing out on significant opportunities, as mobile and voice searches with local intent continue to rise. Remember, search rankings are constantly changing, so maintaining your SEO efforts is crucial for staying on top and generating leads and conversions. Today’s investment is tomorrow’s success. Consider which of these trends is most important for your business, and invest your time and effort into the activities that will bolster your SEO success.

References For Local SEO Statistics

1. Insights we uncovered in 2019 that will take you into 2020. 2019 RESEARCH REVIEW. Accessed 9th January 2024.
2.  Local Consumer Review Survey 2023. BrightLocal. Accessed 8th January 2024.
3. 18 Local SEO Statistics That Matter in 2023. Safari Digital. Accessed 8th January 2024.
4. Local SEO Statistics. 99Firms. Accessed 8th January 2024.
5. Google My Business Insights Study – Benchmark Your Business’s GMB Insights. BrightLocal. Accessed 8th January 2024. 
6. Local SEO Statistics. 99Firms. Accessed 8th January 2024. 
7. 18 Local SEO Statistics That Matter in 2023. Safari Digital. Accessed 9th January 2024.
8. Study: 78 Percent Of Local-Mobile Searches Result In Offline Purchases. Search Engine Land. Accessed 9th January 2024.
9. Local SEO Statistics. 99Firms. Accessed 8th January 2024.
10. Local SEO Statistics: 35+ Stats to Prove You Need a Local SEO Strategy. WebFX. Accessed 8th January 2024.
11. Local SEO Statistics 101: Everything You Need to Know to Succeed [Updated for 2023]. Marketix. Accessed 8th January 2024. 
12. Local Citations Trust Report. BrightLocal. Accessed 8th January 2024. 
13. 18 Online Review Statistics Every Marketer Should Know. Search Engine Journal. Accessed 10th January 2024.
14. Top Website Statistics For 2023. Forbes. Accessed 8th January 2024. 
15. Only 29% Of Consumers Regularly Use Mobile Devices To Find Local Businesses. Search Engine Land. Accessed 9th January 2024.