Did you know Google 3-pack local results appear for at least 93% of Google searches having local intent. Around 50% of consumers who use smartphone to do a local search will visit a local store within a day and 34% of those who use a computer or tablet do the same.
According to Search Engine Watch, 50% of online searches are done with local results in mind and 67% of those searches culminate in a purchase.
If that hasn’t convinced you, take a look at the study conducted by GE Capital Retail Bank. The study showed that more than 80% of consumers research online before making big local purchase decisions. Moreover, 75% will more likely visit local stores after finding then in search results.
Local SEO and mobile optimization go hand in hand
Any site that isn’t optimized for mobile is missing out. There is strong evidence that mobile devices are responsible for more local searches than desktops. If your visitors can’t easily find what they want on their mobile devices, they’ll quickly leave for another site. Half of shoppers will choose a different website if it isn’t mobile-friendly, no matter how much they like the business.
The question isn’t if shoppers prefer using mobile devices to look for local businesses. Instead, you should consider whether your site is fully optimized for mobile. Don’t let potential customers go to your local competitors just because you haven’t kept up with the changes.
Take Home!
The importance of ranking for local search is no longer debatable. Local searches are likely to lead to more in-store visits and purchases. In other words, local SEO can tremendously increase in-store traffic and sales. Having said that, it is critical that your website is mobile-friendly to tap the huge potential presented by mobile users. Without local SEO, you are doomed. Without mobile-friendly SEO, you are dead.