Local Search

Four out of five Australians use a search engine like Google to look for local businesses.

With Australian’s among the highest users of smartphones in the world and search engines the ‘go to’ resource for finding local products and services, being visible in local search, and to potential customers who are local or nearby, is critical to attracting them to your business.

Google uses a number of ranking factors, including a user’s physical location and proximity (hyperlocal search), time of the day and even reviews when determining search results and maps listings are regularly displayed above organic search results where local intent is identified in a search.

In fact, maps applications alone are being utilised more and more to find local businesses and just like regular search, the greatest share of clicks or user engagement from these searches will go to the top results.

Did you know:

• 46% of all searches on Google are looking for local information.
• 88% of mobile users who conducted a local search will call or visit a store or business with 24 hours.
• 51% of smartphone users discovered a new company or product while searching on their device.

Where does your business and website rank for local searches?