Local SEO is becoming more important as search behavior continues to shift.
Consumers are relying on search engines more because they expect quick, accurate answers when looking for local services.
Businesses that fail to optimize for local SEO risk losing visibility in these high-intent searches.
In 2025, staying ahead means understanding the trends shaping local search.
In this article, I’ll share key local SEO statistics to help you prepare.
Let’s get into it.
73 Local SEO Statistics to Know
- 46% of all Google searches have local intent.
- 76% of people who search for something nearby visit a business within a day.
- 28% of searches for something nearby result in a purchase.
- 78% of local mobile searches lead to offline purchases.
- 88% of consumers who do a local search on their smartphone visit or call a store within a day.
- 97% of people learn more about a local company online than anywhere else.
- 61% of mobile searchers are more likely to contact a local business if they have a mobile-friendly site.
- 30% of all mobile searches are related to location.
- 92% of searchers select businesses on the first page of local search results.
- 86% of people look up the location of a business on Google Maps.
- 72% of consumers that did a local search visited a store within five miles.
- 88% of searches for local businesses on a mobile device either call or visit the business within 24 hours.
- 18% of local smartphone searches led to a purchase within a day, compared to 7% of non-local searches.
- “Near me” or “close by” type searches grew by over 900% in two years.
- 72% of computer or tablet users and 67% of smartphone users want ads customized to their city or zip code.
- 78% of location-based mobile searches result in an offline purchase.
- 4 in 5 consumers use search engines to find local information.
- 98% of consumers use the internet to find local business information.
- 76% of consumers regularly read reviews when searching for local businesses.
- 69% of overall digital traffic comes from local and organic searches.
- 42% of local searches involve clicks on the Google Map Pack.
- 57% of local searches are done on mobile devices.
- 50% of mobile users visit stores after conducting local searches.
- 75% of local searches result in a phone call.
- 90% of purchases from mobile store searches happen in physical locations.
- 67% of people prefer businesses that target their location through apps or mobile sites.
- 88% of local clients trust reviews.
- 68% of online activities start with a search engine.
- 75% of searchers never go beyond the first page of results.
- 80% of local mobile searches convert.
- 28% of local searches result in a purchase within 24 hours.
- 40% of local SEO campaigns achieve a 500% or better ROI.
- 62% of consumers will disregard a business if they can’t find them online.
- 64% of small businesses have a local SEO presence.
- 40% of small businesses outsource some or all of their local SEO work.
- 35% of businesses view local SEO as important.
- 58% of businesses don’t have local SEO in their strategy.
- 39% of consumers report checking local business information at least once a month to find out if a place is dog-friendly or accessible.
- 40% of consumers say they look up the working hours of businesses a few times a month.
- 36% of SEO professionals consider on-page elements to be the top ranking factor for local organic search results.
- 50% of people use search engines to find store addresses.
- 84% of local searches are conducted on mobile.
- 76% of people who search for something nearby on their phones visit a business within a day.
- Local mobile searches are growing 50% faster than overall mobile searches.
- 54% of smartphone users look for business hours, while 53% search for directions to local stores.
- 78% of such searches on mobile devices lead to purchases.
- 88% of people use Google Maps to find local businesses, while 12% opt for Apple Maps.
- 42% of individuals who perform a local search click on results from the Google Map Pack.
- Customers are 2.7 times more likely to trust a business if they come across a complete Business Profile on search and Google Maps.
- About 68% of online searchers prefer to click on a local 3-pack.
- When people research nearby businesses, they tend to trust Google the most (66%), followed by Google Maps (45%) and the business’s website (36%).
- Most clicks in local search results go to the local pack (44%), followed by organic results (29%) and ads (21%).
- 99% of people have used the internet to look up information about a local business in the past year.
- 21% of U.S. consumers search for nearby businesses every day, while 32% do so several times a week.
- 71% of marketers have a local link building strategy in place.
- “Near me” searches have grown by over 900% in the last two years.
- Google takes into account 149 different ranking factors for local searches.
- The top three most valuable local SEO services are managing Google Business Profiles (52%), creating content (39%), and website design (34%).
- Marketers believe that the key factors in local organic ranking are a separate page for each service, strategic internal linking, and high-quality backlinks.
- 46% of Google searches have a local focus.
- 58% of businesses don’t optimize for local search.
- 39% of consumers report checking local business information at least once a month to find out if a place is dog-friendly or accessible.
- 40% of consumers say they look up the working hours of businesses a few times a month.
- 36% of SEO professionals consider on-page elements to be the top ranking factor for local organic search results.
- In the last two years, “near me” mobile searches with phrases like “can I buy” or “to buy” have increased by over 500%.
- 50% of people use search engines to find store addresses.
- 30% of all mobile searches are related to location.
- 50% of people who searched locally on their mobile visited a store within 24
What are AI Overviews and How Does They Affect Local SEO Strategies?
Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGE) is an AI-powered search feature introduced by Google.
While there is limited information specifically discussing the impact of SGE on local SEO, we can make some observations and draw potential implications:
- SGE integrates generative AI into search, aiming to personalize and innovate the search journey. It pulls information from various sources and presents it in a snapshot, allowing users to make detailed searches from the beginning. Because of this, SGE could provide more relevant and comprehensive information for local search queries like “outdoor beer gardens in Philadelphia” or “places in Philadelphia with a pool table and sports TVs.” SGE has the potential to make your local search queries hyper-personalized.
- Greg Sterling from Near Media suggested that local search may be one of the most affected segments by SGE [2]. While the exact impact is not specified, it indicates that SGE could have significant implications for local SEO.
- SGE generates AI-generated answers along with three potential website options. This suggests that local businesses optimizing for local SEO may have an opportunity to be featured as one of the website options presented in the SGE results.
Considering these observations, it is important for businesses with a local focus to adapt their SEO strategies to the potential impact of SGE. Here are some recommendations:
- Continue optimizing for ranking: Although SGE uses AI-generated answers, ranking still plays a role in determining the sources from which SGE generates its answers.
- Optimize for local intent: Since local search is expected to be one of the most affected segments by SGE, businesses should ensure their online presence is optimized for local search. This includes optimizing your website content, local listings, and online reviews to enhance your visibility and relevance in local search results.
- Provide detailed and relevant information: SGE aims to deliver more comprehensive information to users. Businesses should ensure that their website content provides detailed and relevant information about their products, services, and location to increase the chances of being featured in SGE results.
- Monitor and adapt: As SGE is a new feature, it is crucial to closely monitor its impact on local SEO. Keep track of changes in search rankings and website traffic, and adjust your strategies accordingly to leverage the opportunities presented by SGE.
While the full extent of SGE’s impact on local SEO is yet to be determined, these recommendations can help businesses position themselves effectively in the evolving search landscape. It is also advisable to stay informed about any updates or insights related to SGE and local SEO to make informed decisions.
How to Prepare for AI Overviews as a Local Business
While the exact impact of SGE on local SEO is still being explored, there are some things to consider:
- SGE generates answers using sources from the top pages on Google, indicating that ranking and optimization are still important [1].
- Being featured as a source in the SGE panel can provide a clear advantage in terms of visibility and traffic [2].
- Local and product searches may be among the most affected segments by SGE [3].