Today’s landscape looks very different than a decade ago.  For so many entrepreneurs and small business owners, your biggest competition is no longer the other businesses who are similar to you.  It’s the Internet and it’s unstoppable.   Did you know that 88% of people who Google a local business will show up or interact with them in the next 24 hours?  Magic happens when you’re local to someone — it compels them to take action so much faster.     That means today not only do you need to stand out in a loud, crowded online space, but you also need to be known locally — because those buyers, when you connect with them, move so much faster, which will scale your business quick.   Today I want to get you all jazzed about what local marketing can do for your business.  And let me be very clear.  Local marketing is for *almost* every single business owner.  Especially the ones who listen to this podcast and that I work with. I personally have not met someone who wouldn’t win with local marketing, but I do know there are some business exceptions out there.  This is for if you live in a town and you only sell in that area — like a local business or brick and mortar.  Or if you are an online business and have never made it work or even tried local marketing. 

1. Nearly 46% of all Google searches are seeking local information. 

This means that nearly half the world is looking for someone near them! This is amazing news for people who can be found locally. That’s you, by the way.  

2. “Near me” or “close by” type searches grew by more than 900% over two years.

YES. This is me. I let Google add this all the time to my searches. Why? Because we often feel we can trust something near us. Especially if we want to know if it exists or not.  Plus, we’re lazy. And we don’t want to go too far from our home or place of work. 

3. 72% of consumers that did a local search visited a store within five miles.

This proves my point above. Your people are right around you in a very small radius. That means part of your local marketing strategy in 2020 should be getting to know your neighbors and community, well. 

4. 50% of small businesses don’t have a website. 

This one KILLS me. Absolutely. I spent many years, and actually do still build websites here and there for clients some, building sites and making over ugly ones.  That was over a decade ago.  And there are STILL people without websites.  I don’t care who you are or what you do.  Websites are crazy cheap to create your own. If nothing else put up a landing page with info and link to contact you and download a coupon code.  Of course, I would recommend working with a designer and marketer who can help you make a killer site that actually converts, but that’s level 2. 

5. 61% of mobile searchers are more likely to contact a local business if they have a mobile-friendly site.

This is a big ouch I see right now with most businesses. We KNOW we need to be mobile-friendly. We just don’t know how. Even big names and brands get this wrong still.  I *almost* would say to design for mobile before desktop — just because of how our world is searching, but that really depends on what your Google Analytics is telling you about where your website traffic is coming from.  And if you didn’t know it could do that, we need to chat. Actually, let’s make that an episode here soon. 

6. Search result information will send 70% of consumers to a physical store

This is amazing news for local brick and mortar businesses. And I use this term a lot. If you aren’t sure what I mean, I mean small businesses with a physical location.  You’ve already heard me tell you how many people are looking locally. The good news is that they’ll also travel to you and come to your store. 

7. 92% of searchers will pick businesses on the first page of local search results.

This is where SEO comes into play. Yes, it’s that tricky backend side of marketing and tech wizardry