Local SEO is an excellent way to attract people to your shop, given that 25% of organic search ranking is driven by Google My Business (GMB) listings1. With consumers using Google to do their research before visiting your store, it is now absolutely essential to optimise your local SEO and your presence management. Still not entirely convinced? Here are 20 key figures you need to know to understand the importance of local SEO for the prosperity of your business.
| 👉 Article updated in July 2026. |
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According to a study conducted by Google in 2018, 63% of shopping occasions begin online2. Remember also that in 2013, GE Capital Retail Bank demonstrated that 81% of consumers were already searching online before heading in-store3. In other words, the internet is the primary gateway to your business !
1 - 46% of Google searches are aimed at finding local information4.
2 - 72% of consumers say their first port of call is the internet when looking for information on a local merchant5.
3 - 86% of internet users use Google Maps to find a business's location : being listed there is therefore a complete no-brainer5.
4 - Over 25% of daily Google queries contain geolocation elements6.
5 - "Near me" searches doubled between 2018 and 2019. This figure demonstrates the sheer importance of proximity searches in the buying journey7.
Web-to-store and your local digital communication allow you to generate footfall in your store. Various methods are at your disposal to encourage this behaviour among internet users. If statistics are anything to go by, local SEO stands out as one of the best ways to trigger a shop visit. Indeed, according to a Moz study, a Google My Business listing contributes to 25% of a business's organic SEO8.
6 - After performing a local search, 72% of consumers visit a shop within 5 km of their location9.
7 - Over 50% of "near me" searches result in a store visit9.
8 - 78% of geolocalised mobile searches result in an in-store purchase9.
9 - 18% of geolocalised mobile searches lead to a purchase within the same day. In contrast, only 7% of non-localised searches end in a sale10.
To find out more, watch our webinar: 5 steps to optimise your local visibility !
Smartphone usage now supersedes desktop usage for informational searches11. Furthermore, Google favours "responsive" websites (optimised for mobile use) in its search results. With the rise of mobile usage, consumption habits have evolved, favouring immediate searches and purchases anytime, anywhere.
10 - 30% of mobile searches on Google are location-related12.
11 - When on the move, 56% of searches conducted are localised12.
12 - 1 in 3 searches is carried out on a smartphone just before the consumer enters a shop12.
13 - 82% of shoppers will use their mobile for a "near me" search12.
14 - From their smartphone, consumers search for the point of sale's opening hours (54%), the address (50%), and directions to get there (53%)12.
15 - 65% of consumers use their smartphones whilst shopping, and 15% of them use it to research the product or compare prices12.
The internet is a tool with a ubiquitous social reach. Even in local SEO, this dimension must be integrated into your local communication, as it plays a significant part in consumers' purchasing decisions. Whether on social media, your GMB business listing, or your online shop, you must correctly use the tools at your disposal: publishing articles, videos, photos, customer reviews and responses…
16 - Before making an online purchase, 88% of consumers check customer reviews. This figure drops to 73% (which remains highly significant) for in-store purchases13.
17 - On average, consumers spend more than 13 minutes reading customer feedback14.
18 - 76% of internet users consider customer reviews to be as trustworthy as recommendations from their friends and family15.
19 - 97% of internet users who read customer reviews pay close attention to the responses provided by the merchant16.
20 - Google My Business listings with over 100 photos get 520% more calls and 2.7% more clicks17.
Looking at these figures, it is easy to understand why the current buying journey is mobile-friendly, local, and incredibly fast. Consumers conducting localised searches are highly likely to visit your store shortly after their search. Faced with these observations, a virtuous circle can be established. Optimising your local SEO and offering a high-quality experience to your online users (relevance of the information provided, available photos, stock availability, customer reviews, etc.) encourages visits to your shop while improving your ranking in search results. Consequently, this will, de facto, drive even more footfall to your store.
References :
1 - Pourcentage de participation au référencement des fiches GMB
https://moz.com/local-search-ranking-factors
2 - Les opportunités d'achat commencent en ligne
https://www.thinkwithgoogle.com/feature/path-to-purchase-search-behavior/
3 - GE Capital Retail Bank montre l'importance du référencement local https://chainstoreage.com/news/study-81-research-online-making-big-purchases
https://transaction.agency/ecommerce-statistics/81-of-shoppers-research-their-product-online-before-purchasing/
4 - Pourcentages des recherches locales
https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/12-local-seo-stats-every-business-owner-and-marketer-should-know-in-2019-i/549079/
5 - Consommateurs cherchant des informations
https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/12-local-seo-stats-every-business-owner-and-marketer-should-know-in-2019-i/549079/
6 - Requêtes quotidiennes de Google contenant la géolocalisation
https://www.cybercite.fr/seo-local.html
7 - Les recherches "near me"
https://www.alioze.com/chiffres-web
8 - Etude de Moz
https://moz.com/local-search-ranking-factors
9 - Statistiques SEO local
https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/12-local-seo-stats-every-business-owner-and-marketer-should-know-in-2019-i/549079/
10 - Influence sur la prise de décision
https://www.thinkwithgoogle.com/advertising-channels/search/how-advertisers-can-extend-their-relevance-with-search-infographic/
11 - Utilisation des smartphone surpasse celles des ordinateur
https://www.mediametrie.fr/fr/lannee-internet-2019
12 - Plus de statistiques
https://www.mediametrie.fr/fr/lannee-internet-2019
13 - Influence de la réputation sur l'achat
https://www.reputationvip.com/fr/blog/sondage-ifop-reputation-vip-linfluence-de-le-reputation-sur-lacte-dachat
14 - Rapport des internautes aux avis clients
https://www.brightlocal.com/research/local-consumer-review-survey/?SSAID=314743&SSCID=51k4_eud7l
15 - Les internautes et l'impression de fiabilité des commentaires https://www.brightlocal.com/research/local-consumer-review-survey/?SSAID=314743&SSCID=51k4_eud7l
16 - Attention des consommateurs aux avis
https://www.brightlocal.com/research/local-consumer-review-survey/?SSAID=314743&SSCID=51k4_eud7l
17 - Statistiques sur la réputation d'une entreprise des fiches GMB
https://searchengineland.com/new-research-shows-strong-link-between-google-my-business-photo-quantity-and-search-performance-320199