21 Local SEO Statistics That Matter in 2026

46% of all searches will have to do with location – an SEO statistic that highlights the relevance of local search marketing for Google searches. Small to medium-sized businesses not implementing basic local SEO strategies will miss out on ranking for almost half of all Google searches. With more than 3.5 billion searches being received by Google every day, that’s a whopping 1.6 billion of them that include local intent.

It’s no secret that consumers are becoming more reliant on the internet to find products, services, and businesses. But did you know that the majority of users use search to find businesses nearby? Local Search statistics also reveal that 54% of us are making these searches at least once a month, and 12% search for a local business every day.

Users are more frequently using their mobile devices to find businesses or products nearby. The latest local statistics show that almost a third of all mobile searches include local intent – further evidence of the necessity of local SEO. A comprehensive local SEO campaign will work on improving the mobile-friendliness of a website as well as connecting with local customers.

Local searches are becoming more frequent. 29% of consumers are conducting searches for local business at least weekly. With people searching for local businesses so often, you don’t want to miss the opportunity to drive them to your local business.

The phrase “near me” for local searches has become incredibly popular recently. Over the last couple of years, the number of people using “near me” or “buy now” to find local products or businesses has increased by an insane 500%. In 2026, small businesses need to ensure that local SEO strategies are adapted to allow for customers nearby to find your business.

Users conducting local searchers have high purchase intent, with almost a third of all searches with local intent resulting in a purchase. This is likely because searchers know that the product or service they are after is nearby – they’re less likely to care about location if they’re not ready to purchase. Those implementing local SEO strategies aren’t just enhancing their online profile, but are also attracting qualified, high converting leads.

Brick and mortar businesses are very much alive and well. Local SEO facts reveal that users making local searches on their mobile are even more likely to convert to paying customers. 90% of these purchases will occur in a physical store location. Even for companies that operate out of offline and physical stores, it is crucial to have a local SEO strategy in place that exposes your business to potential customers.

Previously, users had to type in a postcode and address to search for a local business. Today, local SEO statistics reveal that the addition of “near me” to a search can help users filter according to their location. More than half of these people searching “near me” for products or services will end up visiting an actual store. This search local statistic further proves how important it is for local businesses to enhance their local search visibility, even if you operate a brick and mortar style business.

Those topping the rankings of local business searches are benefitting from 24.4% of all clicks. This local SEO statistic for 2026 further highlights the importance of local SEO for small businesses. Companies outranking their local competition are going to attract almost a quarter of all customers making that search. Getting ahead of your competition will come with a wealth of local opportunities.

The most recent local SEO statistics from Google Maps reveal that 86% of users are using the platform to search for local stores and businesses. This statistic proves the importance of a healthy and consistently updated Google Business listing for both brick and mortar stores and service companies.

In the same way that Google is the preferred search engine of almost 90% of users, Google Maps is the preferred maps tool for more than 2/3 of all smartphone users. Google’s market share in the maps space has continued to grow with the growth of the Google Business platform, as well as Google’s continued investment and growth of the hugely popular Waze platform.

Online reviews are a great way to show off the quality of your business services. Almost 90% of all consumers will read reviews before going any further on the buying journey with a company. Genuine and positive online reviews from satisfied customers can go a long way in making a business look trustworthy, have a definite impact on sales, and prove to Google that your business provides a valuable service. Positive reviews are also increasingly vital to decision making and will provide social proof that drives purchases.

With 88% of potential customers looking for online reviews before choosing a local business, it’s also worth noting that 73% of customers say that they “trust” a company with online reviews. This means that businesses with no online reviews across Google, Facebook, or other peer-to-peer review platforms are less likely to be “trusted” by the 88% of customers that look for online reviews before choosing local services.

Positive reviews are (of course) a hall mark of a business that is worth trusting, however, another study found that perfect is not always what customers are looking for. The study found that businesses with an overwhelming or unrealistic number of five-star reviews from low review count accounts are actually less credible than those with some negative reviews. Positive reviews are great, but customers also want to know how businesses handle negative reviews from dissatisfied clients.

If your business has not claimed its Google Business listing, you are missing out on enormous local search visibility and customer connection opportunities. Google Business works with Google Maps to serve users with local businesses in the local area. Google Business is a free tool that allows business owners to provide and manage their valuable contact information for users to find.