“LOCATION-BASED SEARCH RESULTS” AIDING POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS
by Contributor
(Nov. 24, 2016) — There is no doubt that 2016 is the year of local businesses. The economy is growing at a steady rate and the market is expanding more than ever. Small, home businesses are seeing the most growth in recent months, especially those focusing on their online presence.
There are a number of reasons why local businesses are benefiting from online sales more. Local SEO is now more accessible with search engines focusing on location-based search results. Customers are also making more online purchases and relying on search engines to find products and services. Experts believe the trend will continue for a few more years.
Easy Access to Online Stores
A few years ago, setting up a website meant spending several thousand dollars on web design, hosting services and other items. The cost of making an online store was even more than that. Today, however, any small business owner can go online and find a reliable hosting service and a suitable domain name.
More importantly, it is easier than ever to set up a website and an online store. WordPress and other similar CMS platforms are making it possible for business owners to create, design and launch their own online stores in mere hours.
There are also support services that help small businesses establish a working online store. Payment gateway services such as highriskpay.com are offering the ability to process credit card and other payments, even for products and services that are not usually covered by conventional payment gateways.
The Rise of Mobile Users
This recent trend of local SEO and online local businesses can also be attributed to the rise of mobile users. More people are using smartphones and other mobile devices as part of their daily lives. In fact, over 60% of today’s internet traffic comes from mobile devices. 4G and more Wi-Fi hotspots in big cities across the country means that the number of users will only continue to grow.
The growth of mobile users is part of the reason why experts believe local businesses can benefit more from having a strong online presence. Apps such as Uber and Lyft are currently using location data to find businesses. Google and its Google Maps and Business Page are also actively indexing businesses to allow users to find them easily.
Local SEO and Other Factors
Not tapping into the growing online market would be a mistake, especially since local SEO – and internet marketing in general – is also more affordable and accessible than ever. You can reach thousands of new, potential customers just by appearing on the first page of search results. Having a business address listed on Google Maps means reaching more walk-in customers too.
It is clear that smaller businesses are benefiting the most from this trend. Home businesses can adapt to changes much faster than larger enterprises, allowing them to stay close to their target customers and react to the latest trends more efficiently. The increase in online sales will continue to bring revenue and more growth to local businesses across the country, creating an even healthier market for both businesses and customers.