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Discover: Local Customers Start their Search Online
Today’s local consumer is more savvy then ever before. Looking to save time and money, consumers are turning to the internet to start their search for local products and services. Even when making offline purchases consumers will research local business using the internet before deciding where to shop. If your small business does not have a website, you're practically invisible to potential customers.
Consider these facts:
97% of consumers use the internet to shop locally. (Source: BIA/Kelsey, User View Wave VII, March 2010)
63% of of people use the Internet as their first resource when looking for a local service or product.
(Source: 2009 Webvisible/Nielsen study)
43% of people surveyed said they are more likely to purchase services or products from a small business with a website. (Source: Discover Small Business Watch Survey)
Nearly half of all searches on Google or "local", which means someone is looking for a local product or service nearby