Why Local Businesses Need Online Marketing

It is no secret that the Internet has changed the way companies conduct business, and many companies have grown exponentially due to this global tool.  But what about small, local, or "mom-and-pop" businesses?  Here are some interesting facts to chew on:

• 89 percent of consumers start with a search engine when looking for information on products, business, or professionals.
• 88 percent of smartphone users and 84 percent of tablet owners conduct local searches.
• Many people are willing to drive up to 17 minutes to reach a destination they had searched for.
• The average cost to generate a lead through inbound marketing ($143) is about half the average for outbound marketing ($373).
• Organic search leads have a 14.6 percent close rate, while outbound marketing leads have a 1.7 percent close rate.
• 71 percent of US consumers expect to be able to view a retailer's in-store inventory online
• 50 percent of US consumers expect to be able to purchase items online and pick them up in-store
• 68 percent of consumers check out companies on social networking sites before buying
• Nearly 70 percent of US internet users sometimes compared prices or read reviews before visiting a brick-and-mortar store.

Those are all great studies that have been performed, giving us more data to prove that every business needs to be active in their website marketing, from search engine optimization to social media marketing.  Contact us today to see how we can help.

You can read the full Inc.com article here »