Google Report Highlights Tremendous Momentum for Small Businesses
Owning and operating a startup or small business can be a time-consuming and stressful endeavor. However, based on recent reporting from Google, small businesses are currently enjoying unprecedented levels of support from consumers.
Google’s report, titled Small Business Search Trends in 2019, not only delivers some eye-opening statistics about the popularity of local businesses, but also examines current customer search trends. Small business owners and those contemplating the launch of a startup in the near future should pay close attention to the data in this report.
Small Businesses Continue to Capture Consumer Interest
One of the most profound data points from Google’s study focuses on the fact that there is currently 350 times more search interest in “local” and “near me” businesses than 10 years ago. Also, based on data from Google’s report, over the past five years, several sectors of small businesses have experienced the most considerable growth in search engines results. These areas, in order of number of searches recorded, include:
- 1. Restaurants
- 2. Diners
- 3. Pharmacies
- 4. Coffee shops
- 5. Pizzarias
Looking at the last 12-month period specifically, Google discovered that local coffee shops, flower shops, print shops and tire shops have been the biggest winners. Although searches for “local shops” or “businesses near me” are exploding across the board, several states appear to be leading in this arena. These states include:
- South Carolina
- Rhode Island
- West Virginia
- Pennsylvania
- New Hampshire
Google Pledges $10 Million to Help Small Business Owners
In addition to keeping their finger on the pulse of emerging local search trends, Google pledged $10 million to help small businesses. These funds will support entrepreneurs from underrepresented segments of society as well as those from low-income areas. Beyond financial support, Google established the Google for Small Business site earlier this year to aid owners with establishing a customized plan to reach growth goals. This planning assistance includes elements designed to attract customers via searches, reach users with tailored marketing services and strategies to boost efficiency.
