Does Your Local Economic Development Strategy Include Search Engines?

Nearly half of consumers now report that they look for local business information using the Internet, more than any other source.

1 minute read

December 23, 2011, 11:00 AM PST

By Chris Steins @planetizen

Although it's no surprise that the Internet is growing in importance, for this first time the Pew Research Center reports this as the the source that half of consumers who search for local business information rely on for material about the local business information.

Of those that searched for local business information, 47% say they rely most on the Internet, including Search engines (36%); Specialty websites (16%), and only 1% rely on social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook. By comparison, 30% of consumers rely most on newspaper, 22% on word of mouth, and 13% on local media (radio and television).

Thanks to William Devry

FULL STORY: Report: Where people get information about restaurants and other local businesses

Thursday, December 15, 2011 in Pew Research Center

Community / Economic Development United States Internet Community/Economic Development Social Media

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

Start Learning

Advertise with us

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.