By: Andy Beal | Source: webpronews.com

comScore Networks Just released new data on the growth of of the local search market.

According to the study, 63 percent of U.S. Internet users (or approximately 109 million people) performed a local search online in July, a 43-percent increase versus July of 2005. Google Sites (30 percent) and Yahoo! Sites (29 percent) garnered the largest share of local searches in July. Microsoft Sites captured 12 percent of local searches, followed by the Time Warner Network with 7 percent.

It’s interesting to note what people are searching for:

59% were searching for a restaurant or other entainment venues
52% were searching for business phone numbers

Even more interesting is that these local searchers take action:

47% visited a local merchant after searching
41% made contact offline
37% made contact online

Local search is growing at a fast clip with more than 849 million local searches conducted in the US in July.

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