Search & local discovery
Growth in 'near me' search queries
'Near me' and 'close by' search queries have surged 900% over two years, reflecting the rapid rise of proximity-based discovery.
The 900% figure comes from Google's own mid-2010s 'near me' search data (via Think with Google); it captures the era when proximity search took off, not a current annual growth rate. The lasting point is that near-me search became a primary way clients find local services.
This figure is load-bearing across 4 pages on SalonAI. See where, below.
Source
Where this number comes from. The end of the reference chain.
Local Search Statistics 2026: Near Me, Mobile & Purchase Data
BizIQ/2026/article
Where this number is used
Every page on SalonAI that leans on this figure. This is the point: a number is not a dead end, it is a node, and you can see exactly what it supports and follow it up the hierarchy.
AI capabilities (1)
Related numbers
Figures from search & local discovery that make the same argument. Follow the evidence sideways.
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