According to Google their “Near Me” Search feature has doubled this year as people turn more and more to find local businesses with their mobile devices.

Google released this information last week when they launched a new mobile ad product designed specifically around these types of queries. The new Nearby Business uses buttons for directions and direct clickable links to call the business directly. Gone are the typical copy shown in text ads.

Also on Google’s list of new features to come is the buy button which will begin appearing on select search ads.

Interested in learning more? Watch Kordestani and ReCode’s Kara Swisher, of Search Engine Marketing Land in their live blog coverage.

If you’re in an unfamiliar area, Google’s location-based feature for mobile devices lets you search for restaurants, bars, ATMs (or Dunkin Donuts J) or other commercial businesses that are nearby your location. This feature, called “Near Me Now,” is available on the Google homepage on your iPhone (OS 3.0 or later) and Android (OS 2.0.1 or later) devices. Near Me Now is currently available only in the U.S.

The USA Today reported:

“Google released data Wednesday showing that “near me” searches have surged 34 times since 2011, and have nearly doubled since last year. Not surprisingly, the vast majority of these local searches—80% in the fourth quarter of 2014—come from mobile devices.” They also said that half of the consumers performing a local search go to the store in the same day and 18% make a purchase. A little more than half of the people and 60% of millennials who are not sure where to eat, search for a restaurant within an hour of going.

Director of Search ads marking for Google, Matt Lawson, wrote in a post that, “Today’s consumers are increasingly looking for things that are specific to where they are. While the most popular “near me” searches are for things you might expect—gyms, tailors, jewelers, shoe stores, furniture stores, appliances—there are some you may not. People have started to search for “dermatologists near me,” “plumbers near me,” “jobs near me”… Today, this in-depth research doesn’t require a desktop—it’s happening in stolen moments throughout the day.”

Be found by customers

If you have a business, are you sure people can find you when they use Google’s Near Me feature? Are you registered in Google’s My Business? Google My Business Locations allows you to manage business information for all your locations so customers can easily find you on Google Search, Maps, and Google+–no matter what device they’re using. Find out more here: https://support.google.com/business/answer/6002002?hl=en