It's no secret that consumers are increasingly tied to their mobile devices, and while some business owners may look at this trend and shake their heads, thinking that this movement toward digital spells eventual doom for their physical business, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, data recently released by Google shows that mobile search is driving consumers to stores in physical, trackable ways. How can you make sure that your business is taking full advantage of this trend? Here's how to attract customers using mobile search:

When it comes to auto dealer marketing, these days, the first rule is not to talk about the dealership. According to a new study from Google, a customer can make as many as 900 digital interactions in the lead-up to purchase. By comparison, the same customer will only visit two dealers in the process.

This doesn't represent an entirely new way of doing business. Dealerships have long known that customers can take months to process a car-buying decision. But with the ease of information readily available on mobile, consumers are now researching while standing in line at the grocery store, waiting to pick up their kids or over lunch. Getting those customers in the door is a matter of how you interact with them in the micro-moments during the path to purchase.

When Google tweaked its algorithm last year, causing online retailer Wayfair to move from a top-five position in keyword search rankings to number one across a number of categories, the company discovered a stunning data bump. By moving higher up on the first page of results, the company saw an incredible 34 percent increase in conversions, according to Search Engine Land.

The conclusion is simple: Search rankings are critical to any business, and with Google offering local search results along with traditional search content, local SEO is more important than ever. Climbing the ladder in these rankings takes time, especially as you climb closer to the top where competition is most fierce. Improvements are entirely possible, as long as you know the right steps to take.

With local search optimization, there are several ways you can take action to make a difference early. Here are a few to build a strong, localized search foundation.

Google's launch of the Google My Business (GMB) API last year reiterated how important local search is to its algorithms, and it gave businesses a new way to organize and present their brands and locations on Google search and Google Maps. Take a look at what it can do for your SEO strategy.

Greater Importance on Local SEO

These days, a directory listing is much more than an address and phone number — it helps you to increase your overall visibility. You can provide maps, directions, opening hours, business descriptions, website and social links, ratings and reviews that allow consumers to engage with your business. According to Mashable, Google is used for more than 100 billion searches each month, and more than half of those searches are performed on mobile devices. GMB's API's emphasis on local directory listings can help get your GMB listing rank even higher in mobile search than your own website's listing. For local businesses, appearing on a Google map is key, especially on mobile, as it gives the user immediate access to all the information they need — and it's all easily loaded into Google Maps or a GPS app. Adding this to your overall SEO strategy will go a long way toward building awareness and increasing your visibility.

In Tampa, digital marketing trends are creating new opportunities for small and midsize businesses. Thanks to advances in GPS technology, users can find and interact with brick-and-mortar businesses like never before. This can lead to increased profits for business owners who are ready to experiment. However, if you don't have a background in new technology, it can be difficult to know where to start. Here are some tips for Tampa Bay Area businesses.

In order for a business to be successful in today's digital world, it has to have a strong online presence. In fact, according to Entrepreneur, 2.5 billion people log onto the Internet every day. This constant activity provides online marketers with a multitude of opportunities to attract new potential customers. Here are some tips for getting found online.

Content Strategy

Whether you own a dog walking service, a coffee bar or a gym, a solid content marketing strategy plays an important role in your company's online presence. By providing valuable, targeted content, you can naturally boost your search engine rankings. Furthermore, you can establish yourself as a trusted resource and a leader in your field, which will help you attract new potential customers.

Yelp continues to prevent businesses from soliciting positive online reviews, but the website has created a new incentive for checking in to businesses that could provide an indirect path to better online reputation management.

According to Marketing Land, Yelp will now let businesses provide "check-in offers" to customers. It's a simple setup: businesses can give their customers small rewards, such as coupons or other gifts, in exchange for checking in through the app. In a roundabout way, this creates an opportunity for brands to get reviews that boost their online reputation.

Spring has finally sprung, and consumers are looking forward to getting their homes ready for summer. Tasks like fixing air conditioners, opening pools and getting home exteriors pressure-washed are appearing on to-do lists around the country — and residents will soon start contacting local businesses to help them cross these items off. Though word-of-mouth and local advertising play a part in connecting consumers with your business, the value of local online directory listings and proper listings management cannot be overstated.

Search Engine Watch reports, "Searches with local intent are more likely to lead to store visits and sales within a day. ... 50 percent of mobile users are most likely to visit after conducting a local search, while 34 percent of consumers on tablets or computers will go to a store." If your store listings aren't displayed correctly, you could miss out on valuable customers this spring and summer. Here are three key benefits of proper online listings management:

Google Maps has updated its mobile app for both the Android and iOS platforms. Though the first thing users will notice is likely to be the app's fresh new look — it incorporates material design, as Search Engine Journal notes — there are plenty of other new features under the hood, including a new live search results feature and instant one-touch reservations. Though these updates certainly make life more convenient for average users, local businesses can really benefit from these additions in some tangible ways.

Helping Users Find You With Up-to-Date Information

One of the best ways that the Google Maps app update helps to bring new customers to your business is discovery through simple browsing. Users looking at a planned route or trying to check out a local area will be able to browse local businesses and get instant information on any selected business with a single tap — no searching required! However, in order to get the most out of this feature, local businesses must ensure that their directory information is correct and easily available. Double-check that sites that list your business have your correct address, phone number and hours and a link to your official website. Also, ensure that your official website is updated with photos, business descriptions and social networking information.

*This article is a guest post written by our local listings management and reputation intelligence partner, Yext. 

As our CEO, Howard Lerman, likes to say, "People are local." That's not a condemnation -- rather, it's a celebration. More importantly, because people are local, mobile and local are the same. Our increasingly connected world means that having your business in local directories is more imperative than ever.