Why 76% of Customers Look You Up Before Visiting

The Number That Should Change How You Think About Your Website

76% of consumers look for a company’s online presence before physically visiting a business.

That’s not a guess. That’s data from a Visual Objects survey of 500 U.S. consumers. And in Australia, the numbers are even starker: 93% of Australians search online for local brands according to the Yellow Digital Report 2024.

Think about what that means for your business. For every 10 potential customers who might walk through your door, 7-9 of them are Googling you first.

What Happens When They Search?

Here’s where it gets interesting (or terrifying, depending on your current website situation):

They Judge You Fast

Research from Kinesis found that 75% of consumers judge a company’s credibility based on website design. And they do it in 50 milliseconds — that’s 0.05 seconds.

Your website isn’t just a digital brochure. It’s your first impression. And you get one shot at it.

They Take Action Quickly

According to HubSpot, 88% of local searches on mobile devices result in a call or visit to the business within 24 hours.

This isn’t passive browsing. These are people with intent. They’re hungry, their toilet is broken, they need a haircut, or they want to book a facial. They’re ready to buy.

If your online presence doesn’t capture them in that moment, they find your competitor.

The Australian Small Business Problem

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: 59% of Australian small businesses have no website at all (RockingWeb, 2025).

That means if you’re a salon owner, tradesperson, or cafe owner reading this, there’s a good chance half your competitors are invisible online.

That’s not competition. That’s opportunity.

What “Good Enough” Online Presence Looks Like

You don’t need a $20,000 enterprise website. But you do need:

A real domain — not just an Instagram handle
Mobile-first design — 84% of “near me” searches happen on mobile
Clear contact info — 44% of B2B buyers leave websites without it
Fast loading — every second of delay costs conversions
Social proof — 75% of consumers regularly read reviews before buying

The Cost of Waiting

Let’s do some quick math.

If your average sale is $80 (a haircut, a service call, a meal for two), and you’re losing just 5 customers per month to competitors who look more professional online:

$80 × 5 = $400/month = $4,800/year

A professional website that costs $499-$1,290 pays for itself in weeks.

What To Do Next

If you’re one of the 59% without a website, or your current site is a Linktree or a Facebook page with outdated hours, you’re leaving money on the table.

The 76% are searching. The question is: will they find you?

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