When it comes to shopping searches, we rarely begin with nothing in mind. We might be looking for ideas or inspiration. Or we might be looking to zero in on how much something costs. Sometimes we know exactly what we need, but aren’t quite sure where to get it.

People now expect search technology to find the places in their area where they can get what they need. This more-informed shopper no longer has to waste precious time driving around town to multiple stores.

You might typically associate a “near me” search with something like “restaurants near me” or “gas station near me.” But we’re seeing growth in “near me” searches for very specific items, from “cowboy boots near me,” to “where to get a facial near me,” and “tarragon near me.”

How ‘Near Me’ Search Is Growing

Whether it’s a jar of spices or a restaurant, today’s impatient consumers want things in the moment they need them—which is typically “now.”

From on-the-fly travel plans to businesses “open now” to same-day shipping, people are using search to find answers to their immediate needs. And more and more, we’re seeing this time sensitivity combined with local intent.

In the past two years, we’ve seen:

• 150%+ growth in mobile searches for  “___ near me now” (for example, “food near me now,” “gas station near me now,” and “delivery near me open now”).
• 900%+ growth in mobile searches for  “___ near me today/tonight” (for example, “open houses near me today,” “cheap hotels near me tonight,” and “movies playing near me today”).
• 200%+ growth in mobile searches for “Open” + “now” + “near me” (for example, “restaurants near me open now,” “stores open near me right now,” and “pharmacy near me open now”).

It’s clear that expectations for finding exactly what people want, exactly when they want it, are growing.