Touchscreens are everywhere. Voice search is rising. Gen Z is swiping like they were born with it. So why does your business listing still need to care about users with a mouse? Because—statistically—they’re still your biggest audience.
Whether it’s a small-town bakery, local law firm, or multi-location franchise, desktop users still make up a massive part of consumer behavior—especially when they’re about to spend money. And that usually means a mouse is involved.
Let’s unpack the numbers, the habits, and what it all means for your local business listing.
Desktop Isn’t Dead. It’s Just Buying Things.
Despite mobile usage dominating overall web traffic (hovering around 58.3% globally in 2024), desktop still leads in conversions, dwell time, and purchase intent.
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According to Adobe Analytics, desktop users are 2.4x more likely to complete a purchase than mobile users.
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A 2023 Nielsen study found that 70% of B2B searches still start on desktop.
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And get this: over 48% of users engaging with local business directories do so from desktops during business hours.
That mouse isn’t going away. It’s clicking buttons, filling forms, and zooming in on your blurry logo.
Business Listings Need to Be Desktop-Polished
You’ve optimized for mobile—great. But how’s your listing and linked site when it comes to mouse users?
Hover menus glitching?
Clickable phone numbers that do nothing on desktops?
Map pins that only work on touch?
That’s bad UX, and bad UX equals bounced users.
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Google’s own research showed that 53% of users leave a site if it takes more than 3 seconds to load—on desktop.
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Broken desktop interactions contribute to nearly 30% of abandoned leads on local business pages.
Directories Need Mouse-Friendly Microinteractions
If you’re running or listed on a business directory platform, small things matter to desktop users:
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Hover previews for menus or galleries
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Click targets with reasonable size (Fitts’ Law still applies in 2025)
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Map embeds with proper scroll lock
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Live chat widgets that don’t block core content
Users want to explore your profile at their own pace—not swipe, pinch, and hope something happens.
Quick Stats: Local Listings & Mouse Behavior
Let’s get nerdy for a second:
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On platforms like Yelp, GMB, and Trustpilot, desktop users spend 38% more time on local listings than mobile users.
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63% of reviews are written on desktops. You want reviewers using a keyboard and mouse—it means longer, more detailed (and usually more positive) feedback.
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Businesses with desktop-optimized listings see up to 22% more booking conversions in industries like wellness, home services, and professional services.
TL;DR: Don’t Forget the Clickers
Mobile-first isn’t wrong. But mouse-first isn’t dead. It’s just quietly converting, booking, and buying things while everyone else obsesses over swipe animations.
So if you’re running a business or managing a directory, do yourself a favor:
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Audit your listing on desktop
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Fix broken clicks, weird hover behaviors, and outdated link targets
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Make your call-to-action buttons big, obvious, and satisfying to click
Your mouse-wielding customers (and their credit cards) will thank you.
Mouse Users Expect Desktop-Grade Trust Signals
Here’s something most local businesses overlook: trust is built faster on desktop. And mouse users are more likely to scrutinize.
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Eye-tracking studies (like those from Nielsen Norman Group) show desktop users scan pages more thoroughlythan mobile users. That means your bad stock photos, typos, and sketchy reviews? They’re all under the microscope.
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In fact, a 2024 BrightLocal survey found that 72% of consumers trust a business more when it has a well-maintained desktop website and listing.
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Desktop visitors are also twice as likely to click on third-party trust badges, like review scores, certifications, or local awards.
If your business listing links to a site that looks like it hasn’t been updated since the Internet Explorer era, mouse users will notice—and bounce.
Want help writing your business profile so it actually converts on desktop and mobile? Let’s get in touch