Does being local still matter when everyone Googles everything?

Yes. People Google everything, and then they still prefer someone nearby they can trust. Being local means faster visits, familiar context, and a business that understands Bath or Bristol realities — not a remote call centre reading from a script about a city they have never walked.

Search did not remove locality; it made local visibility more important. A strong website plus Local SEO helps you appear when neighbours search for what you do. Local work is built for that kind of customer. If you compete with bigger names, use local presence as an advantage.