Yes, it does! These stats are all the proof you need:
46% of Google searches are looking for local information. (Go Gulf, 2019)
72% of consumers that search locally end up visiting a business within five miles. (Hubspot, 2020)
97% of people learn more about local businesses online than anywhere else. (SEO Tribunal, 2019)
The more reliant we become on our smartphones and other mobile devices to search the web, the more these types of locally-centric web searches will increase in importance. This means if you're a small, local business, you need a smart SEO strategy to maximize the potential of mobile searches and drive more foot traffic to your business.