Search engine marketing is the top digital marketing priority for most higher-spending small and medium-sized businesses, according to anew report from BIA/Kelsey. These are businesses spending over $25,000 a year on advertising and promotion. On average, they’re spending $79,000.

60.6% rated search advertising and marketing (including SEO) as an “extremely high” or “very high” priority for the coming twelve months. 20.7% reported using PPC advertising in the previous 12 months, compared to 19.6% in 2013.

“The LCM [Local Commerce Monitor – the study] findings indicate small businesses want to improve on the ability for consumers to discover them,” said Steve Marshall, director of research, at BIA/Kelsey. “SEM, SEO, and pay per click are fundamental to achieving this goal, particularly with the growth of mobile search.”

According to the firm, local search revenues are expected to reach $7.2 billion in 2015, which would be up from $7.1 billion this year. It maintains that local mobile search will account for 51.1% of mobile ad spending in 2015.

The LCM recently found that small businesses spend more on social media than any other media category with Facebook dominating at 55.1% of SMBs reporting they have Pages.

BIA/Kelsey will release additional findings at an upcoming local media conference in December.

Image via BIA/Kelsey