Follow These Tips On How To Get Your Business Listed On Local Directories (And Why You Want Page One
Posted 03-15-2012 at 03:50 PM by mattlaclear
Small businesses have to be proactive about staying competitive in the local market. One of the best ways to stay competitive is by making sure that your business is listed high on local directories, but you may be having trouble understanding how to get your business ranked high. Read on for some valuable tips that will help your business succeed.
How do I get my business listed on local directories?
Google is designed to display results for businesses based on the location of the person conducting the search. For example, let's assume that the person conducting the search lives in Chicago. If the person searches for an Italian restaurant, the results listed in Google will be local. This is what is meant by a local directory, and results that are listed higher on local directories will get more web traffic and customers.
To have your business listed on local directories, you must be certain that you have filled out a profile for your company on a variety of websites. Start with Google Places and Google Maps. Not only should you have a profile filled out for your company on these websites, but you should make sure that all of the information is accurate and current. If there are any changes in your business's information, change it promptly on all online directories to maintain a high ranking in local directories.
Do not stop once you have filled out your business profile on Google Places and Google Maps. There are other common directories used by potential customers that you want to list your company on. Phone directory websites such as yellowbook.com and whitepages.com are commonly used to find local businesses like your company. There are also websites such as Yelp.com that customers use not only to find a business, but to read reviews about companies before deciding whether or not to patronize these businesses.
Could my business already be listed on local directories?
It is possible that someone else already made a profile for your company on local directories. Additionally, Google automatically takes information from sources such as yellowbook.com to make company profiles. If you have a general listing in the Yellow Pages, you may already have profiles on local directories.
To find out if your business is already listed on local directories, you will need to search these directories using information about your business. Some may only have the business name, but there may be other information such as a phone number and address listed.
How do I claim a listing for my business that I did not create?
If you do find that your business has been listed on local directories, you will have to make sure that the information is accurate and current. Even if the information is correct, you should claim the listing. Failing to claim a listing in a local directory can result in having the listing hacked by competitors or scam artists. Claiming your listing puts you in control of the information that is available to potential customers concerning your business.
Now that you know why you need to claim your business listing, you need to know how to do so.
• Find your business listing in Google Maps by doing a search for your business name in the local area. You probably already completed this step when you were searching to see if a listing had already been made for your business.
• Click on the "more info" link that is included on the listing. This will bring up a listing in a separate page.
• On the page containing more information, there is an option to edit the listing. When you select this option, a popup will appear that asks if you are the owner of the business. Click the "Claim your business" link.
• To claim your business listing and edit the information found in the listing, you will need a Google account. You can use an existing personal account or create a new one.
• Signing in to your Google account will bring you to the page for claiming and editing your business listing. Read over all of the information included about your business. It is essential that all of this information is accurate.
• When you have finished editing your listing, you will be prompted to select a verification method for the listing. You can either receive a phone call or a postcard. Select a phone call verification to verify your information quickly. This verification process is important because it is intended to protect your business from scam artists and competitive hijackers.
Why is it important to rank high in local directories?
When you make a website for your company, you are taking a step toward being more accessible to clients. Many potential customers look for a company website before even considering doing business with a company. Having a website is clearly essential to the success of your business, but simply putting your company online is not good enough.
If you have a company website, you should be aware that an average of 80 percent of all website traffic is generated by search engines. This statistic makes it clear that it is important to be listed in directories online, but where you rank in a search is important as well.
The first page of a Google search lists the 10 highest ranked results for a search. Nine out of 10 times, people using the search function to find local businesses do not get past the first page. If your business is even the first listing on the second page, the amount of traffic that is driven to your website will dramatically decrease.
Getting ranked on the first page is clearly essential, but the place your business holds on the first page is also important. About 42 percent of potential customers will click on the first listing only. The second place gets dramatically less traffic, drawing in only 12 percent of searchers.
To summarize, obtaining more customers is a matter of having a website that is easy to find in search engines for local directories. Because most people only look at the first page of search results, your company needs to be listed high in local directories. A higher ranking means more business!
Why do I need to maintain a full profile for my local directory listing?
Rankings in local directories are partially based on how much information you provide about your company. Because of the significance that the amount of information in your profile has concerning your ranking, you should go above and beyond when providing information about your business.
The basic information is a must. The business name, address and phone number are all necessary for customers to be able to get in touch with you and find your business.
Depending on the location of your business, customers may be concerned about the parking situation at the building. There is a place on Google Places to list if you offer parking for customers. Customers are often also concerned about the atmosphere of your business, the price range of your goods and whether or not your business is family-friendly.
Pictures give customers a better idea of the layout of your business, and could even provide a preview of the items you have available. Many customers choose businesses that include pictures over those that do not because they get a real feel for the business before making the trip to the actual location. Videos pertaining to the business are even better, as you can demonstrate services or give the customer a virtual tour.
Besides encouraging customers to visit your business in person, all of this information will rank your business higher in local directories.
Once you completely fill out your profile on Google Places, you will need to update yellowbook.com, whitepages.com, Yelp.com and other directory websites with the same information.
How can I use directory listings to drive business?
Many directories allow you to list a promotion for your business in your directory listing for free. This encourages customers to visit your business to try your products or services out for a discounted price.
Be sure to encourage customers to review your business on your directory listing. Many potential customers choose to actually patronize a business based on reviews that they read online. If your business doesn't have any reviews, you may miss out on business even though you have an exceptional product or service.
How do I get my business listed on local directories?
Google is designed to display results for businesses based on the location of the person conducting the search. For example, let's assume that the person conducting the search lives in Chicago. If the person searches for an Italian restaurant, the results listed in Google will be local. This is what is meant by a local directory, and results that are listed higher on local directories will get more web traffic and customers.
To have your business listed on local directories, you must be certain that you have filled out a profile for your company on a variety of websites. Start with Google Places and Google Maps. Not only should you have a profile filled out for your company on these websites, but you should make sure that all of the information is accurate and current. If there are any changes in your business's information, change it promptly on all online directories to maintain a high ranking in local directories.
Do not stop once you have filled out your business profile on Google Places and Google Maps. There are other common directories used by potential customers that you want to list your company on. Phone directory websites such as yellowbook.com and whitepages.com are commonly used to find local businesses like your company. There are also websites such as Yelp.com that customers use not only to find a business, but to read reviews about companies before deciding whether or not to patronize these businesses.
Could my business already be listed on local directories?
It is possible that someone else already made a profile for your company on local directories. Additionally, Google automatically takes information from sources such as yellowbook.com to make company profiles. If you have a general listing in the Yellow Pages, you may already have profiles on local directories.
To find out if your business is already listed on local directories, you will need to search these directories using information about your business. Some may only have the business name, but there may be other information such as a phone number and address listed.
How do I claim a listing for my business that I did not create?
If you do find that your business has been listed on local directories, you will have to make sure that the information is accurate and current. Even if the information is correct, you should claim the listing. Failing to claim a listing in a local directory can result in having the listing hacked by competitors or scam artists. Claiming your listing puts you in control of the information that is available to potential customers concerning your business.
Now that you know why you need to claim your business listing, you need to know how to do so.
• Find your business listing in Google Maps by doing a search for your business name in the local area. You probably already completed this step when you were searching to see if a listing had already been made for your business.
• Click on the "more info" link that is included on the listing. This will bring up a listing in a separate page.
• On the page containing more information, there is an option to edit the listing. When you select this option, a popup will appear that asks if you are the owner of the business. Click the "Claim your business" link.
• To claim your business listing and edit the information found in the listing, you will need a Google account. You can use an existing personal account or create a new one.
• Signing in to your Google account will bring you to the page for claiming and editing your business listing. Read over all of the information included about your business. It is essential that all of this information is accurate.
• When you have finished editing your listing, you will be prompted to select a verification method for the listing. You can either receive a phone call or a postcard. Select a phone call verification to verify your information quickly. This verification process is important because it is intended to protect your business from scam artists and competitive hijackers.
Why is it important to rank high in local directories?
When you make a website for your company, you are taking a step toward being more accessible to clients. Many potential customers look for a company website before even considering doing business with a company. Having a website is clearly essential to the success of your business, but simply putting your company online is not good enough.
If you have a company website, you should be aware that an average of 80 percent of all website traffic is generated by search engines. This statistic makes it clear that it is important to be listed in directories online, but where you rank in a search is important as well.
The first page of a Google search lists the 10 highest ranked results for a search. Nine out of 10 times, people using the search function to find local businesses do not get past the first page. If your business is even the first listing on the second page, the amount of traffic that is driven to your website will dramatically decrease.
Getting ranked on the first page is clearly essential, but the place your business holds on the first page is also important. About 42 percent of potential customers will click on the first listing only. The second place gets dramatically less traffic, drawing in only 12 percent of searchers.
To summarize, obtaining more customers is a matter of having a website that is easy to find in search engines for local directories. Because most people only look at the first page of search results, your company needs to be listed high in local directories. A higher ranking means more business!
Why do I need to maintain a full profile for my local directory listing?
Rankings in local directories are partially based on how much information you provide about your company. Because of the significance that the amount of information in your profile has concerning your ranking, you should go above and beyond when providing information about your business.
The basic information is a must. The business name, address and phone number are all necessary for customers to be able to get in touch with you and find your business.
Depending on the location of your business, customers may be concerned about the parking situation at the building. There is a place on Google Places to list if you offer parking for customers. Customers are often also concerned about the atmosphere of your business, the price range of your goods and whether or not your business is family-friendly.
Pictures give customers a better idea of the layout of your business, and could even provide a preview of the items you have available. Many customers choose businesses that include pictures over those that do not because they get a real feel for the business before making the trip to the actual location. Videos pertaining to the business are even better, as you can demonstrate services or give the customer a virtual tour.
Besides encouraging customers to visit your business in person, all of this information will rank your business higher in local directories.
Once you completely fill out your profile on Google Places, you will need to update yellowbook.com, whitepages.com, Yelp.com and other directory websites with the same information.
How can I use directory listings to drive business?
Many directories allow you to list a promotion for your business in your directory listing for free. This encourages customers to visit your business to try your products or services out for a discounted price.
Be sure to encourage customers to review your business on your directory listing. Many potential customers choose to actually patronize a business based on reviews that they read online. If your business doesn't have any reviews, you may miss out on business even though you have an exceptional product or service.
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