Ensuring consistency in directory listings is one of the focal points of any local search optimization procedure.
This practice should not be seen simply as a tool to enhance the visibility of the site but should be integrated within any advertising strategy for businesses that serve the local area in a physical capacity.
The competencies of a localized SEO campaign center around delivering precise data to the appropriate clientele at a specific time to enhance brand awareness, website activity, and ultimately sales.
As for agencies, a typical common statement concerning listings management is: “I always wonder, how many business directories should my client be listed in?” Which are the best local business listing websites free?
While there are certainly the established ones – Google Business, Yelp, Apple Maps – there are many others as well. All of them number in the hundreds, which one of them is best suited for your client’s business?
In the courses below, you will learn how to find appropriate local business listings and also receive tips on listing site selection for your clients.
Look for the Key Online Business Listings First: Classified ads website near me
First, let’s make sure that we’re on the same page: before you go deep in the search for more business listing sites, be sure that your clients are registered with the ‘big’ sites: Google Business, AppleMaps, Yelp, Facebook.
Those examples above are far from being all the relevant directories. There are other best local business listing websites free. Many other important sites include, for example:
- TripAdvisor
- Yahoo Small Business
- Citysearch
- Foursquare
- Better Business Bureau
- Waze
- Hotfrog
- TomTom
- Yelp Business Account
- CitySquares
- Bing
- MapQuest
Covering the above directories will significantly enhance the local visibility and ensure that a strong local SEO strategy is pursued. Listing on these platforms will make sure your business shows up when someone searches- “classified ads website near me”.
Look for Professional Induders’ Associations
The next action will be to determine whether your client belongs to a relevant industry or sector, and especially to its particular local chapters or tables. For example, there exist professional associations that may, say, license veterinarians, dentists, or doctors within a certain state scope, and maintain a web directory for businesses and practitioners. These are directories that consumers can trust when looking for qualified people within their locality.
There are also different industry associations for professionals including but not limited to legal practitioners, manufacturers, and numerous trades. Many of them also include business directing services and have requirements for education, licensing, or accreditation.
Why do such associations have business directories? They would like to:
- Help their business in many ways
- Market their members
- Meet the public with potential invaluable experts
Harness Local Listings Pages
Sometimes, cities or counties will post on their website or the website of a chamber of commerce a listing of businesses in a particular area. These may be more specific such as the tourism board that has lists of various local attractions or general like a city’s business listing confirming the shops, services, and small businesses that exist in that locality.
These directories, which are mostly neglected in favor of bigger international avenues such as Google, Apple, and Yelp are the best local business listing websites free and very effective in reaching the local population. City websites are also useful as they are popular with city residents looking for services or events in their area and hence can help in increasing visibility when someone searches classified ads websites near me. Besides, more listings also create citations which help in the clientele’s SEO.
Search Activity Online For Business Listing Websites
In case you are looking to add more citations for your clients, you may consider typing “Best local business listing websites free” into a search engine. Some of the websites that come to the search engines first are likely to have a variety of links for business listing websites from a wide range of sources.
Some of those articles may report how only 10 directories are useful and even go as far as stating them as ‘essential’ directories for marketers. Some others mention nearly 100 such directories. In such instances, you have to target sites by their geographic focus, their business type, and even targets. Reading a couple of articles with a different story will allow you to see where the appropriate clients would be.
Evaluating the Value of Local Business Directories
When establishing local citations, the general principle is the presence of more listings is favorable, as the listings would assist in improving visibility and SEO. Nevertheless, not every directory is worth the time and resources, especially if it is not related to your client’s market niche or has poor traffic.
There are certain limitations like the Free Listing which can be done in Google Business, it provides a great function because a complete profile can multiply the conversion rate significantly (Source: Google). Some Directory Services will ask for payment: in these situations, such payments may not be worth the return on investment.
Listings that are Paid through Professional Associations can be advantageous; they act as a ‘stamp of approval’ so that the business’s reputation and search ratings are included. In the same way, some local city directories can have a fee but are trusted sources mainly for the residents and even tourists looking for local businesses which makes them a good return on investment despite the low traffic.
Efficiently Handling Multiple Business Listing Websites
Though you may have a few local online directories that you will choose not to take your clients to the bulk of them still play a good role in boosting local rankings. If the task of maintaining many listings becomes cumbersome, it is perhaps time to look into new technology.
Local listing management software makes life easier by updating business profiles across several directories. These tools may also assist you in finding more listing opportunities or in improving the management of existing profiles for your clients.
Wrapping Up
The more listing a client has in business directories, the better their local SEO becomes. This in itself is enough reason to ensure that clients are listed in alphabetical order in as many directories as possible.
But the biggest benefit for straying your clients on multiple business listings is being more likely found. Google Business Profile may be the best local business listing website free, but it is certainly not the only one for people looking for local services.
If the profiles of your clients are created on various business listing sites, the clients can be found where the potential customers are looking. With the right tools for the job such as Smarty’s solutions, having multiple listings can achieve greater exposure, and not because more work was put in.
