Boost Your Business SEO With Local Listings

Boost Your Online Presence with Local Business Listings

When it comes to enhancing your online visibility, many business owners immediately think of website design or paid online advertising. While these methods can certainly drive traffic, there's a simpler and more cost-effective way to increase awareness for your business: local listing directories.

What Are Local Business Listings?

Local business listings are online directories that contain information about thousands or even millions of businesses. Similar to the old-school Yellow Pages now called Yell.com in the UK, these directories provide essential details that customers need to contact or learn more about a business, including:

• Business Name
• Address
• Phone Number
• Website URL
• Hours Of Operation

With Google processing nearly 3.5 billion Internet searches per day, it's clear that customers are constantly seeking information about businesses. Local business listings ensure that your business is discoverable during these searches, boosting your local SEO and driving traffic to your website. The most popular local listing websites attract millions of users monthly, translating to increased visits to business websites.

But how do you know which local business listings to prioritise? Here's a rundown of the top 10 essential directories based on user volume, number of listings, and provided information:

1. Google My Business: Ideal for any business but particularly brick-and-mortar businesses or those offering delivery services. It's free and easy to manage, allowing you to provide comprehensive information and engage with customer reviews. This also feeds Google Maps and the more reviews you get the higher in the results you appear. Simple, cheap and effective.
2. Yelp for Business Owners: Popular among restaurants, bars, contractors, and shops. Free to set up, with options for paid advertising to increase visibility. Biggest in the USA, however provides 'follow' links and has a 80+ Hrefs or MOZ authority score so guaranteed to give you a boost!
3. Facebook Business: With over 2.27 billion users, Facebook is a powerful platform for local searches and customer engagement. Setting up a business page is free and allows customisation. Everyone should have a Facebook page for business and link it to Instagram for maximum bang for your buck. If paying for advertising can be super targeted.
4. Bing Places for Business: Bing's answer to Google's local listings, offering free setup and verification options via email, phone, or mail.            Does a neat little trick in that you can sync it to Google My Business so if you change your number it updates automatically.
5. Yahoo Business Listing: Leverage Yahoo's large user base for increased website traffic. Free basic listings are available, with paid options for additional features. Again, still massive in the USA - great for links!
6. Foursquare for Business: Perfect for restaurants and retail shops, offering a mobile app for user reviews and recommendations. Requires a one-time fee for listing updates. Really high authority score and follow links give great back links you don't want to be the only one of your competitors with out a Foursquare link.
7. YellowPages (USA) Yell.com (UK): An essential and original directory for businesses delivering goods or services. Free to claim, with phone verification required. Does what it says on the tin.
8. MerchantCircle: A network focused on connecting small businesses. Free to claim, with opportunities for networking and free marketing tools. The sleeper site has great links and good authority scores; definitely worth the 20 mins it takes to set up.
9. SuperPages: User-friendly directory catering to various local businesses. Free to set up, with reliable customer service for listing updates.      Just like Merchant circle.
10. Angie's List (USA): Known for honest company reviews and service awards. Requires a monthly fee but offers valuable insights for service-based businesses. US fee based site massive over the pond.

Enhance Your Online Presence with Local Business Listings

Adding your company to local business listings is crucial for improving your online visibility and attracting new customers. By optimising your listings with detailed information and engaging with customer reviews, you can boost your brand's visibility and drive traffic to your website.     Don't forget to include your business logo to make your listing stand out and start branding your business for local directories today!

Don't fancy doing it yourself? SUPERHUB can do it for you!