Not all online searches and transactions are performed on search engines. Directories and social media websites expand your reach and have some of the hottest leads on the web at an inexpensive cost. Whether free or paid, these marketplaces are worth spending your advertising budget on.
Yes! You should submit your business information and website to relevant directories, and I’ve included a list below. This list is a great source of leads, consumer reviews, and referral traffic. Free or paid, it is important you control your business profile because you need to engage and advertise to consumers where they want to be. Once you claim your profile, update any information that is inaccurate, and be sure to provide details about your business that are a selling point and may draw a new customer in. Most importantly, claim ownership now so that you can respond to positive and negative reviews of your business in the future.
There is no set number of directories your business should or shouldn’t be in. It’s the quality and relevancy of the directories that is important to keep in mind. Links from spammy websites, hacked websites or low-quality sites constitute bad neighborhoods that you don’t want to belong to. Linking to your site from these bad neighborhoods on purpose will make you a target for manual penalties from the search engines.
I have put together a list of 32 directories I recommend, below. But there are much more worth considering. If you’re interested in submitting your site to a directory, take a look at the businesses listed and if you would feel comfortable calling on those businesses and they are relevant to your business, then you should feel safe submitting to and being a part of that neighborhood. The quality of the sites you are listed in is important, so stick to the best. The goal is to make sure that the most accurate, up-to-date information about your business gets published where your potential customers are searching.
1. City Search
Businesses in various industries can use this platform to add basic information to make it easy for customers to find them. Citysearch also creates local guides and “best of” lists to help customers make decisions.
2. Yelp
Yelp helps connect people to local businesses like dentists, hair stylists, mechanics, restaurants, and much more. To date, Yelpers have written 115 million reviews.
3. HireRush
This is a platform that welcomes providers from all 50 states to get listed, chat with their consumers, and receive reviews after the work done. The main idea is to make online promotion cheaper and more affordable for small and medium-sized businesses.
4. Google My Business
Google My Business is a free tool provided to business to manage their online presence across Google, including Google Search and Google Maps. Claiming your location gives you control over how information about your business is presented and enables you to interact with your customers via online reviews.
5. LinkedIn
LinkedIn Company Pages enable businesses to share valuable content and engage with followers, employees, and potential employees. In addition, businesses can create sponsored content to increase brand awareness, generate leads, and extend the reach of your company’s updates.
6. US Directory
Similar to the other online phone book platforms, USdirectory.com lets you add all of your basic business information. But the site also creates city guides to help customers find the best businesses in various locations.
7. EZ Local
This platform lets you add your local business to its online platform by adding your basic business information and some extra info like what payment methods you accept and if you offer free WiFi. Then EZlocal also ensures that your information is added to other popular platforms like Google and Bing.
8. Angie’s List
You can set up a free profile with your basic business information on Angie’s List. Then people can leave reviews about your business and you can even communicate with consumers using the platform.
9. Manta
Manta allows you to create a listing for your business so that the site’s 20 million monthly customers can find you. But it also offers educational resources and even marketing tools for businesses.
10. HomeAdvisor
For remodelers, plumbers and other home improvement professionals, HomeAdvisor gives you a platform for giving customers the basic information about your business. They can also leave reviews on the site.
11. Kudzu
12. Foursquare
13. Whitepages
14. Merchantcircle
15. Abaco/Yahoo
16. Thumbtack
17. Chamber of Commerce
18. 2FindLocal
19. TripAdvisor
20. MapQuest
21. Show Me Local
22. Insider Pages
23. Brown Book
24. Infignos
25. My Hucklberry
26. Advice Local
27. Urban Spoon
28. Local
29. American Towns
30. Better Business Bureau
I am a blogger and marketer. I have my Master's in Marketing.