Zohaib Hassan is the founder & CEO of LeadOrigin, a growth consulting firm focused on digital marketing & data intelligence.
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Local SEO is the process of optimizing your online presence to attract more business from local searches. One tactic to increase local SEO is something that many businesses are not aware of: getting listed in local online directories.
What Are Local Directories?
A local directory includes a list of businesses and enables users to find companies within a specific geographic region. For example, if you own a business in Los Angeles, you would want to get listed on a local directory like the Los Angeles Times Business Directory or the Yelp Los Angeles Business Directory.
Benefits
Local directories offer many benefits for businesses, including:
• Boosting Local Search
When you list a business or website in a local directory, it can lead to increased visibility in search engines. This is because directories are often indexed by search engines and appear as a separate search result.
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• Improving Online Presence and Enhancing Reputation
A strong online presence can help you attract new customers, while a weak online presence can hurt your business. Creating and claiming profiles on online platforms can help improve your online presence.
• Receiving Reviews and Feedback From Customers
Another benefit of local directories is that they provide an opportunity for customers to leave reviews and feedback about your business. These reviews can help improve your business’s reputation and attract new customers.
• Boosting SEO
As mentioned before, listing your business in a local online directory can help improve your website’s SEO. This is because when you create a new local citation, you’re also creating a new backlink to your website.
What To Include
When creating a listing for your business in an online directory, be sure to include your:
• Business Name
Be consistent with the business name you use across all platforms, including your website, social media profiles and local listings.
• Physical Address
Customers need to be able to physically visit your store or office, so they’ll want to know where it’s located.
• Phone Number
Include a phone number so potential customers can easily contact you. If you have a toll-free number, be sure to list that as well.
• Website URL
Your listing should also include a link to your website. This way, customers can easily find you and learn more about your products or services.
• Description
Most online directories will give you the opportunity to write a short description of your business. Use this space to describe what your business does, and be sure to include relevant keywords.
• Images and Videos
Including images and videos in your listing can help it stand out from the rest. Most directories allow you to upload images, so take advantage of this and include high-quality photos of your products or services.
• Social Profiles
Adding social media icons to your listing can help attract more attention. If potential customers see that you’re active on social media, they may be more likely to visit your profiles.
Traditional Offline Business Directories
If online directories are not really your thing, you can try offline directories. These are similar to online directories, but they’re usually printed and distributed in a specific geographic area.
• Yellow Pages
Yellow Pages are directories found in most homes and businesses. They’re organized by category, making them easy to use when people are looking for a specific type of business.
• Print Marketing
Print marketing is still a popular and effective option. You can use print marketing to promote your business in local newspapers, magazines and other publications.
• Radio/TV Advertising
If you have the budget for it, you can place ads on local radio stations or television channels.
Common Online Directories
To help you get started, I’ve put together a list of some of the most common (and free) online directories for local businesses.
• Google My Business
Google My Business is a free listing service offered by Google. It’s designed to help businesses reach a local audience through Google Search and Maps.
• LinkedIn Company Directory
Aside from being a social networking site designed for professionals, LinkedIn also has a directory that allows businesses to list their companies and add key information, such as their website URL, industry, size, headquarters and more.
• Yelp
Yelp is a popular online directory that helps people find local businesses. It has a large database of businesses in a variety of industries, making it easy for customers to find what they’re looking for.
• Yahoo Business Listings
Yahoo Business Listings is a free directory that helps businesses reach a local audience. It’s easy to set up and manage your listing, and you can include all relevant information about your business.
• Bing Places for Business
Bing Places for Business is a free listing service offered by Bing. It’s designed to help businesses reach a local audience through Bing Search and Maps.
• Yell.com
Yell.com is a popular U.K.-based directory that helps businesses reach a local audience. It’s easy to set up and manage your listing, and you can include all relevant information about your business.
List Your Business Today
These are just a few online directories for local businesses. By creating listings on sites like these, you’ll be able to reach a bigger audience and promote your business online.
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Author: Zohaib Hassan Patoli, Forbes Councils Member
