So many things go into boosting your SEO, but listing your business on an online directory with accurate, consistent information should not be understated. I will emphasize ACCURATE AND CONSISTENT once more. All of your listings and profiles should have the same up to date information. This will help people identify you and know how to contact you. If you are running a great business, don’t depend on word of mouth to get you new customers. Reviews and referrals on these sites go a long way. In fact, 88% of customers trust online reviews as much as personal ones. Aside from reviews, you want to include business hours, locations, directions, and even coupons and special offers. So where do you go to get listed and be found?
Start with Google My Business
Google My Business does all the things I described above and more. It should be the very first directory you utilize because you will certainly rank higher in searches and reviews will appear at the top of the search page. You can access Analytics to get an in-depth view of who is searching, who your competitors are, and the frequency of calls and website visits. You can upload photos and videos. A new feature allows you to respond to reviews. Download the app to have mobile access to your account.
Bing Places for Business
I find it annoying that Bing is always the default search engine instead of Google, but nevertheless it is the second most-visited search engine so it is super important to be listed here. There are millions of users and Bing is much the same as Google in terms of their structure and features.
Yahoo Local Listing
Who uses Yahoo anymore? I personally know nobody, but 1 in 8 searches in the U.S. are still done through Yahoo. Even though many changes have occurred in the company, you are still able to make a basic free listing here or check out this video for step by step tutorial.
http://https://youtu.be/XXAahd9mbX4
Adding photos and a company description cost close to $10 per month.
Yelp
Yelp is probably the most obvious on this list. Yelp is all about consumer reviews, but it also allows you to directly message potential customers on the platform. Yelp is especially useful for those in restaurant and shopping businesses. Add your business here.
Merchant Circle
Merchant Circle is a platform meant for small local businesses to gain exposure and interact with million of other small business owners. You can set up blogs and respond to reviews. Over 100 million people visited this website last year.
Listing your business on these sites and others will enhance your SEO and will drive more traffic to your website and business. Accuracy and activity are key, but do not worry because we can help with all of that.
