There’s really no point of having your business online if customers cannot find you. Unfortunately, a lot of business owners do not take advantage of one of the most helpful yet simple tools to improve their online visibility – local business directories.
These directories typically provide the most basic information on companies such as the business name, address, contact information and website. Listing your business in a local directory allows you to provide accurate information about your business that can easily be found by a wide base of potential customers.
Here are just some of the benefits you may be missing out on if your business information is not yet listed in local directories:
1. Targeted Advertising
Most customers will use local directories when looking for a particular company, service or product. They will typically use a search term that includes the product or service and their geographical area. If you have not availed your local directory submissions, your business will probably not come up among the first results, so you’re essentially missing out on a lot of traffic. Additionally, these customers are likely performing these searches to make a purchase, so you cannot afford to miss out on this simple form of advertising.
2. Improved Inbound Marketing
When you include your website URL as part of the information you provide, this provides valuable inbound links to your website. As a result, the ranking of your website on popular search engines could improve, which would then increase the number of visitors and potential customers to your site.
Keep in mind that Google Search holds a lot of these local directories in high regard, so you receive a dramatic boost in search rankings by simply being listed in one or more of them.
3. Boost Your Local Business Growth
Business directories offer the most convenient way for potential customers to gain accurate information on business including the name, address, phone number and website. As such, when your online listings are accurate, customers are able to easily find you when using local search apps or directories. This is also why you must ensure that your information is up-to-date and check regularly for updates.
4. Enhance Your Reputation
A person that uses online directories is in most cases ready to make a purchase and is looking for reputable business. The simple fact that they can find your business on an online directory is viewed as good reason to trust your business. It is therefore logical to expect that the level of trust among customers increases with the number of reputable directories in which your business is listed.
Helpful tip: Make sure the business details provided on different directories (including your business name, address and phone number) are the same. If they are different, your business will be viewed as different multiple businesses. If your business can be found in different locations, then you need to differentiate them based on the particular geographical areas.
The best part about using local directories for advertising is it’s free, or comes at a very low cost. Additionally, it generates organic traffic to your website, something you can never have too much of.
If you’re looking for expert advice on how you can make full use of the most reputable local business directories, or to talk to an online marketing expert, please contact us today.