A business directory is an online list of businesses within a particular niche, location, or category. One way local businesses can get found by online searchers is through inclusion in business directories.
You can improve visibility by listing your local business’ NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number) on directories, online business listing sites, and citation sites. Aside from improving your local SEO, these can also improve your rankings in search engines because the listings usually link back to your site.
Make sure your company listing has the following information once you add it to a directory:
Consistent NAP If you add or update your business on multiple business listing sites, make sure you’re providing the same company information across each directory.
A link to your website. Backlinks, also known as inbound links, are crucial to your company website’s domain rating. Consider adding a tracking link at the end of this URL as well, so you can see how much traffic your website specifically gets from the business directories that are linking to it.
A company description Make sure you have a detailed description of your business that reflects your organization’s mission, culture, and values.
Multimedia. Give company searchers a visual taste of your business with a picture or video of your office, your employees, or your daily business operations.
There are plenty of location-specific and industry-specific business listing sites where you can submit your data. To start promoting your local business, however, you should start with the big sites and work your way toward the more niche directories.
Whether it’s because of oversaturation or complicated search engine algorithms, it’s all too easy to feel like no one will find your business in the local search results.
Luckily, there’s an easy way to improve your local SEO. All you have to do is list your business on online business directories such as Yellow Pages, Manta, and more. This is called “building citations,” and it’s a critical piece of a local marketing strategy.
Today, Google is inserting itself between consumer and local business websites much more often. For proof, you need to look no further than Google My Business, Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP), featured snippets, and most importantly, local packs.
By building citations, you can make sure that you appear in these local packs when people look for businesses like yours in their area. Business directories may seem like a thing of the past, but they’re a great way to grow your presence online.
First, let’s go over the top free business directories.
Where Do Web Directories Stand Today?
Today, Google’s algorithm is a lot more complex.
While links are still one of the top-ranking signals, Google no longer views all links equally.
Links from a web directory listing are a lot less influential than a super relevant contextual link from a high-authority site in your niche.
That’s not to say web directories are completely meaningless.
According to Moz research, web directories and local citations still appear to be a small ranking factor – especially for local businesses.
However, Google’s John Mueller himself has said that directory links “generally” don’t help with SEO.
What’s a marketer to do?
Move beyond viewing web directories as a source for links.
Instead, view directories as a source of traffic and trust.
Any business with a local presence needs to maintain their local citations with a consistent NAP, but web directories won’t help with your SEO much beyond that.
The real returns will be from the credibility and traffic they drive to your business site.
As you begin your search for web directories, keep those two criteria in mind.
Consider these questions before you start filling out your listing:
Is this a reputable site? Put another way: If a customer saw me on this site, would they view my business as more – or less – legitimate?
Is my target audience likely to visit this site? If not, it’s probably not worth listing your business.
Now, let’s get into what you came here for the web directories that are still relevant today.
Web Directories That Still Have Value Today
In an effort to remain relevant, many web directories of yore have transitioned beyond basic listings to detailed review sites.
Many of the sites I’ve listed below reflect this trend.
- https://pastelink.net/yjbwg2ee
- https://www.citybyapp.com/professional-services/anthony-mullan-furniture
- https://www.dennisdemo.com/professional-services/anthony-mullan-furniture
- http://www.fiftyinc.com/service-provider/anthony-mullan-furniture-642
- http://www.bnpros.com/professional-services/contemporary-kitchens-berkshire
- https://www.theboblist.com/home-improvement/anthony-mullan-furniture
- https://www.thelululist.com/brown-and-black-owned-professional-services/contemporary-kitchens-berkshire
- https://www.choice.directory/home-improvement-showrooms/anthony-mullan-furniture
- https://www.myadbay.com/professional-services/anthony-mullan-furniture
- http://www.investoragentdirectory.com/business-development-service/anthony-mullan-furniture
- https://buddybits.com/members/anthonymulla/
- https://classifieds.vvng.com/author/anthonymulla/
- https://chayagrossberg.com/community/profile/anthonymulla/
- https://codeberg.org/anthonymulla
- https://coderwall.com/anthonymulla
- https://comfortinstitute.org/members/anthonymulla/profile/
- https://community.a3automate.org/network/members/profile?UserKey=ae0ed387-01e1-4317-8505-97996955f68c
- https://community.hodinkee.com/members/anthonymulla
- https://community.i-doit.com/user/anthonymulla
