Have You Claimed Your Local Directory Listings Yet?

Keeping your directory listings updated is essential for success in local search results

Many of us remember the days when there was just one business directory that mattered: the Yellow Pages. Sure, the thing weighed a ton and was hard to update, but at least it you knew a listing in that venerable book would get your business in front of any potential clients or customers in your local community.
Today, there are dozens of potential directories your prospective clients or customers might choose to browse through when looking for local businesses. Here are just a few examples:

It might seem like a hassle to claim and curate your listings on all these directories, but it’s worth it!

Local directory listings can bring many benefits to your business:
New Clients: According to a report from Neustar/Localeze, consumers still trust directory sites with a good deal of their searches. In fact, consumers believe they are more likely to find basic business information (address, phone number, and hours) as well as directions by visiting a directory site rather than an individual independent business website. If you want to compete for these consumers’ attention, you must have accurate directory listings.
Map Integration: Do you wish a little icon would show up on Google Maps or Bing Maps when people were browsing for directions in your local area? Directory listings help you get it—you can either submit your business info directly to Google or Bing or let their search engines pick up your info from other directory sites.
Better Search Rankings: Local directory listings help boost your website’s search result position in two ways. First, they serve as “citations” or online mentions of your company’s name, phone number, and address. Second, any directory that links to your business website creates an extremely valuable inbound link. Both citations and inbound links from high-quality sites help establish your site as an authority in your content areas and encourage search engines to rank your pages higher.

Need Help Claiming Your Listings?

If you do not have the time to claim your listings yourself—or update them every time part of your business information changes—Webstract Marketing can help. We can also offer many other services to help you capture more local searches. Contact us today to learn more.