With all the competition for search results, getting your website to appear at the top of the search engines for common keywords is beyond the budgets of most small businesses. So how can you be found on the web? By targeting local search results and directories that provide services in your area.
In years past, everybody went to the Yellow Pages to find local businesses. Now, they often turn to one of the many web directories that provide a similar service on the web. Yelp has become very popular in recent years.Foursquare also exploded providing a level of local interactivity not seen before. Superpages, Yahoo Local and many more are also often used to find local businesses.
Many times your business is already listed on these sites. If not, to be listed usually costs nothing, or for a fee more information can be included. What value do you get from claiming the listing? There are variations in the services provided but here are some features:
- Display accurate address, phone number email address and other contact information.
- A link to your website. This is very helpful from an SEO standpoint as well.
- Post images to make the listing more appealing to viewers.
- A map view of your location
- A review section where your customers can rate their experience with your business.
- Ability to offer coupons and mention special offers.
- List upcoming special events.
As an added bonus, these sites often perform very well with the search engines. So in addition to your website being listed in the search results, your listing from the directory site will also be displayed. So instead of one link to your small business in the search results, many will appear which makes it more likely the searcher will find good information about your business.
…instead of one link to your small business in the search results, many will come up making it more likely the searcher will find good information about your business.
The downside is that it can take a lot of time to set up and administer all these listings. If you want to change hours, or mention a special offer, you have to visit each one individually. At least that is, until now. We are piloting a program to allow updating your listing on many of these sites at once. If you would like to participate in this program at a reduced rate, please contact us today.
