While people may not be searching through their printed YellowPages anymore, directory listings are still as important as ever. One way local businesses can get found is through inclusion in online directories. Adding a listing to these online directories is easy, but if you only list in a few, you’re really missing a huge opportunity to get found by online searchers.
Every directory you’re business is listed in is another opportunity to be found online, so its important to be listed in a number of quality directories.
A smart directory strategy provides depth to your SEO campaigns and offers tangible benefits including:
- A more diverse link profile
- Qualified referral traffic
- Citations for different vertical ranking algorithms
- Trust/Authority Signals
- … and the link.
Directory Listings Best Practices
Consistent NAP
When registering for online directories, its very important to input consistent and correct business information including the name, address and phone number. If your listing isn’t consistent across all of your directory listings, Google will consider each listing as a separate business listing. Many web browsers have auto-fill add ons that can help you keep your information consistent.
If you change anything about your business, you’ll have to go through and change every one of your business listings.
Include Your Keywords
Make sure you are including your keywords in your “about this business” area. A well optimized listing is as essential as a well optimized website or social media profile.
Claim or Verify your Listing
If your business is listed on a directory that you did do yourself, claim or verify your listing. This gives you more status with the listing service because they know you’re not a bot.
Find Directories in Your Industry
Depending on your industry, you might be able to find smaller directories that are specific to your niche. This is a great way to be found by people looking for something specific to what you do.
20 Business Directories for Local Marketing (in Canada)
- Bing
- Yahoo
- Yelp
- YellowPages
- Industry Canada
- CanPages
- Manta
- Foursquare
- HotFrog
- 411.ca
- Ziplocal
- Weblocal
- Cylex
- iBegin
- GoldBook
- CanPages
- Sales Spider
