There has been an exponential increase in searches ending with “near me” so it’s high time to pay attention to the local SEO. Getting the name of the business onto the local business directories is one of the simplest ways to promote your business. They are an extremely effective way to market your small business to customers living near you.
The closer your customers are the more likely they are to spend money on your business. And business directories are comprehensive platforms that present the right information to the people who are looking for businesses like yours. It helps to build quality backlinks and increase traffic to your website.
Most of the small business owners understand the benefits of improving their local reach but don’t know where to start. Here is a list of the top 5 small business directories in the USA.
Google My Business
Formerly known as Google Place for Business, Google My Business is now the most important USA business directory. Making a listing of your business here is the basic requirement of online marketing.
Google is the world’s largest search engine and it continues to climb in relevance as a local search ranking factor. You can add information about your business to claim your listing and get found by people searching for your business.
Here are a few basic steps on how to add your business listing on Google My Business.
- Log in to Google My Business account.
- Create a Google account with your business email domain as you will be using it for your chain. Add the accurate title of your business. Press Next.
- Enter the complete address of your business. Make sure it is the same with the street signage (in case you have a local storefront). You may also need to position a marker on Google Maps.
- Select and business category and then add a phone number that can be used to reach you. Review your information before getting it verified.
Bing Places
If you want to make big in your local competition, don’t forget to list your business on Bing places for business. It should be an important part of your SEO strategy because fewer of your competitors are vying for ranking position on this particular business directory in USA.
The large share of traffic on Google is enticing and it makes sense to flock towards that but maintaining a quality listing on Bing is going to give you the extra edge. As you compete with fewer businesses it’s easy to make it to the top. You are going to see decent ROI on your organic search efforts and small business owners need such boosts to keep going on track.
Although you may not have observed people searching through Bing search engine that commonly, it is still the default browser on Windows devices. Moreover, paid marketing campaigns are cheaper on Bing. If you are like most small businesses, you have got a limited budget for marketing and that’s where Bing comes into the picture and serves to be an important directory.
Yelp
Moz domain authority of this highly relevant business directory is 93. It’s free of cost and is relevant for almost every kind of business. It is indeed one of the most popular business listing directories and yet emerging as a popular networking site.
It has literally brought the term “word of mouth” online as users can leave their reviews on the website thus connecting the businesses and users. Whether you are a restaurant owner, make handicrafts or offer exterior painting services, Yelp is somewhere you must be.
Yelp has about 35 million monthly users who appreciate this website or its ease of use. Being a business owner you are selling convenience to your users and that is what Yelp offers. All you need to do is to log in for your Yelp account. Add your business NAP. Make sure the details are accurate and once your listing is verified you are good to go.
Better Business Bureau (BBB)
If you are looking to improve your trust signals, it is essential to claim your listing on Better Business Bureau (BBB). It is a non-profit organization with a mission to improve marketplace trust. Being able to reference this accreditation is going to impact your business ranking sooner than you expected. The monthly traffic number for BBB ranges from 14 to 17 million users. The best thing about claiming your business on the Better Business Bureau is better to lead generation.
Although getting your business accredited takes longer as compared to other directories, the accreditation seal adds a layer of trust for your customers.
City local Pro
City local Pro makes finding your business simple, fast, and efficient. It is the leading free business directory in USA. Its committed to crafting better experiences for both customers and businesses. Claiming your business will boost your local visibility. Whether you run a business in Texas or Florida, listing it on Citylocal Pro is pretty easy.
Creating your account is 100%. All you need to do is to search for city local pro.com and click on the Add Business button. You will be prompted to fill a form with the basic credentials of your business. Once you are done adding your business details, agree to the terms and conditions, and click on Register. Wait for your business listing to be verified and you are all set to meet new customers.
