Getting your business listed in local directories is crucial for small local businesses. Rather than simply hoping new customers will find you in search results, adding your local business’ information to local directories — think Yelp, Foursquare, Google My Business — will help promote your business to new and existing customers and serve as a positive sign for search engines.
Getting your business in local directories will help promote your business to new and existing customers and is a positive sign for search engines.
Before you start submitting your information to local directories, pick a business name, address and phone (NAP) format and keep it consistent. Using the same name, address and phone number ensures that customers (and search engines!) know exactly what your business is called, where it’s located and how to reach you.
In addition to a consistent NAP, here are a few other things you’ll want to make sure your business listing has in each local directory:
- A link to your website
- A company description
- A few photos and/or videos
- Other relevant information
There are thousands of directories where you can list your local business. Here’s a look at the top local directories for local businesses to get listed.
- Facebook: The social media giant is a popular place for people to find information about different businesses. Sign up for a Facebook business page so people can find all the information you add just by searching on the platform or other search engines.
- Google My Business: GMB is a free tool that allows you to take charge of what people see when they do a local search for your business. By setting up a GMB account, your business is eligible to appear in Google’s local map pack results and you can add important information about your business.
- LinkedIn Company Directory: Another social platform, LinkedIn lets you add all of the basic information about your business.
- Bing: Bing is a search engine owned by Microsoft. Bing business portal is a platform where you can list your local business for potential local customers to find you online.
- Yelp: Yelp is another powerful local listing site and one of the most popular consumer review sites. Build your profile with important business information, and respond to reviews.
- Better Business Bureau: The BBB platform lets consumers search for businesses in a given area. They can also sort by BBB accreditation, which can help create trust among consumers.
- Foursquare: Foursquare is a location-based social platform that lets you add basic information about your business so that customers can find you. You can use “check-ins” to build your local potential and attract more customers in your city.
- Yellow Pages: Yes, Yellow Pages are still around, and your business should be listed in the online directory.
- Angie’s List: Set up a free profile with your basic business information on Angie’s List so people can leave reviews about your business.
- Manta: Manta allows you to create a listing for your business. It also offers educational resources and even marketing tools for businesses.
- Merchant Circle: You can add basic information about your business and respond to business reviews on MerchantCircle.
- Thumbtack: Thumbtack is a platform that connects customers to professionals. Sign up for a business account to receive updates from customers seeking quotes.
- Local.com: Local is a business directory for any local business in need of exposure online and mobile.
- Superpages: Superpages is a basic platform for people to find contact information for individuals or businesses.
- Chamber of Commerce: ChamberofCommerce.com lets customers search for different types of businesses in cities around the country. Sign up for a free business listing to reach the site’s 15 million annual visitors.
While many of these directories are for international markets and businesses, there are likely specific directories for your region.
For instance, if your business is located in the United Kingdom, here are a few additional local business directories that you may want to consider for listing your business.
- Yelp.co.uk: While Yelp is an international business directory, this is the localized United Kingdom section of the site.
- Yell: Yell is essentially the online version of the Yellow Pages and has a database of over 2.8 million local United Kingdom businesses.
- HotFrog: HotFrog is a global business directory operating in over 38 countries but increasingly popular for businesses in the United Kingdom.
- Scoot: Scoot is part of a larger network of websites operated by the Scoot Network and has listings for over 2 million business in the United Kingdom.
Having a current, correct and comprehensive business listings in local directories can provide more engagement with potential customers as well as more visibility in local search. Listing in local business directories is also a critical component of a strong backlink development strategy.
For more tips improving SEO for your local business, download my free 7-Step Local SEO Cheat Sheet to learn local SEO basics!
Kristan is an independent consultant with 15 years of experience in the SEO industry. Kristan previously founded the award-winning SEO agency Conifr. She’s worked in agency and in-house SEO leadership positions, most notably as the SEO Director at Zillow Group, overseeing a channel that received over one billion web visitors a year. Kristan is a freelance SEO consultant who built and sold a seven-figure agency and now enjoys helping others develop their freelance business.
