You have a local business, and you’re looking for ways to get people to start visiting your site and calling you to inquire about your products and services. As a local business owner, you need to learn about local marketing strategies to get you new leads and customers.
One excellent strategy is to list your business on the best of local directories. Also, local directory submission is the life and soul of a winning local marketing strategy. Here’s why directory listings are helpful:
- A directory submission improves your business’s visibility among prospective customers. Because many directories rank for important local search terms, a profile on such platforms helps you drive valuable website traffic.
- A high-authority directory submission fetches a quality backlink for your business. A backlink is a vital local search ranking factor.
- Directory submissions enable faster site indexing in Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs). It means your website pages will have a higher probability of getting a place in the search engine results.
In this article, let me give you a peek into what a local business directory is, along with a list of popular local directories where you can list your business.
What is a Local Business Directory?
A local business directory is an online platform to list your business’s name and contact details that will give your business more exposure online. Plus, you can add your website link and other information such as business photos, services, opening hours, etc. Such directories list businesses in specific business niches or geographic locations.
So now, here are some of the top free and paid business listing platforms.
1. Google Business Profile
Google is the most used search engine. It’s also the biggest listing site for businesses. A Google Business profile (formerly known as Google My Business) puts your business on Google Map and helps you improve how your search listing looks on Google. It also helps improve the local rank-ability of your business website. You can add your business details to this essential local SEO platform for free.
2. Yelp
Whether you own a local gym or you’re offering plumbing service, Yelp is a local directory that you cannot miss. Yelp is a high-authority local business directory, and its Domain Rating is 94. You can create a basic Yelp listing for free. This popular business listing platform comes with paid features as well.
3. The Yellow Pages
Yes, the good old Yellow Pages! The online version of the small business directory boasts a high Domain Authority and millions of visitors. Rejoice because it’s easy to create a free account on this local business directory and attract traffic back to your site.
4. Bing Places
Bing is America’s second-largest search engine. Hence listing your business on this directory by Bing is profitable. So go and claim your free listing or create a new one and get it verified.
5. TripAdvisor
Did you know:
63% of travelers trust review sites for advice – more than they trust guide books (39%) and second only to friends’ recommendations (68%). – Source
When traveling, most people check TripAdvisor for the best places to stay and eat. So, if you have a hotel or a restaurant, you must list your business on this essential listing site for hospitality businesses. A TripAdvisor business listing is free. However, if you want more exposure, this platform has some paid features as well.
6. FindLaw
Are you a legal professional, or do you own a law firm that operates in a specific geographic location? If yes, then FindLaw is one directory to list your business. FindLaw is a high-authority site; its Domain Rating is 90. FindLaw is a paid local directory. You can visit their sales page to buy a premium profile on the platform.
7. Facebook
Social media platforms like Facebook are huge. Facebook has over 2.9 billion monthly active users! Why list your business on a social media site like Facebook?
Many Facebook users use the platform as a search engine to look for local businesses. They also use this social network to ask friends for recommendations for the most relevant local products and services. Listing your business on Facebook is free. You can create a business page on this platform and showcase your products, services, and other business details. Plus, you get a high-authority backlink from this trusted source that helps improve local search engine rankings.
8. ChamberofCommerce.com
This is one of the largest online directories for businesses and it’s a free-to-list platform. Another excellent way to add credibility to your local business and get higher local search rankings is to list your business in your local area’s chamber of commerce. A listing like this isn’t free but brings a ton of value to your local SEO efforts. You can check out this resource with a list of all the local chambers in the United States.
9. Apple Maps
If you don’t want to miss a chance to be on the radar of Apple users, then Apple Maps is a directory that you must check. Add your local business’s name, address, and phone number by simply registering on this free platform.
10. Foursquare
Foursquare is another fantastic local business directory with over 50 million users who visit this platform to discover the right products and services. This platform allows businesses like yours to set up a paid promotion of your listing and get higher visibility among local customers. You can, of course, create a free listing on Foursquare or claim an existing one.
11. Angi
Angi is a business directory for local businesses in the home services niches. So whether you provide services related to exterior painting or lawn and yard work, this may be a vital platform to register your business. You can get a primary listing on this local directory for free. For greater business visibility on Angi, you can go for some of its paid membership options as well.
12. Zillow
If you’re a local realtor, Zillow is a great platform to list your business. Don’t forget to get all those satisfied customers to write positive reviews of your business on Zillow. Brighten up because Zillow could be your place to find new prospects for your real estate business. As a real estate professional, you can list your property for free on Zillow. This local directory has some paid features as well.
13. LinkedIn
LinkedIn is the most extensive social network of global professionals and businesses. That’s why it doubles up as an online directory as well.
You can create a free LinkedIn business page and get visibility among target potential customers.
It’s the go-to platform to list your small B2B local business online. So, whether you’re a tax consultant or a business coach, you must have a presence on this robust online platform.
14. Superpages
Superpages is a terrific resource for online searchers to find local businesses, professionals, and retailers. With a Domain Rating of 84, this site is a pretty decent option for registering your business. The good news is that you can list your business on Superpages for free!
15. Local.com
This free local business directory is home to over 16 million businesses. You can add helpful business information like hours of operation, products and services, and contact details to this free-to-list platform.
16. ShowMeLocal
ShowMeLocal is an exciting platform to do more with your local online listing. For instance, you can upload pictures and videos and create coupons and advertising deals. ShowMeLocal also allows you to keep tabs on your listing’s key statistics and review its performance regularly. So, register your business in this free directory and give a solid push to your local marketing efforts.
17. SolarReviews
SolarReviews is a local business directory for Solar businesses. If you’re a business offering Solar products and services, you must look at this listing platform. SolarReviews is a free-to-list platform. Plus, once you have a registered profile on this local directory, you can even buy leads from them.
18. Manta
Manta is a free local directory with over 20 million monthly users. Also, more than 1000 businesses join this platform every day. Furthermore, this local business directory offers you the option of a free and a premium listing. Aren’t these reasons enough to list your local business on this directory?
19. Hotfrog
Hotfrog is an extensive and popular global businesses directory for small businesses. There are over 69 million businesses listed on this platform, and users across 44 countries use it to find their preferred local companies. Hotfrog allows businesses across verticals to create and maintain a free profile.
20. Nextdoor
Nextdoor is a free local business directory that helps businesses reach out to the most relevant neighborhoods in the US. The directory allows you to create your business page on this platform and get local customers with the help of compelling deals and promotions.
21. EBusinessPages
EBusinessPages is a free local business directory for American Businesses. With a Domain Authority of 75, this is a cool platform to list your business.
22. JustLanded
JustLanded is a platform that helps expatriates look for local products, services, and even jobs. So whether you have a web design agency or a recruitment firm with a local presence, you can register your business on this listing site. A basic listing on JustLanded is free. Plus, you have the option to purchase a ‘premium’ or a ‘featured’ listing.
23. CitySquares
CitySquares is a directory of local businesses in the United States. So whether you are a franchisee or own a local cafe, you can list your business on this essential platform for free. You can also use this platform to customize your business profile and run paid advertisement campaigns.
24. MerchantCircle
MerchantCircle is a big directory of local American businesses. This local directory caters to most business types, including food and dining, health and beauty, autos, home and garden, etc. You can sign-up for this platform for free and showcase your business to millions of monthly users from the United States. This local directory is a great fit for franchise business owners.
25. WalletHub
WalletHub is another local niche directory that can work well for attorneys, financial advisors, insurance agents, credit unions, etc. It is a high-authority platform to get relevant traffic to your professional business website. WalletHub is a free listing platform with paid options.
26. CarGurus
CarGurus is a local directory of new and used car dealerships. If you’re in the business of selling cars and struggling to attract new customers to your dealership, register your business on this paid platform. The directory offers exciting promotional features like search marketing and car inventory listings.
27. Wellness.com
If you own a healthcare or wellness business, don’t feel left out. Here’s a local business directory to suit your local marketing needs. Wellness is a directory with close to 3 million monthly visitors. You can list your local business on Wellness for free. You can also avail yourself of some of their paid features to get more profile visitors and business leads.
28. GoodTherapy
GoodTherapy is a paid local directory for professional therapists and counselors. As a therapist, you can create a profile on this platform and start using it as a regional marketing tool for getting new customers for your practice. The basic membership will cost you $323 per year.
29. Healthgrades
Before visiting general practitioners and specialist doctors, people have a dire need to know they’re good and trustworthy. That’s why they look up sites like Healthgrades to check reviews of doctors in their local area. Hence, as a medical professional, you must be present on this free-to-list local directory.
30. Porch
Are you a service provider targeting homeowners? If yes, Porch is a platform where you can list your business and start getting new customers. This directory platform allows you to customize your profile and specify your work preferences. Porch also gives the option of buying guaranteed leads for your business.
Final Thoughts
So here is the deal, if you wish to make your local business shine, you must present it to the people who matter. You’ve got to list it on platforms where your prospects are looking for local products and services. So go out there to set up and optimize your business profile on some of these most extraordinary local directory platforms. And if you don’t have the time or the resources to do it yourself, you can always get in touch with a local marketing agency like DaDigitalSense Marketing