Directory Listing Management – What Directories Your Business Should Be On To Reach New Clients
After you’ve opened your doors and set up your website, thenext most important step is to list your business online. On the web, you canfind countless online directories for every type of business. They can berelated to your industry, region, or to how much your business is willing tospend to be seen first. Overall, online directories are like an online map to yourbusiness. They are how your online potential clients will find you. In thisarticle, we will explore how you can get your business into online directories,which ones are best for your business and how your websites authority can helpyou rank higher on these directories & search engines.
What are Directories?
Online directories are just like a phone book, except online. They are a database that connects thousands of businesses, and all of its information, toa user. The major difference between an online directory and a printed phone book (from yesteryear), is that in an online directory, you need to register your business. Each business owner is responsible for listing their business in all of the online directories that pertain to their business. It’s very important for you to be connected in these online databasesif you want to keep your business growing and reach new clientele.
Online business directories can be presented in a fewdifferent formats. They can be an app, a website, a social media platform, and search engines. One of the most commonly used type of directories today are ones that are linked to a navigational program. An app like Google Maps can provide insight forusers looking for a business closest to their home. The typical user issearching for a business in a particular area – most likely near their home,work, or possibly near a destination they will travel to in the future. Whetheryour business is in a physical location or not, it should still be listed onlocal map directories like Google Maps.
Different Types of Directories
There are hundreds of different directories – some directories are more important than others. Depending on what industry your business is in, there can be a whole separate world of ranking online directories. For example, contractors have the generic directories like Yelp, but they also have the more specific directories like HomeStars and Angie’s List that are specific for residential/commercial contractors.
Each directory has different specifications and categories for businesses to be listed on it. You or your business manager will have to input your company’s information into their database. This might include your office number, location, services offered, photos, hours of operation, and any other relevant information.
General Directories
This type of directory is open to all users and types ofbusinesses. It is typically very large scale and is easy to manage. Directorieslike Google My Business and LinkedIn Company Directory reside in this category.There are different subcategories and sections each business listing can fallinto. They naturally have a large reach and are very user friendly. If yourwebsite is not expertly created or optimized, it might be difficult to rankhighly.
Industry Directories These directories cater to a very small audience. However,the individuals who use these directories are often ready to utilize yourservices. Industry Directories are broken up by industry or service. They areoften directly related to the field of work your business is in. For example, Find-a-Dentistis one of the most popular dental directories in the US. It is linked to theAmerican Dental Association and is therefore trusted by many users.
Regional Directories This type of directory is directly based on location. They areintegrated with a map and offer users results based on proximity to their homeor desired location. Your business will only be able to be listed in thisdirectory if it is located in a particular area (country, state, province,city, municipality). It can also be linked to a map app, like Google Maps or AppleMaps. Users are able to search for different types of businesses when they arein a particular location. This type of directory is the best way to attractlocal clients.
Paid Directories These directories require the business owner to pay fortheir spot on the directory. The cost for this type of directory varies. However,the closer to the first spot that you want, the more you will have to pay. Thehigher the ranking on these directories, the more traffic your website andbusiness will get.
Physical Directories Also known as brick and mortar directories, thesedirectories can only be found in physical form. They are often listed in aplace of business or an informational centre. This directory can be the actualphone book that we discussed earlier. It is mainly used to attract localclients.
There are many free directories available for businessestoday. A directories main purpose is to connect a client and a business. Many ofthe popular directory listing services (like Google My Business, Yellow Pages, and Bing) are free for business owners and users – Both parties will be able toutilize the directory services. However, many of the directories offer premiumspots. The premium spots do come at a premium rate and require business ownersto pay a monthly fee or pay per click rate. The higher ranked your business is,the more opportunities you have to interact with potential clients. However,there are more ways than just paid opportunities to rank higher in directories.
What is Domain Authority and How is it Relevant to Directories?
Domain Authority is related to how your website ranks in regardsto a particular search. There are different subject areas and industry’s eachwebsite can be categorized into. Your business may be more of a specialist inone area and less knowledgeable in another.
The Domain Authority Rank on your website directs the searchengine on where you should be ranked on the list. When your website iscompliant to all of the search engine optimization factors and is listed on allavailable directories, it will higher domain authority. The domain authorityrank is like a good grade on your website, and that good grade can help getyour website on the honors list, or in our case, first on search engines.
Domain Authority can be analyzed by many programs availableonline. The more reputable your website can be proven in itsindustry, the higher your ranking will be.
What Domain Authority Rank Should My Business Have?
Generally, the higher your rank is, the better. Of course, itis going to be near impossible to get a perfect score. Your business will needto be linked to every directory and have thousands of users, reviews, and clicksper day – there’s a reason Google is #1 & Facebook is #2.
Need to increase your websites visibility online?
Top 8 Reasons Your Small Business Should Be OnDirectories
Save Money Marketing is a concept – a concept that can’t always beunderstood or extended to everyone - but directories are. Among the many freeand paid directories, there are different ways to list your business. Utilizingthe free directories should be step one on your to-do list today. It could begetting you thousands of dollars’ worth of exposure each month!
Improves Local Visibility Not everyone is an expert in their neighborhood. Putting yourbusiness on online directories opens the door for everyone in your area. Theymight just stop by today!
Get Consistency There are several different places your customers can leavereviews of your work. In the online world, the more the better! Having moredirectories that post real reviews can also help eliminate any bad reviews orinformation that might exist about you online.
Save Time Online directories require less maintenance than a marketingplan. For many of them, there is little up keep. Just enter your businessinformation and let the clients come to you!
Easily Accessible They are open to anyone and everyone with access to theworld online. Most directories can be accessed on phones, tablets, and computers - many online directories even have apps or are directly linked to the main apps used on smart phones.
mproves Search Engine Ranking Like we previously mentioned, your domain authority rankingand SEO go hand in hand. Placing your business on multiple online directoriesmake it more reputable in the eyes of domain authority and improves your chanceof being ranked first on search engines.
Improve Reputation The second most important factor to ranking first on searchengines has to do with reputation. If your business has terrible, 1-starreviews, chances are Google isn’t going to recommend you to the next searcherfor Orthodontist in their area. Just like you don’t want to give bad business, directoriesdon’t either. Being on directories and receiving multiple clicks or ‘votes’ foryour business helps improve your online reputation with search engines.
Top Free Directories Your Small Business Needs To Be On To Reach New Clients
- Google
- Yahoo
- Bing
- Yelp
- Better Business Bureau
- Yahoo! Local
- FourSquare
- Yellow Pages
- Facebook
- Angies List
- Apple Maps
- Google My Business
- Merchant Circle
- Linkedin Company Directory
- MapQuest
- HubSpot
- Manta
- Kudzu.com
- Super Pages
- Local.com
- Yellow Book
- Thumbtack
- Citysearch
- Bing Places for Business
What Can Professional Directory Listing Management Do ForYour Small Business?
Launching your business on multiple online directories can be tricky. But keeping track of them all, and staying up to date, now that’s areal trick.
That’s where we come in.
Dr. Marketing is professionally trained in directory listing management. We understand the ins and outs of each specific directory and what it takes to be ranked ahead of your competitors. We take the time to input all of your information, keep it up to date, and preform quality spot checks every few weeks. We also input your business into the niche and industry specific directories. All of those exclusive, business member only directories, don’t worry, we gotchu’.
Even though directories can be free, they are a second gate into your business. We make sure that your business is one of the first visible when a local client searches for your industry/profession/service online.
Let us help you with that.
Interested in learning more about our services for directory listing management and website design? Give our experts a call, click the button below.
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