Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
The top 10 free business listing websites in priority order:
1. Google Business Profile
Google is the largest search engine and getting your business listed on Google is a must. Your Google Business Profile allows you to add details like your business name, address, phone number, website, services, business hours and upload photos. Having an accurate Google Business Profile helps customers find your business easily on Google Search and Maps. It also increases the chances of your business showing up in local searches.
2. Bing Places
Similar to Google, having an accurate business listing on Bing Places is also important as Bing is the second largest search engine. Claiming and verifying your business on Bing provides customers another way to find your details online through Bing Search and Maps. Bing Places lets you add all the key information about your business that could be useful for potential customers searching online.
3. Facebook
With billions of active users, Facebook is one of the best places for local businesses to create a visible online presence. Having a business Facebook page lets you engage with existing and potential customers, share information about your business, latest offers and deals. It also helps customers find your business when searching on Facebook or looking at the Facebook map. Business owners can add key details like address, phone number, website and hours on their Facebook page.
4. Yelp
Yelp is a top site for customers to find local businesses and read reviews from other customers. Having a business listing on Yelp allows potential customers in your area to discover your business. You can add details like business description, categories, photos, business IDs, payment options, menus for restaurants etc. Encourage happy customers to leave reviews which boosts your visibility in local search results. Respond to all reviews politely to build trust with potential customers browsing reviews.
5. Apple Maps
Apple Maps is used by millions of iPhone users to search for local businesses. Creating a free business profile on Apple Maps makes it easier for these users to discover your business location when they search using Apple Maps app or Siri. Similar to other listings, provide complete details like name, address, phone number, website, photos and business hours.
6. Foursquare
Though not as large as other services, Foursquare still has millions of active users who check in at different locations. A Foursquare business listing helps those searching on Foursquare or exploring the map to find your location. Provide the usual key details and encourage customers check in with Foursquare at your business location.
7. Dun & Bradstreet
While not a direct consumer search site, Dun & Bradstreet is a business database. Getting listed on D&B helps validate your business and improves your online credibility and visibility to other businesses looking for partners or suppliers. It also supports building backlinks to your website. Ensure your Dun & Bradstreet profile has the most accurate details.
8. Yellowpages
Though searches have declined, Yellowpages is still a popular local listing site for some categories like home services, B2B services etc. Claim your business listing to get found by customers in your local area exploring Yellowpages online or print directories. Provide complete details as with the above listings.
9. LinkedIn
While focused on B2B, creating a LinkedIn company page allows other businesses to discover your offerings. Publish updates to engage with potential buyers or partners. Add basic details, specializations and product/service catalog. Encourage existing clients/vendors to recommend and follow your page.
10. Find your Industry’s vertical directory
Beyond the above generic directories, search for specialized industry portals that cater to your category. For example, restaurants should list on restaurant-focused sites, salons on beauty directories, lawyers on legal portals etc. Customers in your niche are more likely searching there for local options. Provide complete details and engage with the community.
Tips for optimizing business listings
- Be accurate and consistent: Ensure details like business name, address, phone number etc. match across all your listings. Customers get confused by inconsistencies.
- Fill out everything you can: Provide complete information requested in each listing like hours, payment options, categories, images etc. Incomplete listings are less useful for customers.
- Reinforce Products & Services: Clearly outline your offerings on each listing. Use headings, bullet points or paragraphs to tell customers what you provide.
- Reinforce location page information: Customers expect key details like address, directions and map on your location/contact pages. Ensure these pages complement listings.
- Google Business Profile should be your priority: Focus on getting complete information, photos and reviews here since Google is vital for local exposure.
- Highlight special offers: Consider including any current deals or promotions on relevant listings to attract customers.
- Respond to reviews promptly: Address both positive and negative feedback on listings to build trust in customers viewing reviews.
- Claim authoritative citations: Fill details on directories like Wikipedia, Knowledge Graph etc that may pass some authority to your profile.
- Monitor listings regularly: Check periodically that your information is consistent, optimized and engage with customers interacting there.
Why Should You list your business on these sites?
1. Links
Having business listings on popular sites builds backlinks to your website. These third party authoritative links from high DR domains can improve your overall domain authority, trust and SEO rankings over time.
2. Website Traffic
As your listings rank higher locally in maps/search results, they send more relevant customers directly to your own website. Detailed listings encourage visitors to explore further and contact you from there.
3. In-Store Traffic
Accurate listings display your business information prominently to customers searching locally on their phones. This significantly improves chances of them choosing to visit your physical store or location.
4. Citations (Name, Address, Phone Number)
Getting cited across these sites helps reinforce and propagate the most accurate NAP (Name, Address, Phone number) details for your business across the web. This elevates your credibility when customers search for these official identifiers.
Conclusion:
Claiming free listings across the above sites is a very effective local marketing strategy to get your small business discovered online by potential new customers. With the right information, offers and engagement, these listings can boost in-store visits and website leads with minimal effort. It is a good idea for all local businesses to maintain accurate profiles across major search and review sites.
