Business listings are similar to online phone books because they feature a library of important information such as your company name, address, phone number, website URL, map listing, and so much more.
Business listings are meant to be on display when people search for your brand online and this simple event can help customers find you using a search engine created exclusively for companies in your field.
You may find yourself asking questions like;
- what is a business listing?
- what are the types of business listings?
- where should my company be listed in terms of its business?
- why is it important for my business to be listed?
- How do I list my business? and so many more related questions
I will be getting to that shortly, stay with me.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Business refers to an organization or enterprising entity engaged in commercial, industrial, or professional activities.
- Having a strong online presence is an important factor for business owners.
- Business listing goes a long way in securing your business reputation.
- Listings provide a platform for online reviews from customers.
so,
What exactly is a Business Listing?
A Business or Company Listing can refer to either an online or physical directory of information that organizes businesses into categories relevant to specific niches.
One can classify businesses according to their niche(specialization), location, activities, or size. Compiling business information can be done either manually or with the use of an automated web search application.
There may be variations in the information that is presented on different business listing websites.
However, the following features are mostly adhered to by business listing directories;
- Name of the company.
- Addresses.
- Telephone number.
- Location of the Company and other contact information,
- Kind of products or services the company sells.
- The number of workers the company employs.
- The geographical area the business serves.
- Names of any professional associations.
- Reviews from Customers.
There is often a provision on online business directories for users to leave comments, reviews, and other feedback.
In the past, business directories were published in printed form; however, with the arrival of the internet, this practice has lately been replaced by the creation of business listing websites.
In addition to paid ads, several company directories also provide listings that are completely free of charge.
It’s advisable to jump in and grab as much audience as your business needs from these free listing directories.
There are a lot of company directories, even though they do not have search engines, business directories typically contain a search function that allows customers to look for businesses based on a variety of criteria, such as the services being offered, products, Zip Code, country, the state, the area, or the city.
Types of Business Listing
Ultimately, there are two types, hard copy, and digital forms of company listing. Simply put;
- Offline Business Listing and the
- Online Business Listing.
More businesses have been seen to migrate to online forms of business listing or directories due to their ease and reach.
Many business directories are now only available online rather than in printed format, and this trend is expected to continue.
Types of Online Business Listing (Directory)
There are numerous business directories online, but I’ll be listing only the most popular of them all.
They are;
- Article directory website.
- Automotive directory website.
- Business directory website.
- Coupons/deals directory website.
- Contact directory website.
- City Directory website/Local Directories.
- Classified directory websites.
- Events directory websites or Events Portals.
- Hotel/restaurant/cuisine directory websites.
- Job directory websites or online Job portals.
- Review directory website.
- Real estate directory websites.
- Travel directory websites.
- Video Directory website.
- Yellow pages directory website.
Examples of Online Business Listing Websites
Most business listings are recommendable to everyone. Others may be more specific depending on the nature of your company.
Angie’s List, for example, is intended for service providers, whereas Yelp is primarily for restaurants.
Though not all business directories are absolutely required, the more references of listings you have, the more likely you are to appear and be viewed by your intended customers.
On the other hand, no matter what your business offers, Google and Facebook are the most important business listings.
You must ensure that these two listings are easily found, optimized, current, and consistent.
Fun Fact:
To match internet users’ inquiries to the best results possible, Google’s search engine employs a program called Google Keyword Planner.
Optimizing your Google My Business directory and Facebook Business page with accurate information and relevant keywords will assist to ensure that customers that are searching for your products and services find your company quickly and simply.
The following includes the top 19 well-recognized business listing websites;
- Bing
- Yelp
- Merchant Circle
- Yellow Pages
- White Pages
- Super Pages
- Yellow Book
- Manta
- City Search
- MapQuest
- Local
- Four Square
- Angie’s List
- Kudzu
- Hot Frog
- Show Me Local
- Brown Book
Benefits of the Business Listing
Speaking of the benefits of business listing, it is important to highlight some important features that justify the need of listing your business.
1. Online visibility
Even if you are just starting out on the internet and you do not own a website or have a social media strategy;
Business listing allows you to have a quality online presence at little or no cost.
The exposure these platforms offer is amazing. Just imagine the idea of your business appearing on millions of GPS-enabled smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs in your area.
Decades ago, for an organization to get that kind of exposure would have required investments unimaginable to most start-ups and entrepreneurs.
Facts to note down:
According to research, 53% of consumers always look for information about a business before buying something online or visiting a physical store.
2. Data measurement
Another benefit of having your business listed is the ability to analyze information and metrics from customers who visit your online business profile.
This data measurement is important to better understand your customer and build a more realistic profile of your target audience and their personality.
In marketing and sales strategies, knowing your potential customer in-depth, in as much detail as possible, is one of the most important factors for increased productivity and sales.
In this way, your company can develop actions and campaigns to achieve better results in both sales and customer relations.
3. Relationship with your customers
Trust is a determining factor in regard to whether or not a consumer buys from your company or not.
On the other hand, customer feedback can also be a determining factor in that same purchase decision.
So, one of the benefits of the Business listing is that customers can rate and write good reviews about your business, which in turn convinces new customers to patronize you.
Therefore, it is recommended to respond to reviews and prove to customers that you are striving in various aspects to improve your services and products.
4. Traffic and conversion support
Most business listings like Google my business(now Google maps) offer great features that improve traffic and business conversions over time.
This is especially relevant for customers who prefer to search for information online first before going to a physical store or location to make the final purchase.
If the customer accesses information about your company, you have the advantage of informing him/her about some benefits of your brand, how to locate it, what time your service is open to them, and other important aspects about visiting or buying one of your products or services in a physical location.
You can find this section on the business listing website on the manager’s dashboard, another feature is the ability of business listings to show the influx of customers at certain times or days of the week.
These functionalities can be a determining factor in increasing the traffic and sales of your company in general.
Conclusion
Business listing is not very complicated; in its most basic form, Business listing consists of a data list that includes a company’s name, address, phone number, email address, and any other information that is relevant to your company.
One approach to boost the recognition of your company and bring in new customers is to update your business listings.
Numerous local resources, such as directories, apps, and maps, can be found online.
Take the bull by the horn and list your company’s details online. A great place to start is Google Maps.
I and my team of creatives will not only get you listed on Google Maps, but we will also make sure that your business gets verified.
If you need assistance in listing your business kindly Click Here to Find Out How My Company Can Help You Boost Your Brand’s Visibility.
