Listing your business with the chamber of commerce, the yellow pages, and other local directories has always been a powerful driver of new business. It’s also costly. Here’s how the web is turning this old way to list your business on its head:
- Google is easier to search than a paper book
- Customers can’t easily talk about and rate the businesses in a paper listing
- You have to pay for each listing in each town
- Paper directories are only really good for the residents of a location. New residents, travellers and those passing through don’t use the local phone directory unless they have to.
- Websites don’t cost as much to build, maintain, and deliver as yellow pages (That’s an understatement!)
Since I’ve convinced you you should pay attention to these free listing services here is a list of the ones that can create the most value for you by delivering new business:
- GoSpotting.com — While it is a gratuitous plug for our own business listing service, you will get a completely local audience and the opportunity to be on a VERY short list of local businesses. You’ll even get a search engine boost. Search engines like your site more when it has been talked about elsewhere on the web. Visit GoSpotting.com, sign up for a free account if you don’t have one, and make a “New Post” in the “Business Listing” category. See our listing for an example http://www.gospotting.com/cumberland-md/spot/289001
- Yelp! — This is the current heavy weight champion of free local listing services with reviews and ratings. Sign up for an account and you can list your business. http://yelp.com
- Google places — This is likely to be the 500lb gorilla sneaking up on the local listing market. They have comprehensive tools to list your business, ratings, reviews, and, if you so desire, tools to easily pay for search positioning. http://google.com/places
- Merchant Circle — This is an interesting service. They’re 1 part yelp and 1 part google places with a very persistent newsletter
http://www.merchantcircle.com
List your business or organization with these services and be found by web and smart-phone savvy customers (which is increasingly everyone!) AND add clout to your website with the search engines.
Are you already using any of these directories? Which ones? Have you noticed any new business from them? Comment, and share your experience.