The modern online business directories are equivalent to the printed phone books or Yellow Pages. Online directories are platforms that provide seekers business information including name, address, & phone number [NAP] that is pulled out from their main database. Google My Business, Yelp, Citysearch, etc. are online directories examples.
To list business on different high domain authority online directories you need to have local SEO optimization. Making it search engine friendly allows high ranking on the search result page during local searches, e.g. when you search for ‘plumber in Sydney’, on Bleen an online Australian directory. Google will come up with several online directories on the result page. Google prefers indexing accurate information therefore the NAP of a business has to be correct because if the address on even a single listing is inaccurate then it confuses the search bots and they ignore both and move to your competitor’s.
How to build citations?
You acquire a quality backlink from trustworthy listing sites, which enhances your business credibility. Structured citations help to build local presence. Their aim is to confirm your business details for search engines and offer extra targeted traffic.
Ensure to choose a high domain and relevant regional directories to acquire good coverage from applicable citations. Yahoo and Bingo are most obvious as they offer local business listings. For small, niche websites major directories serve as an information source. Business information distributed across other directories helps to establish a credible and genuine business.
To improve traffic source enhance citation profiles by choosing location and niche specific directories. Gaining a few links from location and niche based directories enhances site relevance in both areas. Ensure that the potential listing site has decent traffic volume and authority.
Avoid the directory with low domain authority and high spam score even if it is exclusive in your area. It will only harm your online business trustworthiness. Effective citation profile does not mean you need to get listed on every Free online directory. All the online directories differ, even niche ones. Many of them are crap, so choose Moz tool to confirm the directory quality.
Start with Google My Business listing
GMB is a great promotional tool for local businesses. Google holds significant search engine market shares – 86% from PC and 95% from Smartphone. Ignoring to gain visibility on GMB can cost great opportunities to your local company. Instead of moving through its own domain ranking process, your site gains instant search visibility via nearby local searches. Your business can appear on top ranking based on distance between user’s location and your company address. Proximity is an influential ranking factor, so listing optimization for local SEO is a top priority.
GMB profile optimization
- NAP information has to be correct because Google crawlers will confirm your business information with 3rd party citations.
- Ensure to categorize correctly because it improves the listing’s accuracy.
- On-page optimization is a solid ranking factor in local searches. Keywords in business names can attain good results but ensure to follow Google guidelines.
For online business news and helpful articles visit BusyFox. It is a blogging platform, where you can publish press releases or news about upcoming events and gain quality backlinks.
