Business listing on Google, Facebook, Yelp, and other sites is important for local visibility. However, it’s not the best practice to submit your business information to every search engine and directory site.
Instead, focus on claiming and monitoring your listings with a management tool that updates them automatically. It can save you hours of manual work and keep your online information accurate.
Google My Business
Google My Business is a free online business listing that lets small businesses share photos, hours of operation, and links to their websites. It also provides a variety of tools for managing listings and tracking performance. In addition, it allows small businesses to communicate directly with their customers.
A comprehensive GMB can appear in local packs, one of the chief displays for local search results. These are displayed whenever Google believes that a searcher has local intent (e.g., “vegan burger near me,” or “plant-based burger in corte madera”). A local pack typically consists of three business listings, but can include more.
When setting up your GMB, make sure that you have a strong, relevant business description. This is a crucial piece of information for potential customers, as it can help them decide whether to visit your business or not. It’s also a great place to add important information about your products or services, including specific mentions of high-value keywords.
Another way to boost your Google My Business listing is by using call tracking phone numbers. These are phone numbers that forward to your actual business phone number, allowing you to track which channels your leads come from. You can set these up on the Info tab of your Google My Business profile. You should use the call tracking phone number as your primary phone number, and your regular business phone number as an additional phone number. This way, your NAP consistency will remain intact.
Yelp
The site provides a one-stop shop for local business information and reviews. Users can find trusted reviews, photos and recommendations for businesses of all sizes. It also provides ways to request quotes, reserve a table or make a purchase. In addition, it helps small businesses connect with high-purchase intent customers.
Yelp was founded in 2004 by Jeremy Stoppelman and Russel Simmons. Both were software engineers at PayPal, where they worked alongside people like Elon Musk and Reid Hoffman. They developed the idea for Yelp after searching for a doctor online, but found that most of the search results were intrusive and unhelpful. The founders spent 90-hour weeks working on the first version of the website and launched it in October of that year.
Since its launch, the company has expanded internationally and currently operates in more than half a million communities. The platform has over 220 million reviews from consumers around the world. It has a devoted following and is considered a trustworthy source of reviews by prospective customers.
A positive review on Yelp can lead to increased brand visibility and sales, but there are some things to keep in mind. For instance, it’s important to avoid posting fake reviews. This can affect your reputation and lead to penalties from the company. Also, don’t respond to negative reviews by claiming that you never got a compliment or mentioning that you were paid for a review.
Bing Business Pages
The Bing Business Pages is a free service that increases the visibility of businesses in online searches. It also boosts the chances that customers will be able to find the products and services they are looking for. It also helps small businesses spread the word about their products and services to a wider audience. To create a listing, business owners are required to submit a complete profile that includes information about their location, hours of operation, contact details and categories.
Creating a Bing listing is relatively easy and straightforward. The first step is to verify the account. This can be done by email, phone or a postcard. Adding photos to the profile can help improve the search experience for customers. It is also a good idea to update the information on the listing on a regular basis. This will ensure that customers are always aware of the latest offerings from a company.
Aside from ensuring that NAP (name, address and phone number) is consistent across online listings, it is important to optimize the listing description and product/service sections for keywords. Using a tool such as Semrush can help with this. Alternatively, freelancers on Fiverr can be tapped for project-based assistance with optimizing and managing online listings. These tools can save businesses time and money while also improving their search engine rankings.
Yellow Pages
Despite being in decline, Yellow Pages still has a significant audience of consumers who seek professional services like plumbers, electricians, and landscapers. However, advertising with the Yellow Pages can be expensive and is not always worth the money. Fortunately, there are free online directories that offer a similar service. Many of these services can even be tracked, which can help you see whether your investment was worth it or not.
Yellow Pages has also moved into the digital world by offering online listings that are easy to access and save paper. These online directories are often a better option for businesses than traditional printed Yellow Pages because they can be easily updated. They also provide a backlink for local SEO, making them a valuable resource.
If you’re interested in listing your business with Yellow Pages, you should visit the website and click on “Get Your Free Listing.” Once there, enter your business name and business phone number correctly and then click on Claim Now.
While many people are quick to dismiss the Yellow Pages as obsolete, it’s important to remember that it has survived the transition into the digital era, and it is still one of the best ways to advertise your business. In fact, many older customers still use it to find the right service provider for their needs.