If your business operates exclusively or primarily in a limited geographic area (city, county or other defined area), ensure you can be found in all the major local search sites. If you run paid yellow pages ads offline, you may already be listed; however, your listing may be outdated and definitely will not contain all of the details you can list at no charge.
UPDATE: See Local Search Directories for the most recent information or go to Local Search Directory Listing Services to acquire our services.
These are the best known high traffic general directories:
[NOTE: Use the links below to determine if your site or business is already listed. The links to the submit page of each of these sites can be found in the Links to Add Your Business to Local Search Sites post.]
- Yahoo Local – major search engine Yahoo’s local directory
- Google Maps – local offering by Google (the largest search engine online)
- MSN Live Search Local – Microsoft’s local search offering
- infoUSA – powers 85% of online directories (including Yahoo! Yellow Pages) and 90% of in-car navigation (There is no obvious way to determine if you are already in their database.)
- SuperPages – online yellow pages
- YellowPages – publisher of telephone books
Once you have requested listings in the major directories continue with these lesser known options:
- USCounties – family safe free business listings by county
- YellowBook – Internet online yellow pages
- Local.com – local search engine
- Superior Business Network Yellow Pages
- OpenList Local Guide – online local search
- Localeze – feeds other directories (No obvious way to determine if you are already listed.)
We also recommend becoming active in these business networking communities that offer local search listings:
- Merchant Circle – See How to Add Your Business at Merchant Circle
- Yelp – See How to Get Your Free Business Listing in Yelp
It is simple to determine whether you are already listed. Simply go to each of these sites and search by the name and location of your business. If you already have a listing, find the link to edit it and correct any errors and add additional information. If you are not listed, continue with our Links to Add Your Business or Web Site to FREE Local Search Engine Sites.
LOCAL SEARCH / SEO RESOURCES:
- Local SEO Resource Guide – EXCELLENT (Mar 10, 2009)
- Search Engine Guide SBM Local Search Workshop (Apr 22, 2008)
- Search Engine Guide Blog – Why Local Search is Where It’s At (Aug 4, 2008)
- How to Get Your Business Listed on Major Local Search Directories (Feb 10,2009)
- Search Engine Guide More Local Search Engines (Nov 30, 2006)
- The Definitive List of Local Search Directories – Very comprehensive
- Local Listings REALLY Simplified – Easy explanation plus Our Special Limited Time Offer for Businesses
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks so much for this posting. Very complete. It looks like many more sites have been created since I first did this several years ago. I found this very useful. It’s a simple thing that shouldn’t be overlooked.
Brenda Heisler’s last blog post..5 Blog Tips Sites
Twitter: @GrowMap
@Brenda Thank you. I have found even more since I did this post and will update it when I actually use them and verify that they don’t charge fees.
Thanks for coming by. I’m off to visit your blog and hope you’ll be back.
Internet Strategist’s last blog post..REVIEW: Mastering Google Analytics – Easy to Understand FREE eCourse
imagine how yellow pages have been loyal to us and have always been reliable. you made a good list there. im sure the small players in online business will be more than happy to have free internet yellow pages.
.-= Google Local Searches´s last blog ..Google Local Search as a Marketing Tool =-.
{ 5 trackbacks }