The Top 5 Reasons to Maintain Your Local Directory Listings
With so many local directories competing with one another, the task of signing up for and maintaining business profiles on each one could easily become a full-time job. It’s tempting to slack off and allow the listings to manage themselves.
Don’t do it! Instead, check out the following five reasons why local directory (aka citation) sites are so important, and find the motivation to get your listings in order!
#5 – Local Search is Hot!
As smart phones and tablets continue to see increased adoption rates, allowing people to search on-the-go, local businesses with high-quality listings on popular directories can expect to receive steady traffic and increased sales. Even desktop users search for local results when planning a night out, shopping online, getting quotes for home repairs, and evaluating service providers. If your company isn’t listed, you’re going to miss out on web traffic and phone calls from important prospects.
#4 – Accurate Information Improves Your Reputation!
Local directory listings also have a lot of value when it comes to search engine optimization. When the address on your website matches the address on your verified citation site pages, Google sees your business as a trustworthy one and ranks it accordingly. In order to be successful at this, make sure that your contact information is the same on your site as it is on local directories.
#3 – Your Listing Can Teach Google a Thing or Two!
Again, these listings are valuable for SEO. When you select a business category for your listing, you provide the search engines with more information about your company and that information helps it to know which search terms to associate with your site. In some cases, you can even add a set of keywords to your directory listing, providing Google with even more specific information about who you are and what you offer.
#2 – Local Searchers are Ready to Buy!
People searching for local businesses on sites like Yelp, Manta, SuperPages, and FourSquare are hungry. They’re looking for a place to eat, a place to shop, entertainment, household services, and more. They aren’t searching just to pass the time – they actually want to take the information they find and use it to make a purchase. Make sure your profile is the one they find, and watch your sales grow!
And finally, the number one reason to develop and maintain your local search profiles:
#1 – Your Competition is Doing It!
While you slack off on your citation site listings, you can bet your competition is actively working to improve theirs. Don’t let your business fall victim to laziness. A properly maintained profile on a site like Local.com, City Search, or Merchant Circle will allow your company to stay competitive in an increasingly local market!
Ready to start marketing your site through citation pages? Request a quote for local marketing services and start seeing results!
