Local directory listing forms a key online channel for small and medium-sized businesses with limited geographic reach. Planned and implemented appropriately, this channel can prove not only to be the most convenient of all to promote products and services but can also generate high-quality leads. Whilst other methods, such as Web 2.0 submission, article submission, blog submission, press release posting, infographic submission, guest posting and video submission require significant content / multimedia skills and expertise, manual directory submission to local business portals is relatively convenient.
Nevertheless, before embarking on planning and implementing online local listings for your clients, please keep in mind the following red alerts to optimise the channel for maximum effect:
1. Keep Away from Low PR Directories
Ensure that high PR directories, including Google+ Local, Yelp, Yahoo! Local, Bing, Manta and CitySearch are a part of your target directories. The reason being these listing sites have high Google PageRank and by submitting business details to such directories can quickly help your business build credibility and awareness, both from the point of view of your potential customers and the search engines.
2. Avoid Giving Partial Business Details
When potential customers find your business on reputed local directories, they expect to get a thorough understanding of the same. Apart from your business’ name and your logo, they require essential details, such as products, services, office locations, address, contact numbers, office hours, e-mail, website URLs, business category, listing title and post description. Listing posts with incomplete business information turns off visitors which could have been converted to leads or even customers.
3. Don’t Miss Out on Relevant Keywords
Always populate your directory listing title and business description with the key phrases most relevant to your business. Though your details and anchor text that fail to include such phrases would still help your potential visitors, they will mean little for search engines. As a result, the larger purpose of including local directory listings in your online marketing mix, which is to drive relevant regional target audience to your site, would be defeated. Whilst search engine analytics programs help you gauge which keywords are in high demand for particular geographical locations, it is still important to understand the demographics and psychographics of your target and get in their mind while deciding the relevant keywords.
4. Spread Out Listings over Larger Timeframe
To see a consistent increment in SEO rankings, you should avoid posting too many listings in a short period of time. Compared to the ‘clustered’ approach, you should employ ‘continuity’ approach and spread business listings evenly across a longer timespan for a steady rise in online visibility.
So, if you wish to capitalise on the business opportunities online using manual directory listing services, look no further than eTrack Media. As the leading SEO Company in Mumbai, we help clients boost their online presence using both organic and paid search marketing techniques.
Nevertheless, before embarking on planning and implementing online local listings for your clients, please keep in mind the following red alerts to optimise the channel for maximum effect:
1. Keep Away from Low PR Directories
Ensure that high PR directories, including Google+ Local, Yelp, Yahoo! Local, Bing, Manta and CitySearch are a part of your target directories. The reason being these listing sites have high Google PageRank and by submitting business details to such directories can quickly help your business build credibility and awareness, both from the point of view of your potential customers and the search engines.
2. Avoid Giving Partial Business Details
When potential customers find your business on reputed local directories, they expect to get a thorough understanding of the same. Apart from your business’ name and your logo, they require essential details, such as products, services, office locations, address, contact numbers, office hours, e-mail, website URLs, business category, listing title and post description. Listing posts with incomplete business information turns off visitors which could have been converted to leads or even customers.
3. Don’t Miss Out on Relevant Keywords
Always populate your directory listing title and business description with the key phrases most relevant to your business. Though your details and anchor text that fail to include such phrases would still help your potential visitors, they will mean little for search engines. As a result, the larger purpose of including local directory listings in your online marketing mix, which is to drive relevant regional target audience to your site, would be defeated. Whilst search engine analytics programs help you gauge which keywords are in high demand for particular geographical locations, it is still important to understand the demographics and psychographics of your target and get in their mind while deciding the relevant keywords.
4. Spread Out Listings over Larger Timeframe
To see a consistent increment in SEO rankings, you should avoid posting too many listings in a short period of time. Compared to the ‘clustered’ approach, you should employ ‘continuity’ approach and spread business listings evenly across a longer timespan for a steady rise in online visibility.
So, if you wish to capitalise on the business opportunities online using manual directory listing services, look no further than eTrack Media. As the leading SEO Company in Mumbai, we help clients boost their online presence using both organic and paid search marketing techniques.