In parts 1 and 2 of this series, we detailed what local listings are and why it is so important to claim them for your business. Now we are going to take a look at the most popular listing sites and how to choose the best ones to get listed on.
Keep in mind, that not every business is created equally. What I mean by that is that just because a clothing boutique is listed on a site doesn’t mean the same site is worth it for a home builder.
Use your expertise to sort through the madness and pick the listings that will help you get the most bang for your buck.
Which Local Listings Does My Business Need?
It seems like it’s a pretty straightforward question; unfortunately, not so much. Every business is different and every city is different.
You probably aren’t going to jump on Urbanspoon to find a lawyer, right? So, it seems pretty clear why a law firm wouldn’t waste its time getting listed on a site that caters to a very specific demographic of users that has nothing to do with legal issues.
Let’s take a brief look at consumer behavior. Consumers in highly urbanized areas typically use technology a little differently than those from more rural areas. Someone living in New York City might be more familiar with apps like Foursquare than, say, someone in a small town who relies on Yellow Pages to find what they are looking for. The key to local SEO is a little research and some hard work.
Are There Sites I Should List My Business On, No Matter What Industry I’m In?
Let me just muddy the waters some more, because we all know local listings are so easy to understand. The simple answer to this is going to be, “YES!” Other search engines and company blogs will give you a number somewhere between 7 and 55, I’m going to give you 4.
Why so few? Don’t get me wrong; there are certainly more than these four sites that will help improve your local SEO, but if you do nothing but the bare minimum, it should be these three sites.
- Maps Connect (Apple Maps)
- Yelp
- Yellow Pages
Why these three? Apple is a pretty simple answer since it covers almost the entire gamut of mobile and desktop searches. Android and iPhone users make up 94% of the entire smartphone market, according to figures from Marketing Land and another smartphone study.
So, if a customer is trying to get to your storefront, it is a no-brainer why you want to be listed on the two mapping services that pretty much the entire smartphone community is using.
So why Yelp and Yellowpages? Not so long ago, one of the only ways to communicate with Apple Maps was through Yelp. Thanks to Maps Connect, we can avoid that waiting game. Both Yelp and Yellow Pages are reputable and widely used. Simply put, listing your business on these two sites will help you get found and drive traffic to your business, especially for consumers who might be a little “behind the times.”
Are There Any Other Local Listing Sites My Business Should Be On?
It depends on your business goals and what type of business you're in. Quantity doesn’t always equate to more business dollars. In fact, you could create a whole lot of headaches and work for no reason. This is where research and your expertise come into play. You don’t need to be a data-mining genius to gather the information you need. Instead, try a simple search. Keep in mind that some professional businesses, such as law firms and medical facilities, may have their own set of listings like Martindale, findlaw.com, or healthgrades.com.
How Do I Pick the Best Listing Sites for My Business?
Do a simple search with the most common keywords for your business and your area. An example: “Internet marketing Amarillo,” or “law firm Dallas,” and see what pops up. You’ll have to sort through actual company websites, but you will notice listings for yellowpages.com, yelp.com, manta.com, etc. Find the listings that are ranking for your competition and that will give you a good idea of what is worth your time.
Still not sure where to start? Check out Moz Local’s list of most popular local listing citations by business Category or City. These resources will give you a good reference point and something to compare with your own research.
Stay tuned for our next installment, where we will detail the maze of duplicate listings and get closer to some step-by-step instructions on how to claim each of the most popular local listings!
