As you establish your online presence, you will need to create a variety of directory listings to allow people and search engines to find you online. You’ll need to set up profiles, or directory listings, on sites like Facebook, Google, and more.
If you have a brick-and-mortar location where buyers visit or serve a specific geographical area, ensuring buyers can find you will improve your ability to connect with prospects and customers. And, if you want to rank for local search terms such as “type of company near me,” you’ll need the correct information in the directories. If your directory listings aren’t inconsistent, you’ll reduce your ability to rank well and lose business to your competitors.
What are Directory Listings?
Directory listings refer to any place you set up an online profile with all your business information. These directories provide links to your website, which help earn high rankings in search engine results. Some of the top examples include:
- Google Business Profile
- Bing Places
- Yelp
- Yellow Pages (online)
- Your local Chamber of Commerce
- The Better Business Bureau (BBB) free account
You may not think of social media platforms like Facebook as a directory, but it is one of the places where people and search engines search for businesses and is included in the term directory listings. Another term you may hear is NAP, which stands for name, address, and phone. However, when you add directory listings, you’ll find that every field that identifies your business is essential, including your website address, email, and physical address.
There are specialty directories that may be beneficial depending on your industry. For example, if you’re in the travel industry, you could benefit from a listing on Trip Advisor. If you provide services to homeowners, you could create a profile in HomeAdvisor.
Why are Consistent Directory Listings Important?
Consistent directory listings are important for two reasons. First, your prospects and customers need the right information about your business. Second, search engines won’t rank your website well if the listings aren’t consistent.
If you need help establishing and maintaining your listings, consider a partner like Simpay Digital. You can take advantage of Simpay’s one-stop shop to simplify the process. And you’ll make business simple with their total business solutions.
Satisfy Your Prospects and Customers
Suppose a buyer wants to reach your business, but they try to use a discontinued telephone number on one of your directory listings. In that case, the buyer will be frustrated, waste their time, and assume your organization has gone out of business. It’s even worse if a buyer tries to find your business at an outdated address. The odds are you’ll never see that buyer again.
You must keep up with revising all your directory listings to ensure your customers find you, not your competitors.
Satisfy the Search Engines
Search engines also use your directory listings. They are proficient at spotting inconsistent information and considering it all inaccurate. As a result, your website won’t be given the ranking it deserves, and your website traffic will decrease.
Final Thoughts
To rank well in search engines, directory listings are highly valuable. Your prospects and customers will also appreciate having easy access to basic information about your business.
To obtain the benefits directory listings provide, choose only high-quality directories, and ensure your listings are updated regularly to keep them consistent and accurate.
