About 70+ local directories can be found on the internet which is why many will advise you to optimize your local listings on those sites for your small business advantage. However, if you don’t know how to use them you might not feel the need to get started. How can these local listings affect your online visibility and how your target buyers find you?
Local directories can help bring referral traffic and provide signals to search engines about your business. For example, when conducting a Google search for “New York realtors,” you find local listings on sites like Yelp and YP. Having these listings gives your business the opportunity to be found and gain valuable traffic. Being listed on local sites is vital, but you need to add your business the right way to better maximize your conversion opportunities.
Properly add your NAPU
You might be familiar with the NAP acronym, which is name, address, and place. But, what does the letter “U” mean? It stands for URL. Add the complete registered name in your listing. When it comes to your phone number, avoid using the fax number and instead put the number where consumers can call you directly. Make sure to also include the full, correct address of your storefront to avoid confusing your target market.
Include your hours of operation
Apart from adding the NAPU, other information still needs to be supplemented. For example, if you own a flower shop you must include the business hours on Yelp. Why? This shows potential customers when you’re open for business. Continue to keep updating your store hours when you optimize local listings.
If you have social media accounts, add their links to local citation sites especially if they request that information. Make sure that the pages are updated and active and create a concise description of your business that showcases your services or products.
Double check the information on your local listings
If you are part of the target market and the NAPU of the flower shop where you are ordering has different information in all of their listings, how does it make you feel? You’ll probably feel confused and may even go search elsewhere. Double check your information to ensure its accuracy when optimizing your local listings. This helps keep interested buyers on your page and prevents any unnecessary confusion.
Use photos you have permission to use on custom landing pages
If you are creating a custom landing page, make sure the images used belong to you or that you have the rights to use them. This ensures that you cannot be accused of plagiarism and, if the photos are professionally shot ones of your offerings, this gives consumers a preview of your offerings. Posted photos can also help optimize your local listings for your small business.
Encourage customers to leave reviews!
Whether your customers leave positive or negative reviews, you’ll need to promptly address each one. Learn from their feedback, if the review is negative so that you can better enhance your offerings or services in the future. Be genuine in each response and make sure your customers know which sites (like Yelp) to find you and leave reviews.
Every great business is clearly visible online. Having an accurate NAPU, not just in your CAPU, in the local citation sites is extremely helpful. However, if you will not be able to supply other details that can support the information stated, there might be a conflict that will happen between your NAPU and your target audience. Make sure that you are consistent and ensure that your local listings are complete, accurate, and can be easily found.
SEO consultant Al Gomez is the man behind Dlinkers.com, a company dedicated to provide quality digital marketing services for small business owners from U.S. and other parts of the globe. With more than ten years of experience, he enjoys supporting smartpreneurs like himself achieve online success.