What is a Local Business Listing?
A Local Business Listing (also called a location) is any online mention of a company’s name, address, address, and phone number (nap). It often includes a short description, customer reviews, images, working hours, and a link to the website.
Like this example from yelp:
Why are local business listings important?
Local business listings It also helps search engines like Google Deliver Accurate Details to Users who look for your business.
Accurate Citations Make Your Company Seem More Trustworthy to Both Customers and Search Engines. As a result, your business can appear in more local search results.
The process of distributing your Information to Local Directories is Called Citation Building.
Top Local Business Listing Directories
Below are some top local business listing directors you can submit your information to as a way to strengthen your location your location
How to set up a local listing
1. Prepare Your Information
Preparing your information before creating any local listings ensures that details stay consistent across all directors.
Here’s the information you’ll need:
- Business Name: Use the official name without any variations
- Address: Format the address uniformly for every directory
- Phone Number: Provide the main contact number for customers
- Website URL: Include a link to your homepage
- Business hours: Include regular hours and any special holiday hours
- Business Category: Pick the most relevant category
- Images: Use high-quality images that show your business, products, and/or services
- Description: Write a concise overview of your business
2. Choose Your Directories and Create Listings
Choosing the right directories puts your business in front of people who are most likesly to become your customers.
Consider the following:
- Business profiles on search engines, like Google Business Profile and Bing Places for Business
- Business profiles on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Tiktok, Pinterest, etc.
- Large and reputable online directors, such as the bbb, yelp, and foursquare
- Industry-specific directors. Like Tripadvisor for Travel and Hospitality Businesses or Angi for Home Services.
The submission process typically looks like this:
- Claim or Create Your ListingSome sites auto-generate a listing for you to claim. If you do not see one for your business, create one.
- Fill out your detailsENTER CONSISTENT information on all platforms.
- Verify your listingsFollow Each Directory’s Instructions. You can typically confirm ownership by phone, email, video call, or mailed postcard.
If managing multiple listings feels overwhelming, semrush’s listing management tool can automate the process and keep your information consistent.
3. Optimize your Listings
Optimizing your Listings Helps You Stand out and Rank Higher in Local Searches.
Start with the Below Best Practices:
- Use Relevant KeywordsInclude keywords related to your business. If you’re new to keyword research, start with our local keyword research guide.
- Encourage customer reviewsPositive Reviews Build Trust and Can Boost Search Rankings.
- Respond to all reviewsShow that you value whatsomers say by replying to bot positive and negative feedback.
- Keep information updatedCheck and revise your location, hours, or services when they change.
- Add high-quality imagesRegularly upload new images that reflect current offers.
Monitor and MainTain your Local Listings
Managing Local Listings Helps to Ensure Accuracy, Increase Customer Engagement, and Support Local SEO.
A tool like Listing Management Can Automate MUCH OF TIME TIME TIME You WOLLD Other Spend Manually Reviewing and updating Listings.
After you enter and select your business, the tool will display a list of directory data that needs updates.
Click “Enhance Listings Now.,
Next, Enter Your Business Information.
After you click “Start Distributing Info“The tool will automatically distribute your business information to directories.
You can track how and where your information is distributed in the tool’s interface.
Sign up to try today.