Better Business Bureau is an online directory site for a wide variety of local business categories. A Better Business Bureau listing includes your NAP, company history, company email, and website. You may also apply for optional accreditation.
Merchant Circle is a general online listing site. A Merchant Circle listing includes your NAP, logo, payment options, business hours, business description, and website.
EZLocal is a general online directory for a wide variety of local business categories. An EZLocal listing includes your NAP, parking information, business hours, and website.
A Manta listing includes your NAP, business hours, services, website, business description, and social media links. You may also apply for Manta verification.
Foursquare is a general online directory for a wide variety of local business categories. A Foursquare listing includes your NAP, business hours, logo, and customer reviews.
An oldie but a goodie, Yellow Pages is maybe the most well-known local directory. A Yellow Pages listing includes your NAP, parking information, business hours, and customer reviews.
HubSpot also offers an online directory for marketing and advertising agencies. If you fall into this category, I highly recommend signing up for free.
When it comes to listing your business online, you aren't limited to just using the free sites above. We've compiled the best directories on the web to list your business, whether paid or unpaid (most, however, should be free).
In my years as a local SEO and citation builder, I found most of these relatively easy to sign up on, but a few sites may require additional verification or a pending period. The good news is that there is little to no chance that your listing will be rejected.
Facebook Pages is one of the best places to list your business online and get visibility through both organic search and Facebook’s internal search feature. A Facebook Page includes both basic NAP information and updates from your business.
Like Facebook, Instagram is another valuable place to list your business’ NAP information for visibility, local SEO, and social media marketing purposes. An Instagram profile will include your business’ NAP information, as well as photos and updates posted directly by you.
LinkedIn offers a directory of business pages (called LinkedIn Pages), where most companies and businesses can add a profile for free. Like Facebook and Instagram, you not only get an opportunity to list your NAP but also to publish updates and even jobs.
If people visit your business in person, it’s always a good idea to add it to navigation apps and services. Apple Maps isn’t technically a business listing site, but it’s still an essential citation. You can now easily get started by using Apple’s new Business Connect online portal.
Whether you run a restaurant, a local boutique, or a repair shop, Yelp is an invaluable directory to list your business online. It not only boosts your credibility with customer reviews, but it also provides one more citation with your NAP, business hours, services, and more.
Bing may not feel as essential as Google, but it’s still an important citation, especially because some of your customers might use Bing as their primary search engine. Adding your business to Bing also allows users to navigate directly to you using Bing Maps.
When I was building citations at my previous company, Foursquare was one of my favorite business listing sites. It’s quick, easy, and painless to add your online listing, and it includes all essential information without many frills. An easy citation if there ever was one.
Formerly known as Angie’s List, Angi is a valuable citation for providers of home services — from plumbing to landscaping to maintenance and renovations.
Thumbtack is another great business directory for providers of home renovation and maintenance services. Other industries that could add a business listing to Thumbtack include electronics repair specialists and web designers.
Nextdoor is both a neighborhood guide and a free online business directory for local businesses of any category, but it’s specially recommended if you offer home services or products at a local shop.
Yellow Pages Karachi Phone DirectoryYou’ll notice that some of them have low organic traffic numbers. Remember: The main benefit of adding your company to business listing sites is to build citations with your NAP information.
Even if an online directory only receives a few organic visits per month, that’s okay — the main value is having a listing with your correct name, address, and phone number (NAP).
Don’t worry about upgrading any of these listings. I never did when I was building citations. Most people don’t visit online business directories any longer; instead, they use Google or other popular websites such as Yelp.
Brownbook.net is a Yellow Pages alternative for businesses of any category. One of my favorite citations — it’s very easy to sign up.
Neustar Localeze is a business listing service that also includes an online directory. This one is paid, and sign-up can be a little more complicated than other options, but it’s still worth it.
Spoke.com is an online business directory with a “feed” on its home page, like a social media site. You can also add people and topics.
n49 is a Canada-based directory that has a US arm. One of my favorites in terms of UX and workflow. It’s simple to sign up, and editing your listing is easy through its portal.
n49 is a Canada-based directory that has a US arm. One of my favorites in terms of UX and workflow. It’s simple to sign up, and editing your listing is easy through its portal.
Tuugo’s organic traffic numbers may be low, but like others on this list, it’s an easy citation that will help you reinforce your NAP information. It’s also very, very simple to sign up — no verification required.
City Local Pro is a business directory that specializes in home improvement services, but you may be able to sign up and get a citation regardless of category.
Opendi is a business directory with international arms in Europe and South America. Opendi has a long pending period for new listings, but it’s worth submitting to.
Bizhwy.com is a simple online business directory that also gives you the option of submitting a press release. Since its traffic numbers are low, I recommend sticking to a free listing.
DirJournal is an online business directory that also offers advertising options. Since its traffic numbers are low, I recommend sticking to a free listing.
As mentioned, the value of listing your business in directories isn’t about visibility in the directories themselves (although that’s certainly helpful); it’s more about building citations with your business information.
You’ve seen local packs before — they’re the groups of local businesses that appear when you make a location-based search, such as “pizza near me.”
By listing your business in local directories, you’re reinforcing your company’s NAP information again and again. This constant and consistent record of citations (really, make sure your information is consistent!) can improve your chances of ranking higher in Google’s local packs. You’ll therefore increase visibility and exposure in your area, which can result in more website visits and foot traffic.
We can’t forget the big benefit: Backlinks. Most local directories allow you to add a link to your website, and while some of them may be no-follow links, it’s still worth the mention.
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