Small Business Websites Need Directory Links
One of the easiest and most overlooked things that small businesses forget to do with their website is getting them listed in Google, Yahoo, and MSN’s Live local business directories. This is so important for business owners because it is free and demonstrates immediate authority to potential customers. If you are looking for a specific business on a search engine, you generally search for the business name first. If you don’t show up on the map with all of your business information, you are making things harder on your business than it should be. Here are some directions about getting this done.
Google Local Business Center
First you need to go to Google’s local business center and sign in, or sign up for an account. It’s free so sign up if you don’t have an account. Now you need to click on “add new listing”. Once you fill out your information make sure that the pin on the map is correct. This is pretty important because you don’t want your customers to get lost. Next, select a category. Try to be as specific as possible. Just start typing a category and Google will give you choices.
The next step is to fill in your business hours and how you accept payment. Once that is finished you can upload a photo of your business. The photo will appear next to your add in the search, so be sure to pick something appropriate.
Google recently added videos in the business listings. You need to have a YouTube account for this, if you don’t already have an account, skip this and worry about it another day. If you do have a business video or YouTube commercial upload it here. This is another way to stay one step ahead of your competition.
Okay, now you are ready to submit and move on to the verification processes. You have two options here. Google can call your business number or mail you a post card. Unless you want to wait 2 to 3 weeks for the mail man, I suggest that you let Google give you a call. Once Google calls, just enter the 4 digit pin and you are all done. Your business won’t be in the directory immediately, but will be in Google’s next update.
Yahoo Business Directory
Yahoo is the easiest business directory to get listed in. Just go to the Yahoo Local page and fill out your business information. The key to getting your small business listed in the right location on Yahoo is to do a little category research. I recommend opening a new page and searching for your competitors. Then copy and paste the list of appropriate categories into your directory listing. Next you need to click on “Additional Information”. It is easy to miss this, but it is important to add depth to your directory listing. That is all that you have to do for now. Yahoo will review the information and let you know when they update their system with your business.
MSN Live Map Directory
For the MSN Live Business Directory, you need to go to MSN’s Local Listing Center and click “add new listing”. Fill in your information and click “check your listing”. Now click continue and sign in or sign up for a Windows Live ID.
Once you are signed in, you can fill out the rest of your business information. One of the tricks of MSN Live is that you can add addition pages to your business listing. These are deep links to pages within your website that you feel customers will want to see. I highly recommend that you add a few descriptive deep links to your website here.
The next step is to select your category. MSN’s Local Listing Center will allow you to add up to six categories. I suggest that you find as many as you can and then click next. Now you should see your business on MSN’s map and be able to review your listing. Double check your map placement and listing and click next. That is all that you have to do for now. The downside to MSN’s Local Listing Center is that they mail a letter to your business address for verification. These letters often take a couple of weeks and look like junk mail. When you do get it in the mail, open the letter and input the verification code to register your business listing.
Registering your business on the local search engines directories can be a bit time consuming, but it is well worth the time. Registering small business websites in local directories is a service that we offer on all of our website design packages.
55 Responses to “Small Business Websites Need Directory Links”
I like the DMOZ directory the best as it is very popular and does not cost anything.
I think directories submission is still one of the best way to promote your link for free. You will get a genuine traffic with no spam involved, and you can even targeted the categories in the directory
This is great advice, Since google puts the local business results at the top page this is very important to get listed there.
Dmoz is virtually impossible to get in, not sure if anyone here has been able to get listed there.
I went to do this for my husbands tree service and found that we were at the bottom of the list and didn’t even show up since google ran out of room. Good idea though
I see you’ve covered local search here primarily, but it’s always worth pursuing DMOZ in the local categories, simply because it is soo syndicated around the web.
Thanks for your advice. but, I need some information. Google local is working for all over world. but yahoo and msn is only working for USA. yahoo and msn local listing is paid or free?
@08 Taxes ~ DMOZ is a good directory, but sometimes people have a hard time getting listed in it.
@Sofia Norton ~ I think the real key to search engine business directories is getting listed on their maps.
@Tampa IM ~ I agree that DMOZ is a tough directory. I have actually had good success with getting sites listed there, but it can take some time.
@Jennifer ~ If you improve your SEO, your husband’s tree service website will improve in the directory list as well.
@Web Design ~ I was focusing this post on Google, Yahoo, and MSN’s local business directories, but you are correct that DMOZ is a good directory link to get.
@Missouri Refinance ~ Yahoo and MSN’s local listings are free as well.
This is very true, getting your site name into as many directories as possible is an easy and effective way to generate traffic.
Sofia Norton: But the good directories are mostly not free. The only notable free one is DMOZ, which might take ages to get approved.
google is probably the best directory to be listed in, since most searchers use google AND they have a map to the location at the top of the search page. But why not do all 3, google, yahoo, and msn? 95%+ use one of these 3 engines,a nd if you are ranked in these you will be ranked in all other engines for your business.
Improve your SEO and you’ll improve your small business
Great article!
Just to clarify, the Yahoo local listings are free, but the Yahoo directory costs $299 annually.
@Matthew ~ Thanks for the clarification. You are correct that the local listings are free, but the directory is $299 in Yahoo.
I submitted my site to Dmoz more than 2 months ago and I have pretty much given up. However, someone told me that they take a while to list you. It’s kind of frustrating when you don’t know the criteria they are looking for and the fact that you don’t actually get a rejection notice. So at this point, who knows if it’ll happen or not.
Steven
DMOZ takes so long to get listed sometimes. I’ve submitted sites there a year and a half ago that still haven’t been listed.
I do submit to all the local listing sites though, as the post mentions. My favorite is Google’s local business listings, as they are the easiest to edit.
Yahoo Directory is a rip off.
Dmoz is too difficult to get listed.
Directories are not nearly as effective as they use to be. It’s important to submit to a couple of them but i can only come up with less than 10 that would be worth the money.
Directory listing is the most important step in making a website more popular among people especially listing website in local business sites can increase your website sales in local people.
I like DMOZ directory too. It is famous and doesn’t cost anything.
although it takes time, it sure is effective. you can also pay for it if you want it faster.
Local directories like those mentioned have proven to be very helpful for us. However from an SEO perspective, I think that niche directories that are focused on a companies industry can be even more impactful.
This is very helpful but I prefer DMOZ, Google and Yahoo only. This has given my site a lot of organic traffic.Kudos!
Local listings can make a big difference to firms. 15 mins of work, and you can see a few hundred extra visitors each month depending on what industry you are in – definitely worth 15mins!
The best thing about directory is that most of them are free. Trying to maximize traffic at the lowest cost should always be the option to start a small business.
Thank you for your info!
With a limited amount of resources, we still rely on directories heavily. I understand that they may not offer the power that they once did, however something is better than nothing. Also, I’ve found hiring people to find productive directories can be very hit or miss; often times its better to just do it myself.
There is a powerful tool now available in Google maps. If you search for your business, a pop up box appears and then you can “claim” the business and then ad photos, videos and other items to your profile. You can also encourage customers to write reviews which will make your business rank higher in Google Maps
@Business Marketing Course ~ That is exactly what I am talking about in the post. You can get a lot of traffic by claiming your business on the Google Maps. The same goes for Yahoo and MSN.
I edit for the DMOZ directory (the dictionary section) why not apply to be an editor – we need more people to help create the best directory on the web! I really liked your profiles – keep up the great website designing! Thanks, Elaine
Local directories like those mentioned have proven to be very helpful. You are correct that the local listings are free, but the directory in Yahoo is very expensive
I concentrate all my effort on google ranking.
Considering its steady top position in internet gives peace of mind that is online google we need to worry about…
for directory I submit to all directory…
I try to hit Dmoz and Yahoo and then I outsource the rest to someone who can do it more quickly and cheaply.
There are some good Google Local hacks out there…
Building backlinks is arguably the most important part of modern day SEO. Website and article directories are a good way for webmasters to promote their websites.
Back links are very important for coming in the search of major search engines and free directories are one of the easiest way of getting back links.
Directory listings provide many leads to the business.
Google loves sites with more Backlinks and Blogs with posts with more comments. This has started the Buzz of getting site submitted in most comments and Directories and Backlink services. Who doesn’t want to stay at the top? The number of Backlinks to your site does determine the site PR.
Claiming your local business account is very important. It will help you rank better in Google local listings and allow you to fill out accurate information about your company.
It is important to have good directory links.
If you have an Dmoz backlink then you are no need to submit your site in hundred of directory sites.
One of the best ways to get your business out there that would cost nothing and is hassle free.
It’s too bad so many of these are not Canada friendly. As usual we have to wait until 3 years later for things to be accessible to Canadians.
I would agree that directories are needed to get small business websites into the mix of SEO that they need. But directory submission is only the start.
Yep. I couldn’t agree more. DMOZ is the king of all directories when it comes to free submission.
If these directories are free to list, why not right? Everyone uses the internet to search for businesses and other stuff. This is a good way to promote your business.
At least you can set up an account for free on google’s directory. That’s a way to start getting links.
Thanks for your advice, I’m sure to improve my business.
I didn’t think that directory links was so important.
Business directory is really important, Google is free so please sign up. It would bring you a lot of traffic and business.
Free things comes in handy. Google’s directory is great for your website!
Nice Post!
Thanks for advice. But it is really very tough to get listed in traffic oriented directories. Example of DMOZ is in front of you. Normally they don’t approve link, and if a link is submitted to it, it takes long time for approval.
This has started the Buzz of getting site submitted in most comments and Directories and Backlink services.
Yes Google’s directory is great for SEO works. Thank you, nice post.
Great informative post. Getting listed in the Google local business directory can quickly ramp up visitors to your business or website and help a lot with bookings. I worked with a hotel not long ago and one of the things we saw after getting marked on the Google map in the listings was a massive increase in visitors to the website of the hotel – this translated into more reservations.
Liz
I’ve heard some good things about the Yahoo directory. Pricey (I thinks it’s around $299 per year), but it should help boost your ranking in the search engines. It could be argued that the money could be spent better elsewhere, and I tend to err on that side. You could spend maybe $50-$100 doing a bulk submission to 1,000 or so directories. Might not be of the highest quality, but its cheaper and you get a decent part of your link profile completed.
Well i have to agree with you about Directory submission being the best way to get backlinks. But there are many other ways too. If you want a proper promotion then go throug those ways to it will help you,
Directory links are very important whether it’s small or large business. Thanks for this post.
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