Nifty Local Business Directory Listings: When and How Often are They Used by Customers?

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When people are looking for local businesses, they often turn to search engines or social media. However, plenty of business directories exist that aren’t indexed by search engines or aren’t as commonly used by the general public. We have compiled a list of business directories that you may not be familiar with, but can be an excellent resource for local businesses and consumers. The following article details some of these directories, including when and how often they are used by customers in different industries. Read on to learn more!

What Is a Business Directory?

A business directory is a listing of companies or organizations within a specific industry. These directories are often organized by region or niche, making them a great resource for finding local businesses. These directories tend to include basic information about the businesses listed, such as name, address, phone number, and hours of operation. Some may also include a short description of services or details on the company’s history. For example, the Yelp Business Directory includes information such as hours of operation, categories (e.g., “best for first dates,” “best for families,” etc.), and an overall rating (out of five stars) based on customer experiences.

Nifty Local Business Directories

There are many local business directories to choose from. In order to narrow it down a bit, let’s take a look at some of the most popular options. - Yahoo Local: Yahoo local is one of the oldest and most popular local business directories. It is used by millions of people every year. In fact, it is estimated that more than half of consumers will search for local businesses on Yahoo. The directory contains a huge database of local businesses and other helpful information like hours of operation, distance, etc. - Yelp: Yelp is a review and recommendation site that allows consumers to leave feedback (both positive and negative) on their experiences at local businesses. Yelp is used by many different types of customers as a reliable source of information and reviews on local businesses. - Google My Business: Google My Business is similar to Google search; however, it is specifically designed for businesses. Millions of people use Google to search for local businesses, so having your business listed on Google My Business is a great way to attract new customers. - Bing Places for Business: The Bing Places for Business directory is similar to Google My Business; however, it is specifically designed for businesses using Bing (which is the second most popular search engine). - Mailing Lists and Email Marketing Services: Mailing lists and email marketing services are useful in that they allow you to send bulk emails to a large number of people at once. These services generally allow you to send emails to people living in a particular area or who have an interest in a specific niche.

Local Consumer Reviews and Ratings

There are plenty of local business directories that allow customers to leave reviews and/or rate businesses based on their experiences. These may include: - Yelp: On Yelp, customers can leave reviews on their experiences at a local business and rate them on a 1-5 star scale. They can also add photos of the business and its staff. The reviews are also ranked based on the number of people who have left them. Ratings and reviews on Yelp tend to be very thorough, so they can be very useful in helping customers make decisions on where to spend their money. - Google My Business: Google My Business allows customers to leave both reviews and star ratings for local businesses. The reviews can be found directly on the directory listing and will also be published on Google search. - Bing Places for Business: The Bing Places for Business directory allows customers to leave reviews and star ratings for businesses listed on the directory. The reviews are published directly on the directory listing and will also be published on Bing search.

Yellow Pages

The Yellow Pages have been around for decades, serving as a popular resource for finding local businesses. These phone directories are often distributed to residential areas, making them accessible to a wide range of customers. The Yellow Pages allow you to include your business information (such as name, address, and phone number), along with a description of what your business offers. - The Bottom Line The business directories listed above are great ways to reach local customers, but you should be aware that not all of these directories are indexed by search engines. In other words, many of these local business directories will only be used by customers who are looking for your business in the real world, rather than online. If you want to reach customers both in person and online, it might be best to focus on those directories that are indexed by search engines such as Google and Bing. With all of the different types of directories out there, it can be a bit overwhelming to decide where you should be listed. Always keep in mind that your overall goal is to reach as many customers as possible, so where you list isn’t as important as how many people see your listing. In other words, no matter which directory you choose, if no one sees your business listing, it won’t do you any good. Make sure you do your research, follow any submission guidelines, and be patient; the payoff will come in time when customers start to find you.

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