In today’s world a significant percentage of shoppers begin their search for goods or services online, directly benefiting companies that have online listings. According to Google, 46% of all search traffic has local intent, and business location is one of the top items referenced in these searches.

A business listing is the foundation of an online presence for any enterprise, yet many businesses overlook the initial step of listing their business online, despite the potential benefits. Other companies may have a few listings but they are incomplete, out of date, or lacking crucial data.

A business listing is an online summary or a public profile that contains essential information like name, address, business hours, contact details, website, and social media links. It acts as a virtual doorway to local businesses.

Businesses can be found on listing sites like Facebook, Yelp, Houzz, Foursquare, Yellow Pages, LinkedIn, Google Business Profile (formally known as Google My Business or Google Places), and many others. These sites may list your business by using tax information, details from your website, or other sources.

Business owners have the option to claim their listings and update missing or incorrect information, and the public can suggest 'edits' that can override existing data if ignored. As a result, it's essential to regularly monitor your listings to ensure all of the information remains accurate.

The most common sources of business listing information include Google, Facebook, Instagram, Yelp, and Siri. In fact, 94% of consumers used an information site to find a local business in the last 12 months. That’s a huge statistic, which is incredibly relevant to most businesses, as explained in the following sections.

Search engines favor local businesses whenever consumers look for solutions. If you type "restaurants near me" Google, along with many other search engines, will crawl their databases to serve up what they find as the most relevant local solutions.

Most directories have advanced filters that enable consumers to find local search results, which provides advantages to businesses that provide complete listing data.

Pro Tip: If your business appears in relevant searches it’s optimal to ensure your listings are accurate, complete, and engaging.

Every business directory has a unique set of internet users a business can tap into. Google commands 88% of all search traffic. And according to Statista, over 25% of Facebook users are 25-34 years old, and 18% are 35-44 years old.

The above statistics indicate the diversity of two directories local businesses can leverage, and there are many more. An auto service company may find Facebook appealing because a big percentage of their target clients have a Facebook account. Other online directories offer additional services, like reviews, that increase marketing opportunities.

A business with 5-star ratings on Yelp is perceived positively by consumers. Therefore, the initial step of listing management creates opportunities to boost a brand's reach and awareness.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a collection of work that’s executed to improve a website's domain ability to rank better in search results. Listing in directories can positively enhance your local SEO results, which can subsequently result in higher search engine relevance, providing consumers with choices that offer products or services relevant to a location.



The ability to rank higher on search engines is a culmination of numerous SEO tactics, including local listings. As more people find your business, it results in increased search volume. Eventually, Google recognizes the positive signals and rewards your site with higher rankings in search results. The benefits of superior ranking include the likelihood of more traffic, increased credibility or trust, and higher chances of achieving sales conversions.

After performing a search in any online directory, a list of relevant searches appears, and only the listed businesses benefit by being discovered by consumers with ease. 

If only a small percentage of customers know the name of your business, those who don't will use relevant keywords to find you instead. A typical customer will type "best restaurant in Austin", "internet marketing services near me", or "ladies' shoes". To that end, a quality business listing can improve online visibility, ease of discoverability, and brand awareness. 

On the other hand, each business directory has a different strength or unique aspect. For example, the modern consumer visits Yelp to understand how other consumers perceive a specific business. As such, companies with a solid review management policy stand to benefit from the site. Ultimately, business owners should cross-list in multiple directories to tap into the unique strengths of each, and enhance their brand awareness.

Savvy business owners are constantly looking for beneficial marketing strategies, which include building a strong local digital presence. Business listings provide numerous opportunities to boost a businesses’ ability to be found by consumers when they’re searching for products or services. As such, having your listings professionally managed is an investment in your future. 

Summit Media Solutions can create your business listings, then monitor, conduct audits, and optimize the listings. Contact us to get your free listings audit today!

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