How to Create and Manage Your Google Business Listing

 In SEO Tips

**Updated for September 2017**

Getting your website to reach the largest audience requires a multi-faceted approach. It starts with having a website that can be found by search engines and then utilizing different tools to maximize your web site’s exposure. Through use of Google Adwords, on-page digital ads, search engine optimization, page content, and directory listings, your digital presence can become your best lead generator. Not everyone is a web developer, so we’ve created a list of the top online directories where you can check, edit, and verify your local business listing. The great thing about these listings? They are all free to use.

Controlling Your Company Listing

To leverage the most from your local listing, you need consistent information about your business. Make sure your Business Name, Address, and Phone Number (NAP) are accurate and as similar as possible. If your address is 100 West Madison St., make sure you are correcting variations to be standard. The best practice is to adopt Google’s address guidelines for your business and apply that to all directories. Here’s a link to Google’s local listing guidelines.  Here are some instructions for verifying your business address through Google.

Once you figure out how you want your business listed, it’s time to go through each site and update.

NOTE: Each listing update can take between 2-30 minutes. We recommend updating in increments of 5 or 10 until all 50 are updated.


Online Business Directories

Top 50 Local Business Directories for September 2017

  1. Google
  2. Bing
  3. Yahoo!
  4. Yelp
  5. Facebook
  6. Better Business Bureau
  7. Angie’s List
  8. Merchant Circle
  9. LinkedIn
  10. YP.com
  11. Whitepages
  12. Superpages.com
  13. Yellowbook
  14. CitySearch
  15. MapQuest/Yext
  16. Local.com
  17. Foursquare
  18. CitySlick
  19. USDirectory.com
  20. Dex Media
  21. BizJournals.com
  22. TeleAtlas
  23. Discover Our Town
  24. EZ Local
  25. Kudzu
  26. CityVoter
  27. Manta
  28. UsCity
  29. Advice Local
  30. InfoUSA
  31. Infignos
  32. Get Fave
  33. My Huckleberry
  34. Yellowee
  35. MojoPages
  36. Brownbook
  37. Magic Yellow
  38. CitySquares
  39. Map Creator
  40. Judy’s Book 
  41. TripAdvisor
  42. Thumbtack
  43. YellowPagesGoesGreen.org
  44. Home Advisor
  45. ShowMeLocal
  46. ChamberofCommerce.com
  47. Yellowbot
  48. Hotfrog
  49. Brownbook
  50. InsiderPages

Social Media Business Listings

Top 20 Most Popular Social Media Sites

  1. Facebook
  2. Twitter
  3. LinkedIn
  4. Google+
  5. YouTube
  6. Pinterest
  7. Instagram
  8. Tumblr
  9. Flickr
  10. Reddit
  11. Snapchat
  12. WhatsApp
  13. Quora
  14. Vine
  15. Periscope
  16. BizSugar
  17. StumbleUpon
  18. Delicious
  19. Digg
  20. Viber

Checking your results

An easy way to check your results is to use a service like Yext or White Spark to view your existing listings. Both companies offer local listing updates for a fee, but you can sign up for an account and view your existing listings. Even though you can update your listing on your own, it can be a lot of work. We work with businesses to maximize impact where it counts and for B2C businesses, the future is in search rankings.

As always, may the SERPs be with you.

 

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