So, you’ve got your website up and running. Now what? There are lots of places to list your business online, which could help to bring more people to your website. These come in all shapes and sizes, such as local directories and social media sites, and can be a great form of free advertising.
Here’s a breakdown of some of the most valuable websites that can help put your business in front of more people, whatever your budget.
When you search for businesses on Google or Google Maps, Google Business Profiles appear on the results pages. Creating a profile is free and could help your business show up higher on the page when people look for things that are related to what you do or your location, such as ‘bakery near me’.
With 2.91 billion users on Facebook (and counting), it makes sense to list your business there. All you need to do is create a business page and add important information, like your website and opening hours. People can also leave reviews, which could persuade potential customers to spend with you.
A local business listing directory that’s free to use. Simply go to Yahoo!, search for your business and click on Add or update your business. You could even take your listing one step further with Yext, a partner of Yahoo! that lets you create listings on other great sites and control all of them in one place. Yext does come with a price though, so it’s worth checking that out first.
Bing is a popular search engine that many people choose to use instead of Google. So, by listing your company on Bing Places for Business, you could be targeting a whole new audience. This one’s free, too – head to Bing Places and select New User. Bing will then take you through the steps to create your listing.
There are over 5 million businesses on Yelp, so it’s no wonder that it’s a great place for people to search for what they need. Like the other options above, a Yelp business listing is free and you can get set up in just a few steps.
If your company falls within a particular trade or category, you might find that there are specific websites for listing businesses in your industry – such as Bark for tradespeople, Tripadvisor for hospitality and rentals, LinkedIn for professionals, Treatwell for beauty and health professionals, and OpenTable for restaurants. Pinterest is also a great platform for many types of businesses that want to share visuals, mood boards or trends.
If you aren’t sure whether a listing exists for your type of business, try searching things like ‘repair shop database’ or ‘interior design directory’.
Most of all, we recommend getting your business out there as much as you can. As many of the options to list your business are completely free, you’ve got nothing to lose. Keep on top of which ones you use, though, and make sure that they’re up to date with any changes you might have made to your business.
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