Improving a Store's Online Visibility Through Business Directory Citations

Whether you have a website or not there are many online local business directories where your store can be listed. In the world of Local SEO this is often referred too as: "Citations". Citations are defined as places where your Name, Address, Phone number (called NAP for short) are found, along with other store details, such as directions, maps, business description, products & services, website address, store hours, store photos, logo and in some cases customer reviews and ratings. Everyone of these listings can also have a effect on how local consumers find you and can also help improve your website's visibility in the search engines.

The graphic below shows some of the many local business directories that your store(s) should have a citation (listing). This should help businesses realize there are a lot more places other than just Google Places to monitor. If store currently exists in a directory you can claim and update the details. Or, if your store doesn't exist within the directory you can create a new, free listing. Be aware, this can take a lot time to learn where to go and to add/update a listing and to actually enter all the store details. But in the end it is worth the time and effort.

There are also local portals, industry portals, association portals, and local community websites where you can list your business's NAP, such as your local Chamber of Commerce. Also, many local papers are jumping into the action by offering a local business directory as well. Today, driving local, online shoppers to your store is about a lot more than just some keywords stuffed in a website.

Special Note: the directories all have a validation process when claiming a business listing. This may be in the form of an email to the business's email address, a phone call to the business location's phone number along with a pin number, or in a post card sent to the business address.

To make the job less time-consuming and the information more accurate I have a created an extensive Excel spreadsheet. The spreadsheet was designed to help gather and track the information and includes direct links to the add new listing pages for all the major online local business directories. This also helps for going back later on to make future updates when needed.

If you would like to learn more about this and the MYS business listing services feel free to call me (920-994-8835) or send an email to john@webstreamdynamics.com.