Defined by HubSpot an online directory is “an online list of businesses within a particular niche, location, or category. One way local businesses can get found by online searchers is through inclusion in business directories.”

Online directories, such as Facebook, Instagram, Google My Business, LinkedIn Company Directory, Bing, Yelp, Better Business Bureau, will improve backlinking and SEO landing you more page visits, views, mentions, brand awareness and page ranking.

There is no doubt that online directories are the new phone book, community newsletter, newspaper classifieds and the like, however, unlike traditional methods, online directories have brought forth a powerful game changing leveler. Building, listing and maintaining your presence is, in most cases, free internationally!

Put frankly, online directories bring in business that the Yellow Pages may have funneled in the past. Today consumers heavily rely on the internet to research prior to you ever having the opportunity to communicate, unfortunately. Your initial impressions as a brand will be how you present yourself online. In fact, recent studies have proven the following:

• 97% of people read reviews for local businesses when researching local businesses’ services and products. 
• 90% of respondents who recalled reading online reviews claimed that positive online reviews had influenced their buying decisions, while 86 percent said their buying decisions were influenced by negative online reviews they viewed.
• 93% of people who use mobile to research go on to complete a purchase of a product or service. Most purchases happen in physical stores.
• 68% of consumers will leave a review if asked.
• 92% of B2B buyers are more likely to purchase after reading a trusted review.

One of the most powerful of these directories is Google My Business (GMB). Recent studies have proven that 34% of local businesses are seen on GMB in more than 1,000 searches per month! Further, 84% of a businesses’ traffic coming from online searches are actually derived from “discovery searches”, which are when a customer searches for a category, product, or service that you offer, and your listing appears. Without a Google My Business you will not be ranked for customers looking for a local vendor, and without a robust page developed you will keep potential customers from knowing your hours, contact information, physical address for navigation, reviews or recent announcements. In fact, google has even provided free resources to businesses during the COVID-19 crisis.

Another powerful “directory” of sorts often overlooked is social media’s impact. A few quick facts regarding use of social media include:

• 54% of social browsers use social media to research products and services before they buy.
• The average daily time spent per user is 124 minutes daily! 
• Social media advertisers spent $19.3B in the US in 2018.
• 210 million United States citizens are on Facebook (of 331 million citizens).
• The likelihood that a consumer will recommend a brand on social media to others after having a positive experience is about 71%!
• Engagement with brands is over 10 times higher than on Facebook.

You can find more about Social Media’s power and impact on the growth of your brand and business here, or View our social media case study with Champion Zone Fitness.

We hope this guide will help to get you started on ensuring your internet visibility is prepared for the new decade that, with COVID-19, is expected to see further growth in technology and digital sales. We are happy to help you and your brand create an online presence, or assist you in ensuring your business is reflected amongst your competitors as superior.

Contact us for a 30 minute complimentary meeting to receive and review your SEO and Online visibility report, and as a special to our valued clients and partners we are currently offering a special building or revitalizing of your online visibility through directories starting at $200.

A full listing of directories, which are ranked for your convenience by Domain Authority, include: 

1. Facebook (Domain Authority = 100)
2. Apple Maps (Domain Authority = 100)
3. Google My Business (Domain Authority = 100)
4. LinkedIn Company Directory (Domain Authority = 98) 
5. Bing (Domain Authority = 94)
6. Yelp (Domain Authority = 94)
7. Better Business Bureau (Domain Authority = 93)
8. Foursquare (Domain Authority = 92)
9. MapQuest (Domain Authority = 92)
10. HubSpot (Domain Authority = 91)
11. Yellow Pages (Domain Authority = 91)
12. Angi (Domain Authority = 91)
13. Yahoo! Local (Domain Authority = 91)
14. Manta (Domain Authority = 87)
15. Merchant Circle (Domain Authority = 86)
16. Super Pages (Domain Authority = 84)
17. Yellow Book (Domain Authority = 83)
18. Thumbtack (Domain Authority = 82)
19. Local.com (Domain Authority = 77)
20. Kudzu.com (Domain Authority = 76)
21. Hot Frog (Domain Authority = 76)
22. Communitywalk.com (Domain Authority = 75)
23. Brownbook.net (Domain Authority = 73)
24. Tupalo.com (Domain Authority = 72)
25. La Cartes (Domain Authority = 68)
26. 2findlocal.com (Domain Authority = 67)
27. ezlocal.com (Domain Authority = 67)
28. ebusinesspages.com (Domain Authority = 67)
29. Spoke (Domain Authority = 66)
30. Chamberofcommerce.com (Domain Authority = 66)
31. City Squares (Domain Authority = 66)
32. Cylex USA (Domain Authority = 66)
33. yelloyello.com (Domain Authority = 66)
34. BOTW (Domain Authority = 65)
35. worldweb.com (Domain Authority = 65)
36. ibegin.com (Domain Authority = 63)
37. Get Fave (Domain Authority = 63)
38. Fyple.com (Domain Authority = 63)
39. Company.com (Domain Authority = 60)
40. Call Up Contact (Domain Authority = 60)
41. Finduslocal.com (Domain Authority = 60)
42. My Huckleberry (Domain Authority = 59)
43. Hub.biz (Domain Authority = 59)
44. where2go.com (Domain Authority = 58)
45. City Insider (Domain Authority = 58)
46. n49.com (Domain Authority = 58)
47. My Sheriff (Domain Authority = 57)
48. opendi.us (Domain Authority = 56)
49. Bizhwy.com (Domain Authority = 55)
50. Smartguy.com (Domain Authority = 55)
51. Wherezit.com (Domain Authority = 55)
52. DiscoverOurTown.com (Domain Authority = 54)
53. Nexport.com (Domain Authority = 52)
54. USdirectory.com (Domain Authority = 50)
55. Wowcity.com (Domain Authority = 49)
56. Bizadee (Domain Authority = 48)
57. Wand.com (Domain Authority = 47)