FREE Online Directories
People no longer use the yellow pages to find a business or service, they search online – these directories are the ‘new’ yellow pages. Make sure that your business is listed so those searching will find YOU.
Online directories are helpful for all business owners. By indexing businesses, usually by type and keyword categories, they provide an excellent opportunity to increase your exposure and help clients and customers find you. The really good ones (like Google Places) even give you the option of including images and video and provide maps and directions to build a positive online image to attract potential visitors!
Most are geared for brick and mortar locations (such as shops and restaurants) vs service providers that work from their home but many will allow you to post a listing without an address so don’t hesitate to join them – they will help you to be found online!
Creating profiles and accounts in these directories is a great task for an intern or to keep next to your ‘to-do’ list for times when you have a few free moments.
Some great FREE online directories for businesses of all types are:
Google Places – if you have a physical location
http://www.google.com/support/places/bin/static.py?page=guide.cs&guide=28247
Google Profile https://profiles.google.com – to set up a personal profile
Yahoo Directory http://listings.local.yahoo.com/basic.php
Bing Local https://ssl.bing.com/listings/ListingCenter.aspx
YELP – http://www.yelp.com/ (build a profile so people can review and rate your business here!)
Super Media – http://www.supermedia.com/business-listings
City Search – http://northjersey.citysearch.com/directory (set for YOUR region)
Patch – http://www.patch.com/
Judy’s Book – http://www.judysbook.com/
HQ Channel (local NJ businesses) – http://hqchannel.com/
InfoUSA – http://dbupdate.infousa.com/dbupdate/index.html
Local.com – http://www.local.com
Merchant Circle – http://www.merchantcircle.com/corporate/ (Northern NJ area)
Insider Pages – http://www.insiderpages.com/NY/NewYork
Akama – http://www.akama.com/
Centerd – http://www.centerd.com/
Local Directory/ Daily News – http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/index.html (NYC area)
Brown book – http://www.brownbook.net
City Squares – http://citysquares.com/
Many of these services will input basic info on businesses so you may already be there! If that is the case, be sure to ‘claim’ the location (may involve a confirmation call or email) and confirm that the info offered is accurate and up to date.
Some directories will allow/ require you to offer a coupon, special deal or incentive to their readers – take advantage of this!
There are many more – you can search ‘free online directories’ and find others (see the link below for a good list of 50!) – just be sure that they are really free (there are some paid services that may be worth investing in but be cautious and understand the real charges) There are also many industry specific directories.
If you would like help in creating an effective profile on any of the sites, please let me know. And if you know of, or find any other useful directories, please add them to the list!
Here is a link with 50 top directories, some duplicates to this post but definitely worth looking at these as well!
