Creating business listings on directory websites is an easy way to improve your local SEO.
All you have to do is list your business in online local directories such as Yellow Pages, Manta, and more. This is called building citations, and it’s a critical piece of a local marketing strategy.
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By building citations, you can ensure that you appear in local packs when people look for businesses like yours in their area. Business directories may seem like a thing of the past, but they’re a great way to grow your presence online.
In this post, we go over everything you need to know about creating business listings and why they’re so valuable, even in the age of social media and other marketing tactics.
Table of Contents
- What is a business directory?
- What is a business listing?
- How I Chose the Best Online Directories
- Free Business Listings
- Online Directories for Local Businesses
- Business Listing Sites
- Benefits of Listing Your Business in Local Directories
I know that promoting a local business can be challenging these days. Whether it’s because of oversaturation or complicated search engine algorithms, it’s all too easy to feel like no one will find your business in the local search results.
Today, Google is inserting itself between consumer and local business websites much more often. For proof, you need to look no further than Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP), featured snippets, and most importantly, local packs.
You can improve visibility in local packs by listing your local business’ NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number) on directories, online business listing sites, and citation sites. Aside from improving your local SEO, these can also improve your rankings on search engines because the listings usually link back to your site.
But what is a business listing, and what does it look like?
When I was a local SEO specialist at my previous company, I spent much of my time finding new business listing opportunities to build citations and generate backlinks for our local websites. This allowed us to rank not only in the local packs, but also in the main SERPs.
I have a few tips to help you out. Make sure your company listing has the following information once you add it to a directory:
- Consistent NAP. If you add or update your business on multiple business listing sites, make sure you’re providing the same company information across each directory.
- A link to your website. Backlinks — also known as inbound links — are crucial to your company website’s Domain Rating. I recommend adding a tracking link at the end of this URL as well, so you can see how much traffic your website specifically gets from the business directories that are linking to it.
- A company description. Make sure you have a detailed description of your business that reflects your organization’s mission, culture, and values.
- Multimedia. Give company searchers a visual taste of your business with a picture or video of your office, your employees, or your daily business operations.
There are plenty of location-specific and industry-specific business listing sites where you can submit your data. To start promoting your local business, however, I recommend starting with the bigger sites and working your way towards the more niche directories.
I’ll soon go over our list of best local directories, but first, let’s cover our methodology.
How I Chose the Best Online Directories
I used to build citations for my former company, and I can confidently tell you that there are many, many business directories out there — and not all of them are good.
I used two simple parameters to curate the best business listing sites you can sign up on right now.
Domain Rating
Domain rating is a score given to websites to reflect how well they rank on Google based on their backlink profile. The minimum score is 0, and the maximum score is 100. Domain rating is similar to domain authority.
The minimum required domain rating for the directories on this list was 50. I gathered the data from Ahrefs, but you can also double-check using your preferred SEO tool.
Category
I compiled this list for use by any business. Regardless of your industry or target market, you can submit your business to the directories below. To make it onto this list, the directory had to be categorized as General.
I’ve included traffic numbers for your reference, but I don’t consider it the most important factor in choosing where to list your business. Any local citation helps you build consistent references to your NAP information online.
With that, let’s go over the top free business directories you can join right now.
The below business listing sites made it onto the list because they’re free and also offer an easy process for claiming or creating your profile.
Some online business directories require phone verification or extra steps, but the below options below are simple to sign up for. These ten business listings are a great place to start before signing up on more industry-specific listing sites.
1. Google Business Profile
Domain Rating: 92
Monthly Organic Traffic: 81M Visits
Google Business Profile (formerly known as Google My Business) directly lists you on Google’s local pack and search results. A Google Business Profile includes your NAP, business hours, services, customer reviews, photos, and more.
Claim your free Google Business Profile.
2. Yellow Pages
Domain Rating: 90
Monthly Organic Traffic: 14M Visits
An oldie but a goodie, Yellow Pages is maybe the most well-known local directory. A Yellow Pages listing includes your NAP, parking information, business hours, and customer reviews.
Claim your free business listing on Yellow Pages.
3. Foursquare
Domain Rating: 91
Monthly Organic Traffic: 30M Visits
Foursquare is a general online directory for a wide variety of local business categories. A Foursquare listing includes your NAP, business hours, logo, and customer reviews.
Claim your free business listing on Foursquare.
4. Better Business Bureau
Domain Rating: 93
Monthly Organic Traffic: 13M Visits
Better Business Bureau is an online directory site for a wide variety of local business categories. A Better Business Bureau listing includes your NAP, company history, company email, and website. You may also apply for optional accreditation.
Claim your free business listing on BBB.
5. Superpages
Domain Rating: 84
Monthly Organic Traffic: 1.7M Visits
Superpages is a general online directory site for a wide variety of local business categories. A Superpages listing includes your NAP, business hours, and website.
Claim your free business listing on Superpages.
6. Hotfrog
Domain Rating: 79
Monthly Organic Traffic: 24K Visits
Hotfrog is a general online directory site. A Hotfrog listing includes your NAP, business hours, business description, and website.
Claim your free business listing on Hotfrog.
7. EZLocal
Domain Rating: 77
Monthly Organic Traffic: 90K Visits
EZLocal is a general online directory for a wide variety of local business categories. An EZLocal listing includes your NAP, parking information, business hours, and website.
Claim your free business listing on EZLocal.
8. eLocal
Domain Rating: 77
Monthly Organic Traffic: 14K Visits
eLocal is a general local directory. An eLocal listing includes your NAP, business description, website, and payment options.
Claim your free business listing on eLocal.
9. Manta
Domain Rating: 87
Monthly Organic Traffic: 2.3M Visits
A Manta listing includes your NAP, business hours, services, website, business description, and social media links. You may also apply for Manta verification.
Claim your free business listing on Manta.
10. Merchant Circle
Domain Rating: 85
Monthly Organic Traffic: 70K Visits
Merchant Circle is a general online listing site. A Merchant Circle listing includes your NAP, logo, payment options, business hours, business description, and website.
Claim your free business listing on MerchantCircle.
Featured Business Listing Site: HubSpot Solutions Online Directory
HubSpot also offers an online directory for marketing and advertising agencies. If you fall into this category, I highly recommend signing up for free.
Add your free business listing to HubSpot’s Solutions directory.
Online Directories for Local Businesses
When listing your business online, you aren’t limited to just using the free sites above. I’ve compiled the best directories on the web to list your business, whether paid or unpaid (most, however, should be free).
In my years as a local SEO and citation builder, I found most of these relatively easy to sign up on, but a few sites may require additional verification or a pending period. The good news is that there is little to no chance your listing will be rejected.
1. Facebook Pages
Domain Rating: 100
Monthly Organic Traffic: 1.7B Visits
Facebook Pages is one of the best places to list your business online and get visibility through both organic search and Facebook’s internal search feature. A Facebook Page includes both basic NAP information and updates from your business.
Create your free business listing on Facebook Pages.
2. Instagram for Business
Domain Rating: 99
Monthly Organic Traffic: 1.4B Visits
Like Facebook, Instagram is another valuable place to list your business’ NAP information for visibility, local SEO, and social media marketing purposes. An Instagram profile will include your business’ NAP information, as well as photos and updates posted directly by you.
Create your free business listing on Instagram.
3. LinkedIn Company Directory
Domain Rating: 98
Monthly Organic Traffic: 319M Visits
LinkedIn offers a directory of business pages (called LinkedIn Pages), where most companies and businesses can add a profile for free. Like Facebook and Instagram, you get an opportunity to list your NAP and publish updates and jobs.
Companies are listed alphabetically on the Company Directory landing page, and users can find your business by navigating to “Browse By” and selecting the first letter of your business name.
Create your free business listing on LinkedIn.
4. Apple Maps
Domain Rating: 97
Monthly Organic Traffic: 424M Visits
If people visit your business in person, it’s always a good idea to add it to navigation apps and services. Apple Maps isn’t technically a business listing site, but it’s still an essential citation. You can now easily get started by using Apple’s new Business Connect portal.
Create your free business listing on Apple Maps.
5. Yelp
Domain Rating: 95
Monthly Organic Traffic: 234M Visits
Whether you run a restaurant, a local boutique, or a repair shop, Yelp is an invaluable directory to list your business online. It boosts your credibility with customer reviews and provides one more citation with your NAP, business hours, services, and more.
Create your free business listing on Yelp.
6. Bing Places
Domain Rating: 93
Monthly Organic Traffic: 17.1M Visits
Bing may not feel as essential as Google, but it’s still an important citation, especially because some of your customers might use Bing as their primary search engine. Adding your business to Bing also allows users to navigate directly to you using Bing Maps.
Create your free business listing on Bing Places.
7. Foursquare
Domain Rating: 91
Monthly Organic Traffic: 28.3M Visits
When building citations at my previous company, Foursquare was one of my favorite business listing sites. It’s quick, easy, and painless to add your online listing, and it includes all essential information without many frills. An easy citation if there ever was one.
Create your free business listing on Foursquare.
8. Angi
Domain Rating: 91
Monthly Organic Traffic: 14.9M Visits
Formerly known as Angie’s List, Angi is a valuable citation for providers of home services — from plumbing to landscaping to maintenance and renovations.
Create your free business listing on Angi.
9. Thumbtack
Domain Rating: 90
Monthly Organic Traffic: 6M Visits
Thumbtack is another great business directory for providers of home renovation and maintenance services. Other industries that could add a business listing to Thumbtack include electronics repair specialists and web designers.
Create your free business listing on Thumbtack.
10. Nextdoor
Domain Rating: 89
Monthly Organic Traffic: 6.3M Visits
Nextdoor is both a neighborhood guide and a free online business directory for local businesses of any category, but I especially recommended if you offer home services or products at a local shop.
Create your free business listing on Nextdoor.
Business Listing Sites
Those aren’t all the online directories you can join. Below are more of the best options for businesses of any category.
You’ll notice that some of them have low organic traffic numbers. Remember: The main benefit of adding your company to business listing sites is to build citations with your NAP information.
Even if an online directory only receives a few organic visits per month, that’s okay — the main value is having a listing with your correct name, address, and phone number (NAP).
Don’t worry about upgrading any of these listings. I never did when I was building citations. Most people don’t visit online business directories any longer; instead, they use Google or other popular websites such as Yelp.
1. City-data.com
Domain Rating: 85
Monthly Organic Traffic: 1.2M
City-data is a neighborhood forum and online directory that covers the entirety of the US.
Create your free business listing on City-data.com.
2. ChamberofCommerce.com
Domain Rating: 82
Monthly Organic Traffic: 550K
ChamberofCommerce is an online directory with a membership and an accreditation option.
Create your free business listing on ChamberofCommerce.com.
3. Brownbook.net
Domain Rating: 78
Monthly Organic Traffic: 1.4K
Brownbook.net is a Yellow Pages alternative for businesses of any category. One of my favorite citations — it’s very easy to sign up.
Create your free business listing on Brownbook.net.
4. Local.com
Domain Rating: 78
Monthly Organic Traffic: 178K
Local.com is an online business directory with a blog and a series of advertising options.
Create your free business listing on Local.com.
5. Kompass.com
Domain Rating: 76
Monthly Organic Traffic: 11.1K
Kompass is a B2B online business directory that also allows you to respond to public requests for proposals.
Create your business listing on Kompass.com.
6. Storeboard
Domain Rating: 76
Monthly Organic Traffic: 1.3K
Storeboard is an online business directory that also includes a homepage “feed,” like a social media site.
Create your free business listing on Storeboard.
7. eBusinessPages
Domain Rating: 76
Monthly Organic Traffic: 261
eBusinessPages may have low traffic numbers, but it’s an easy and simple citation to add to your roster.
Create your free business listing on eBusinessPages.
8. City Squares
Domain Rating: 74
Monthly Organic Traffic: 5.3K
CitySquares is an online business directory with a handy partner program for companies with multiple locations.
Create your free business listing on City Squares.
9. BOTW
Domain Rating: 74
Monthly Organic Traffic: 30.2K
Best of the Web (BOTW) is an online business directory with advertising and upgrade options.
Create your free business listing on BOTW.
10. Infobel
Domain Rating: 74
Monthly Organic Traffic: 913K
Infobel is an EU-based business listing site that also includes a local US directory for companies of any category.
Create your free business listing on Infobel.
11. iBegin
Domain Rating: 73
Monthly Organic Traffic: 42.7K
iBegin is a simple online directory where you can submit your business and blog posts.
Create your free business listing on iBegin.
12. Neustar Localeze
Domain Rating: 73
Monthly Organic Traffic: 13.3K
Neustar Localeze is a business listing service that also includes an online directory. This one is paid, and sign-up can be a little more complicated than other options, but it’s still worth it.
Create your business listing on Neustar Localeze.
13. GoLocal247
Domain Rating: 73
Monthly Organic Traffic: 12.7K
GoLocal247 is an online business directory where you can also post free classified ads.
Create your free business listing on GoLocal247.
14. Cybo
Domain Rating: 72
Monthly Organic Traffic: 330K
Cybo is a global business listing site for companies of any category.
Create your free business listing on Cybo.
15. Just Landed
Domain Rating: 72
Monthly Organic Traffic: 42.7K
Just Landed is an online business directory that also includes an expat community and an area for classified ads.
Create your free business listing on Just Landed.
16. Yellow.Place
Domain Rating: 72
Monthly Organic Traffic: 972K
Yellow.Place is a Yellow Pages alternative with advertising options.
Create your free business listing on Yellow.Place.
17. Hub.biz
Domain Rating: 72
Monthly Organic Traffic: 124K
Hub.biz is an online directory with a text-based “feed” that includes updates from local businesses.
Create your free business listing on Hub.biz.
18. Dun & Bradstreet Business Directory
Domain Rating: 79
Monthly Organic Traffic: 259K
Dun & Bradstreet is a famous online directory with an accreditation option.
Create your free business listing on Dun & Bradstreet.
19. Turbify
Domain Rating: 78
Monthly Organic Traffic: 1.7K
Turbify is an online local listing provider that gives you a free report and also lists you online.
Create your free business listing on Turbify.
20. n49.com
Domain Rating: 73
Monthly Organic Traffic: 159K
n49 is a Canada-based directory with a US arm. It’s simple to sign up, and editing your listing is easy through its portal.
Create your free business listing on n49.
21. Cylex US
Domain Rating: 73
Monthly Organic Traffic: 921K
Cylex US is an online directory that offers premium listings, as well as the ability to post special offers.
Create your free business listing on Cylex.us.
22. Fyple.com
Domain Rating: 68
Monthly Organic Traffic: 2.1K
Fyple is a local directory for businesses of any category. It also offers customers the option to post reviews.
Create your free business listing on Fyple.
23. Opendi.us
Domain Rating: 67
Monthly Organic Traffic: 23.5K
Opendi is a business directory with international arms in Europe and South America. Opendi has a long pending period for new listings, but it’s worth submitting to.
Create your free business listing on Opendi.us.
24. ExpressBusinessDirectory.com
Domain Rating: 65
Monthly Organic Traffic: 7
ExpressBusinessDirectory.com has low traffic numbers, but it’s easy to submit to, and you can never run short on citations.
Create your free business listing on ExpressBusinessDirectory.
25. My Huckleberry
Domain Rating: 64
Monthly Organic Traffic: 544
My Huckleberry is an online business directory with an online forum and a coupon marketplace.
Create your free business listing on My Huckleberry.
26. Bizhwy.com
Domain Rating: 66
Monthly Organic Traffic: 24
Bizhwy.com is a simple online business directory that also gives you the option of submitting a press release. Since its traffic numbers are low, I recommend sticking to a free listing.
Create your free business listing on Bizhwy.
27. DirJournal.com
Domain Rating: 63
Monthly Organic Traffic: 802
DirJournal is an online business directory that also offers advertising options. Since its traffic numbers are low, I recommend sticking to a free listing.
Create your free business listing on Dirjournal.
28. USdirectory.com
Domain Rating: 56
Monthly Organic Traffic: 1.7K
USdirectory.com is a business listing site that offers advertising options. I also recommend sticking to a free listing for this one.
Create your business listing on US Directory.
29. FindUSlocal.com
Domain Rating: 55
Monthly Organic Traffic: 61.8K
FindUSlocal is an online business directory with a feed-like home page.
Create your free business listing on FindUSLocal.
Benefits of Listing Your Business in Local Directories
As mentioned, the value of listing your business in directories isn’t about visibility in the directories themselves (although that’s certainly helpful); it’s more about building citations with your business information.
Here are some of the benefits of listing your business online. It’s a lot of work, but it’s endlessly invaluable.
1. Rank Higher in Local Packs
You’ve seen local packs before — they’re the groups of local businesses that appear when you make a location-based search, such as “pizza near me.” Here’s an example of a local pack for that search in my area:
(Making a mental note to try these restaurants).
By listing your business in local directories, you’re reinforcing your company’s NAP information again and again. This constant and consistent record of citations (really, make sure your information is consistent!) can improve your chances of ranking higher in Google’s local packs. You’ll, therefore, increase visibility and exposure in your area, which can result in more website visits and foot traffic.
2. Get White-Hat Backlinks to Your Website
We can’t forget the big benefit: Backlinks. Most local directories let you link to your website, helping you bring in traffic from interested users. Some might be no-follow links, but it’s still worth the mention.
Most directories are authoritative websites with have a high domain authority or domain rating. So, by listing your business on these directories, you can indirectly increase your website’s domain authority by getting a “vote,” so to speak, from an authoritative site.
In turn, getting backlinks or “votes” from directories can improve your search engine rankings and increase your website’s visibility and traffic.
3. Boost Company Legitimacy
Creating business listings can also improve your legitimacy. Local directories are trusted sources of information, and being listed on these directories can boost your company’s credibility and reputation.
Imagine if people looked up my business and the first SERPs were filled with random URLs that happened to share my business name. It definitely wouldn’t help me look established. But if the SERPs are all filled with listings from other directories, users will feel like my company is real and worth their investment.
No matter what, being listed in local directories will improve your online reputation and increase your brand visibility.
Add Your Local Business to Online Directories
Making sure that you have a presence where your potential customers might find you is critical to any local marketing plan. It’s critical to build citations not only for the added visibility but for the SEO benefits, too.
Get started with SEO, add your local business to some of these business listings and directories today, and watch your business and customer base grow.
Editor’s note: This post was originally published in March 2013 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.
