July 15, 2024 - First impressions often happen online, especially when it comes to online business listings.
You can think of them as digital storefronts where your customers can learn everything about your business, including your contact info, your services and products, workplace culture and reviews.
In fact, online listings may receive 2.7 times more views than a brand’s own website. Notably, one 2024 survey found that 77 percent of consumers use at least two review platforms in their business research, and 41 percent of consumers use three or more review platforms.
However, keep in mind that not all business listings are created equal, and focusing on high-impact listings should be your biggest priority.
Let’s talk about what factors to consider when listing your business across the web.
Choosing the Right Business Listings
The number of potential digital business listings is in the hundreds, so how should you prioritize which ones to use?
Here are a few examples of business listing sites categorized by their overall impact and reach:
- High-Impact Listings: These include platforms like Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) and Yelp. Being present on these platforms is essential due to their broad reach and significant influence on search engine rankings.
- Mid-Range Listings: Sites like Nextdoor, Waze and Yellow Pages typically cater more to specific niches than high-impact listings but still offer substantial visibility.
- Local Listings: There are many smaller directories that cater to specific industries or local markets, such as Angie’s List and Local.com.
While high-impact listings should be a top priority, smaller-level listings may collectively boost your online presence. And while local listings may not hold as much weight compared to high-impact and mid-range sites, they can ultimately be used to your advantage for targeting specific niche markets.
Reach and Impact
It’s especially important to note that Google and Yelp attract billions and millions of users, respectively, each day. A listing on these types of sites ensures your agency is seen by a larger audience and will undoubtedly drive the most traffic to your business. Being listed on well-known platforms automatically enhances your credibility. Clients are more likely to trust and choose a business they find on Google or Yelp over one they stumble upon on a lesser-known site. These platforms have built-in trust factors, including review systems and verification processes, that smaller directories often lack.
Improve Organic Search
Listings on Google and Yelp significantly boost your visibility in organic search results. Since Google prioritizes its own listings in search results, having a well-rounded Google Business Profile can dramatically improve your ranking. Similarly, Yelp pages often rank highly in search results, driving more organic traffic to your business. Both platforms excel in local search optimization, ensuring that your business appears prominently when customers search for services with keywords like “near me.”
Don’t Underestimate Smaller Listings
High-impact listings should be a priority, but it doesn’t hurt to be listed on smaller sites as well. These platforms, although less impactful individually, can collectively enhance your online presence. They provide additional backlinks to your website, which can boost your organic presence even more. Plus, some niche directories cater to specific audiences that might be searching specifically for the services you offer.
Keep Things Fresh
As with anything in the digital marketing world, don’t set and forget! Whether it’s your Google Business Profile or Angie’s List, keeping your listings updated with fresh content, such as new photos, posts and special offers, can keep your audience engaged and attract more business. Regular updates also signal to search engines and potential customers that your business is active and thriving.
These regular updates include engaging with your reviews — both positive and negative — as it shows you value customer feedback and are committed to improving your services. This can enhance your reputation and encourage more customers to leave reviews.
Keep Your Listings Stress-Free with Melon Local
At Melon Local, we know what it takes to get your business listed in top directories and generate fresh, keyword-driven content to optimize your organic presence. Book a demo to learn more about our fresh approach to generating quality leads!