Listing your company on hundreds of online business directories can get you noticed by a much wider audience and give you that extra edge over your competitors. Many businesses are submitting their details to these directories now, but most could be greatly improved. The elements of your listing can make a difference in how visitors view you and impact your chances of success.
Make Sure you Include the Essentials in Every Business Listing
Most people looking on business directories will just want to know the basic details of your business. This should not be a full description of your services and your life story, it just needs to list the essentials. This should include the following fields:
- Telephone number
- Address of shop or business
- E-mail address
- Opening hours
- Social media links
You should provide as many options to contact you as possible to cater to the needs of the most amount of people. If you don’t include your e-mail address then you could be missing out on a great deal of customers who would rather not call you or go to your physical address. Make sure that you aren’t putting off anyone, as every person who contacts you could of course turn into a paying customer.
A large portion of people looking for your business details online will be people local to the area and will want to see what your business looks like. Make sure that you include your full address so that they can take a look at the outside of your building. If you can include simple directions then you may get even more visitors.
One thing a lot of businesses miss out on their directory listings is their hours of operation. A lot of people just won’t bother to go and check if you’re open if they can find a competitor nearby that they know will be open.
Always Include Any Points That Make Your Business Unique
If you want your business to get noticed, you’ll need to clearly state what you do and what services you offer. To separate yourself from the competition, you will need to include anything that separates you from the rest of the market. Give people a reason to choose you instead of any other business on these directory listings. Here are a few details you could include:
- Accepted methods of payment
- The services and products you offer
- Any awards or accreditations your business has
- Additional languages your employees speak
Any detail that any of your competitors don’t have can give people a reason to pick you. Exclusive brands or products, vegetarian options in your restaurant, pet or family friendly venues, anything like that should be shared on your business listing.
Encourage People to Connect With Your Business Online
Social media is so popular now and the majority of businesses now have their own pages. But many aren’t making the most of them. They don’t promote links to their pages or encourage people to interact with them. This is your chance to connect with people in a different way and let them know about any updates you may have made. If you have any of the following, make sure you include them:
- Google+
- Website URL