The Importance of Local Listings: Getting Found and Standing Out

More than ever, audiences are finding the products and businesses they need by seeking them out online. This is true for local audiences as well; in today’s market, local and digital are practically synonymous. 

The digital revolution has undeniably changed the way we do business for the better. Customers are now enabled to shop around, compare options, and find the information they need at the touch of a screen, while your business is empowered to reach your market and deliver your message to a wider audience, 24 hours a day. 

It all sounds great, doesn’t it? But like all good things in business, it comes with a significant time investment and some stiff competition. It’s no longer enough to rely on traditional modes of marketing; a smart business is a proactive business. 

In planning your foray into the digital sphere, local listings management should be an important part of your web presence strategy. Getting your business listed correctly and consistently across relevant online directories will help you get found, attract new customers, drive in-store traffic, and ultimately increase revenue.

Driving More Business with Local Searches

Did you know that 78% of customers will lose trust in brands that display inaccurate local business listings? This can be an immediate turnoff for a prospective customer seeking a reliable product or solution online. By improving your search results rankings, people can find you with accurate and complete directory listings. 

Don’t Lose Revenue to Incorrect Business Info

Audiences turn to mobile to search and discover new businesses, and 61% of Google search users will go to the competition if your listing is missing a phone number. When the competition provides everything a customer needs to get started, make a purchase, or contact a business, an incomplete or inaccurate listing will always be a runner-up in the marketplace.

Dominate Key Directories Relevant to Your Business

Talk about opportunity! A staggering 89% of small and medium businesses report that they don’t have the time to manage listings on all of the sites that consumers use. By having a dedicated marketing effort geared towards listings management, you can become a customer’s first choice across the board.

So, what does it all mean, and where should you start? 

By keeping your information consistent across the web, getting the details right, monitoring location data specific to you, and consistently feeding search engines with the most up to date information, a proper listings management strategy will help you build credibility and enhance your Search Engine Marketing year after year. This means more business, more reviews, and more eyes on you. 

At Bonshaw, we find the right directories across the web for your business, get you listed, and maintain your information so you don’t have to. Our intelligent network of directories

optimizes your local presence, and our partnerships with directories like Google, Yelp, and Apple Maps ensure you don’t get left behind with the “big guys”. Plus, we work with aggregators to get you listed in smaller, yet essential, industry-specific directories. 

We don’t believe in the old “set it and forget it” mentality. We get insights into how people are finding your business so you can better allocate marketing dollars. 

Want to begin optimizing your digital presence? We can help.