Update: Since writing this post, we have spent a couple of hours on the phone with a Yelp for Business ad rep named Jennifer, and our opinion of Yelp has increased favorably. She helped us improve our client’s listings. She created new listings for us. She followed up. Yes, we realize she’s trying to get our business, but she listens and solves our problems, and we have not spent one penny. Before you commit to a Google ad campaign, read the seventh paragraph in an article from Businessweek that Jennifer sent us about advertising online. Stay tuned to perhaps more on Yelp. If your business has its own website, you have probably heard the term “SEO.” In case you haven’t, it’s short for “Search Engine Optimization,” and it means getting a website higher in online browser results. Second to SEO are free online business listings, which should be part of all online marketing campaigns. We handle the free online business listings for a dental practice, Stonewood Dental. One of our campaign goals is to be listed on page one of Google when someone unfamiliar with Stonewood is searching the internet for a dentist. Today Stonewood is listed in 50 percent of the results on page 1 of Google when you search for Robinson Texas Dentist. Their results include the Stonewood website as well as business listings on Google My Business, Google Maps, Facebook, Yellow Pages and Yahoo Local. Free online business listings are essentially databases of business information. Here is a partial list of business listings to consider for your online marketing campaign:
Tips for Free Online Business Listings
TIP 1: Not sure the status of your online presence or how to find the business listings we are talking about? Here’s a free tool that’ll give you a baseline check: https://moz.com/local/search Moz is a service that will help optimize your business listings if you pay them, but they also offer a free check to see which listings you are on, and how accurate they are. Just use the free check, and fix the rest yourself. TIP 2: Always keep information on your business’ current physical address up to date since searches are largely geographically based. TIP 3: Keep a record of your account names and passwords. Some of the listings require you create an account. You don’t want an old address popping up because you cannot login to update it. TIP 4: While filling out the business listings, you will often be given a list of category options that best fit your services or products. Take time to correctly categorize and fill out all available information, along with uploading photos. This will boost the chances of your results coming up for potential customers. Many online business listings are free of charge; however it takes some of your time and a little patience. Make business listings a part of your online marketing mix.