2017 November December Chamber Newsletter DCCNovDecNews17ONLINE | Page 13
The Importance of Your
Online Business
Listing
What are online directories?
What is my business listing?
If you’re a business owner, chances are your
company has a listing in at least a few of
these directories already, such as Google My
Business or Facebook. You may have even
received advertisements from directories
such as Yelp or Home Advisor, encouraging
you to list your business with them.
Does every directory really help
make my business more visible
to my customers? Don’t most
people just use Google?
Great questions. The majority of searches
are performed on Google, especially those
from a mobile device. Creating a Google
My Business page is a great start, because it
enables your business to appear in Google
Maps.
The top three Maps results get the vast
majority of “clicks” from potential customers.
Google uses several factors to determine
which businesses earn these coveted spots.
Some of these include:
• The number of listings you have on
other sites. The more times Google can
see your business mentioned on the
internet, (especially on the directory
sites that it considers to be the most
trustworthy,) the more credible your
business will seem. This will result in your
listing receiving priority over businesses
with fewer listings.
How to ensure your listing is
accurate and consistent:
Adding your listing to hundreds of
directories can be tedious. Aside from
entering the information manually, you
may opt to enlist an intern or hire a virtual
assistant to tackle the task. Be sure to
double check all entries; even a simple
misspelling equals an inconsistent listing.
• The consistency of your listing across
all sites. You may be surprised to discover
many inaccurate listings, even if your
business has never moved locations.
Many directory sites automatically add
business data that they believe to be
relevant. Misspellings and confusion with
competitors or businesses with similar
names are very common. This can lower
Google’s confidence as to which details
are correct.
Note that this process may need to be
repeated every two to four months. Many
directories will delete a listing that they
perceive as “inactive.” Some allow other
users to make changes to your listing,
which may not always be accurate.
• Number of Google reviews and overall
rating. A business with lots of great
reviews will typically be shown to more
potential customers than a business with
a high percentage of negative reviews, or
one with very few or no reviews.
Consider hiring a professional: most
digital marketing companies offer a listing
submission service, and many include
subscription services or paid directories.
• Your website. Some factors are right on
your website - for example, whether your
site is mobile-friendly, and the amount and
relevance of its content.
Additionally, some people prefer to search
directly on specific directory sites (for
example, within the Yelp app). Having your
listing in as many places as possible ensures
more customers can find you.
Advertise with
the Dublin Chamber!
CAP CLEGG
Call 614-889-2001
to secure your
advertising space in
this newsletter!
Julie Wolfe
VP of Operations
Big Fish Local
[email protected]
bigfishlocal.org
Financially, you’re facing
a whole new world.
Why navigate it alone?
Columbus Financial Concepts
5500 Frantz Rd., Suite 151 • Dublin, OH 43017
614-791-1599 • Fax 614-336-3076 • Toll free 888-791-1599
Email: [email protected]
Securities offered through Commonwealth Financial Network, Member FINRA/SIPC
Dublin Chamber News 13