Online Phone Books & Local Business Listings

Online phone listings provided when a consumer types in a search are extremely valuable for service orientated businesses.

Signup at the following places:

Google Business Listing

http://www.google.com/local/add/businessCenter

http://google.com/adwords/ to target your area

Yahoo Business Listing

http://local.yahoo.com/, http://listings.local.yahoo.com/
http://searchmarketing.yahoo.com/local/ls.php again, target your area

MSN Business Listing

https://llc.local.live.com/ListingCenter.aspx

Cross References for Local Listings

Google will cross reference data to get your number listed, so get listed and reviewed on the following sites:
http://listings.yellowpages.com/ (free)

http://www.localeze.com/manage

http://list.infousa.com/dbupdate.htm

http://superpages.com

http://citysearch.com

http://yelp.com

http://insiderpages.com

http://www.tripadvisor.com

http://Gayot.com

http://www.fodors.com

http://Travelocity.com

http://Wcities.com

http://Frommers.com

http://HotelGuide.net

http://www.yellowusa.com/Add_Your_Business.cfm

Other Sites for Reviews and 3rd Party Validation

Chamber of Commerce-style sites
Visitor Bureau-style sites
city/town directories
school web sites
local categories of DMOZ, Yahoo Directory

Things that Hurt/Help Business Listing Profiles:

Add as many photos as you can
Get multiple reviews
Use Keywords in Company Descrioption
Use Keywords in Company Name
Add a coupon to coupon sites
Create Links to the Listing
Add Youtube Video
Use Proper Naming of location
NO need to use ZIP+4
Don’t use vanity phone numbers, use real land line
Use the same phone number everywhere
Verify proper categories
List each service you offer
Beware of duplicates for www canonicalization
Add if business exists for more than 2 years
List areas served (Upper West Side, DFW, etc)
List Associations & memberships
List Languages Supported
Get Reviews and ratings
Give Prices – Justify them
Use a name that alphabetizes

Additional “Extreme” Measures

Use “generic” business names – “a dallas webmaster”
Different PO Box and Phone for each city you support