89.1% of marketers believed that nofollow links impact SEO rankings. 48% of marketers have nofollow backlinks building as a part of their strategy (Source).
This is what has totally altered my thinking in terms of local marketing- Last year, my small consulting business was spending 2,000 dollars on Facebook advertising. Avoided any spectacular results.
Then I paid a total of 0 dollars to post my business on the local listing websites within a period of three months.
Which one of these was more successful in bringing qualified leads?
The free business listings. Not even close.
In only 90 days of posting to no more than 30-40 good business listing websites, my ranking in Google rose, my phone was ringing with local customers and I was everywhere my potential customers searched my services. Best part? It cost me nothing but time.
Now I am presenting my very own strategy and even the list of 270+ free local business listing sites throughout the world that really work.
This is how you can learn to take control of local search, in India, in USA, in UK, in Australia, or any other place at no cost whatsoever, or without spending even a rupee, dollar, pound.
Ready to see your business on the top of the search of customers seeking what you have to offer? Let’s dive in.
You May also Like:- Best Gpl Sites For Plugins and Themes
What is a Local Business Listing?
Local business listing is an online profile of your business that is listed in directories, maps, and review sites that assist local customers in finding your business.
Imagine it as your online business card that exists on the sites where individual people actively seek the kind of services the kind.
What’s typically included-
- Name of business, address and phone number (NAP).
- Business location and time on maps.
- Offered category and services.
- Descriptions, photos and reviews of customers.
- Contact information and links to other websites.
The most popular ones are Google Business Profile, Yelp, Bing Places, Facebook Business, and hundreds of directories in the industry and by location.
The magic is in your business coming across in various platforms, constantly. Whenever a person types the query of plumber near me or best Italian restaurant in Mumbai, they will see the results being dominated by businesses that have full descriptions on several websites.
You May also Like:- Best 5 Sites to Buy Google Reviews
Why Are Business Listings Important?
53% of surveyed marketers think backlinks will remain as important as it is today. This means more than half of the marketers are positive about building links as a sustainable SEO strategy for long-term growth (Source).
If your business is not listed somewhere on the Internet, most prospective customers cannot find you.
The following is the reason why business listing sites are so important in 2026-
- Customers at the local level are now in search.
Local mobile search has 78 percent of offline purchase within 24 hours. Someone who is doing a search of your type of business is willing to make a purchase. Unless you are listed your competitor is securing that customer.
2. Google compensates repetitive data.
Search engines will confirm the existence of your business by checking whether your data will match in various sites. Greater consistency in listing = greater local search ranking.
3. Free advertising that works 24/7
Business listing does not cease to work like paid ads which terminate once your budget has been depleted. A single listing post can produce leads over a period of years.
4. Build trust and credibility.
Companies whose information is represented on several platforms seem more reputable. Social evidence in the form of reviews and ratings has an impact on purchase decisions.
5. Competitive advantage
The majority of the small businesses are listless. By getting yourself listed in at least 30-40 quality sites, you are at the top of 80 percent of your competitors.
You May also Like:- Rank Math FAQs- Everything You Should Know
4 Things You Need in Local Business Listing
Before you start submitting to business listing sites worldwide, get these four essentials ready. Believe me, this is better to have in place before you start wasting hours in frustration.
- Consistent NAP Information
NAP = Name, Address, Phone number
It may be easy to do but getting it wrong destroys your local SEO. Apply the same format to all:
Right way-
- Name of the Business: Mike plumbing services.
- Business name: Govindarajan and Associates, LLC.
- Phone: “+91-22-1234-5678”
Wrong way (inconsistent)
- Mikes plumbing vs Mike plumbing services.
- “123 Main St” vs “123 Main Street”
- Various telephone numbers on various sites.
Prepare a text with your NAP and paste it in every place.Â
No variations, no abbreviations unless you make use of them at all times.
- Professional Business Description.
- Write 2-3 versions of your business description:
- Short (50-100 words)- To sites of character restrictions.
- Medium (150-250 words) – The most widespread length that is required.
- Long (300-500 words) – When it is detailed.
Naturally use pertinent keywords, what you are located in, and why you are different. Write them in a document to be easily copied.
- High-Quality Images
You have to prepare these photos beforehand-
- Logo- Square, high resolution (min.500x500px)
- Cover photo- Dot, represent your business (1200x630px works everywhere)
- Product/service photos- five to ten good photos of what you are offering.
- Team pictures- Establishes confidence and character.
- Total Business Information.
A spreadsheet with this is prepared-
- Business hours (specify and regular)
- Website URL
- Email address
- Social media profile links
- Business category/industry
- Year established
- Payment methods accepted
- Service radius or area of delivery.
With all of this arranged in advance, the process of submitting them will be 10x quicker.
You May also Like:- Ahrefs Vs Semrush- Which one is Best Group SEO Tool?
270+ Free Business Listing Sites List
| 1 | business.linkedin.com/marketing-solutions/linkedin-pages | 98 |
| 2 | facebook.com/pages/create | 96 |
| 3 | https://www.bing.com/maps | 94 |
| 4 | booking.com/ | 94 |
| 5 | biz.yelp.com/ | 93 |
| 6 | business.foursquare.com/claim/ | 93 |
| 7 | yelp.com/ | 93 |
| 8 | quora.com/business | 93 |
| 9 | tripadvisor.com/getlistednew | 93 |
| 10 | foursquare.com | 90 |
| 11 | google.co.in/business/ | 93 |
| 12 | about.me/ | 92 |
| 13 | bizjournals.com/profiles/company | 92 |
| 14 | trustpilot.com | 92 |
| 15 | offers.hubspot.com/solutions-directory-listing | 92 |
| 16 | bbb.org/en/us/get-listed | 91 |
| 17 | smallbusiness.yahoo.com/local-listings | 91 |
| 18 | patch.com/ | 90 |
| 19 | mapquest.com | 90 |
| 20 | listings.mapquest.com/pl/mapquest-claims/preview.html | 90 |
| 21 | yellowpages.com | 88 |
| 22 | openstreetmap.org | 87 |
| 23 | mapcreator.here.com/mapcreator/ | 87 |
| 24 | angieslist.com | 86 |
| 25 | tradeindia.com | 84 |
| 26 | zomato.com | 83 |
| 27 | city-data.com/ | 82 |
| 28 | biz.prlog.org | 81 |
| 29 | apsense.com | 78 |
| 30 | sulekha.com | 77 |
| 31 | indiamart.com | 76 |
| 32 | justlanded.com | 76 |
| 33 | dev.to/ | 75 |
| 34 | citysearch.com/world | 74 |
| 35 | sitejabber.com | 72 |
| 36 | merchantcircle.com/signup/ | 72 |
| 37 | yellowpages.webindia123.com | 70 |
| 38 | webindia123.com/ | 70 |
| 39 | superpages.com/ | 69 |
| 40 | reviewcentre.com | 66 |
| 41 | justdial.com | 63 |
| 42 | indiacom.com | 59 |
| 43 | local.com/claim-your-listing | 59 |
| 44 | yellowbot.com/signin/register | 58 |
| 45 | yellowpagesgoesgreen.org/add | 58 |
| 46 | spoke.com | 58 |
| 47 | mouthshut.com | 58 |
| 48 | insiderpages.com | 58 |
| 49 | chamberofcommerce.com/members/register | 57 |
| 50 | company.com | 57 |
| 51 | lbb.in | 57 |
| 52 | elocal.com | 56 |
| 53 | ezilon.com | 56 |
| 54 | hotfrog.com | 56 |
| 55 | in.ezilon.com | 56 |
| 56 | botw.org | 55 |
| 57 | connect.releasewire.com | 55 |
| 58 | exportersindia.com | 55 |
| 59 | local.botw.org/ | 55 |
| 60 | startupxplore.com | 55 |
| 61 | storeboard.com/india/ | 54 |
| 62 | dashboard.ezlocal.com/login.aspx | 54 |
| 63 | bingplaces.com/ | 52 |
| 64 | yellowpages.cybo.com | 51 |
| 65 | startupranking.com | 51 |
| 66 | cybo.com | 51 |
| 67 | salespider.com/claim-your-business-for-free | 50 |
| 68 | showmelocal.com/register.aspx | 50 |
| 69 | http://hub.biz/ | 50 |
| 70 | ibegin.com | 50 |
| 71 | directory.edugorilla.com | 49 |
| 72 | enetget.com/ | 49 |
| 73 | lacartes.com | 49 |
| 74 | citysquares.com/add_business | 48 |
| 75 | clickindia.com | 48 |
| 76 | callupcontact.com | 47 |
| 77 | trepup.com | 47 |
| 78 | nexport.com | 47 |
| 79 | traderscity.com | 46 |
| 80 | discoverourtown.com/add/ | 46 |
| 81 | ebusinesspages.com | 46 |
| 82 | 2findlocal.com | 45 |
| 83 | adlandpro.com | 45 |
| 84 | golocal247.com/ | 45 |
| 85 | biz.indiaonline.in/index.html | 44 |
| 86 | https://yellow.place/en/nearby | 44 |
| 87 | dotnetfunda.com/ | 44 |
| 88 | finduslocal.com | 44 |
| 89 | indiaonline.in/ | 44 |
| 90 | local.indiaonline.in | 44 |
| 91 | trustlink.org | 43 |
| 92 | https://www.feedsfloor.com/ | 43 |
| 93 | twenty19.com | 43 |
| 94 | enrollbusiness.com | 43 |
| 95 | in.enrollbusiness.com | 43 |
| 96 | lekkoo.com | 43 |
| 97 | cpadirectory.com | 42 |
| 98 | whodoyou.com | 42 |
| 99 | whofish.org | 42 |
| 100 | cityfos.com | 42 |
| 101 | hotfrog.in | 41 |
| 102 | bizvotes.com | 40 |
| 103 | tupalo.co/ | 40 |
| 104 | myhuckleberry.com/add-listing.aspx | 40 |
| 105 | csslight.com | 39 |
| 106 | smartguy.com | 39 |
| 107 | traiborg.com | 39 |
| 108 | tupalo.net | 39 |
| 109 | localpages.com/ | 39 |
| 110 | find-us-here.com | 39 |
| 111 | hotvsnot.com/ | 39 |
| 112 | kugli.com | 39 |
| 113 | https://magicpin.in/india/Bangalore/home/ | 39 |
| 114 | 40billion.com | 38 |
| 115 | bizhwy.com | 38 |
| 116 | salonseeker.com | 38 |
| 117 | fyple.com | 38 |
| 118 | ogoing.com/ | 37 |
| 119 | indianceo.in | 37 |
| 120 | indiatradezone.com | 37 |
| 121 | learnpick.in | 37 |
| 122 | aihitdata.com | 36 |
| 123 | cityinsider.com | 36 |
| 124 | nicefirm.com/ | 36 |
| 125 | indianyellowpages.com | 36 |
| 126 | 6qube.com | 35 |
| 127 | where2go.com/default.html | 35 |
| 128 | expressupdate.com | 35 |
| 129 | fundoodata.com | 35 |
| 130 | local.6qube.com/ | 35 |
| 131 | adsansar.com | 34 |
| 132 | freelistingindia.in | 34 |
| 133 | getfreelisting.com | 34 |
| 134 | indiae.in | 34 |
| 135 | yalwa.in | 33 |
| 136 | zoompo.com | 33 |
| 137 | wand.com | 33 |
| 138 | yalwa.in | 33 |
| 139 | indiabizclub.com | 33 |
| 140 | pitnit.com | 33 |
| 141 | indiacatalog.com | 32 |
| 142 | bizsheet.com | 31 |
| 143 | bunity.com | 31 |
| 144 | yelu.in | 31 |
| 145 | orapages.com | 31 |
| 146 | eindiabusiness.com | 31 |
| 147 | grotal.com | 31 |
| 148 | igotbiz.com | 31 |
| 149 | postallads4free.com | 30 |
| 150 | tuugo.in | 30 |
| 151 | locanto.net | 30 |
| 152 | https://www.in.locan.to/ | 31 |
| 153 | indiabook.com | 30 |
| 154 | khojinindia.com | 30 |
| 155 | zipleaf.com | 29 |
| 156 | ncrcities.com | 29 |
| 157 | jantareview.com | 29 |
| 158 | bigwigbiz.com | 28 |
| 159 | buckeyeads.com | 28 |
| 160 | jobiba.com | 28 |
| 161 | https://cityslick.net/ | 27 |
| 162 | wadline.com | 27 |
| 163 | dialindia.com | 27 |
| 164 | frontbazzar.com | 27 |
| 165 | allfreethings.com/ | 26 |
| 166 | business-startpage.com | 26 |
| 167 | buyandsell.com | 26 |
| 168 | clickooz.com | 26 |
| 169 | companylist.org | 26 |
| 170 | south-delhi.infoisinfo.co.in | 26 |
| 171 | onestopb2b.com | 26 |
| 172 | gbguides.com/ | 26 |
| 173 | infoisinfo.co.in | 26 |
| 174 | localbiznetwork.com/india | 26 |
| 175 | accountant-finder.com | 25 |
| 176 | bresdel.com/ | 25 |
| 177 | jimyellowpages.com | 25 |
| 178 | bgyellowpages.com | 24 |
| 179 | placereference.com | 24 |
| 180 | sholay.in | 24 |
| 181 | jsdirectory.com | 24 |
| 182 | biz15.co.in | 23 |
| 183 | quponing.com | 23 |
| 184 | searchingurgaon.com | 23 |
| 185 | nextbizdoor.com | 23 |
| 186 | nextbizthing.com | 23 |
| 187 | indyapages.com | 23 |
| 188 | infoline.in/ | 23 |
| 189 | 10hostings.com | 22 |
| 190 | bizdays.com | 22 |
| 191 | yellowpages.in | 22 |
| 192 | paperdoor.in | 22 |
| 193 | vcsdata.com | 22 |
| 194 | gidonline.com | 22 |
| 195 | linkbyme.com | 22 |
| 196 | bizcyclone.com/ | 21 |
| 197 | bizzduniya.com | 21 |
| 198 | channeliser.com/ | 21 |
| 199 | rajb2b.com | 21 |
| 200 | vanik.com | 21 |
| 201 | ecity.com | 21 |
| 202 | aaspaas.com | 20 |
| 203 | adoak.com | 20 |
| 204 | onlyuncle.com | 20 |
| 205 | indiabizlist.com | 20 |
| 206 | callme.co.in/ | 19 |
| 207 | placelookup.net | 19 |
| 208 | entireindia.com | 19 |
| 209 | localdiaries.in/ | 19 |
| 210 | bharathlisting.com | 19 |
| 211 | clickblue.in | 18 |
| 212 | wikiocity.com | 18 |
| 213 | indiaaclick.com | 18 |
| 214 | buysellcart.in | 17 |
| 215 | zipleaf.in | 17 |
| 216 | searchrunners.com | 17 |
| 217 | indiamarketplaces.com | 17 |
| 218 | indisearch.com | 17 |
| 219 | infoindiaa.com/ | 17 |
| 220 | epageindia.com | 17 |
| 221 | poweredindia.com | 15 |
| 222 | qkeen.com | 15 |
| 223 | thelocalbz.com/ | 14 |
| 224 | toplocal.in | 14 |
| 225 | tradesights.com | 14 |
| 226 | findbazaar.in | 14 |
| 227 | yofirms.com | 13 |
| 228 | opendi.in | 13 |
| 229 | sevanow.com | 13 |
Free Business Listing Sites Worldwide
| 230 | http://www.indiamart.com |
| 231 | http://www.indianyellowpages.com |
| 232 | http://www.sulekha.com |
| 233 | http://www.indiabook.com |
| 234 | http://www.yalwa.in. |
| 235 | http://www.asklaila.com |
| 236 | http://www.fundoodata.com |
| 237 | http://www.indyapages.com/ |
| 238 | https://workinfo.info/ |
| 239 | huntbiz.com |
| 240 | https://www.directories.net.in/ |
| 241 | https://www.indiabizlist.com/ |
| 242 | https://www.businessfinder.in/ |
| 243 | https://indianbusinesscanada.com/ |
| 244 | https://www.indiacom.com/ |
| 245 | https://www.grotal.com |
| 246 | https://clickooz.com/ |
| 247 | https://www.submitmybusiness.com/ |
| 248 | https://www.indiabusdir.com/ |
| 249 | https://www.onlinesearch.co.in/ |
| 250 | https://southindiapages.in/ |
| 251 | https://www.yelu.in/ |
| 252 | https://www.efreefind.com/ |
| 253 | https://www.ibphub.com/ |
| 254 | https://www.indiabusinessguide.in/ |
| 255 | https://ebizbio.com/ |
| 256 | https://huntbiz.com |
| 257 | https://indiabusinesstoday.in/ |
| 258 | https://submitbusinesslisting.com/ |
| 259 | http://wer4you.in/ |
| 260 | https://cityinfoyellowpages.co.in/ |
| 261 | https://callme.co.in/ |
| 262 | https://directories.net.in/ |
| 263 | https://bharathlisting.com/ |
| 264 | http://yellowpages.in/ |
| 265 | https://www.lybrate.com |
| 266 | https://www.practo.com/ |
| 267 | https://www.zocdoc.com |
| 268 | http://www.doctorsdirectoryindia.com/ |
| 269 | https://www.bookdronline.com/ |
| 270 | https://www.infodoctor.in/ |
| 271 | https://www.drdata.in/ |
| 272 | https://www.credihealth.com |
| 273 | http://www.healthdoc.in/ |
| 274 | https://www.medindia.net |
You Also Like to Read about-
215+ Free Guest Posting Sites List
150+ Free Article Submission Sites list
249+ Free Website Submission Sites listÂ
Top 88 Free Image submission Sites
Top 135+ Free Do-Follow Web 2.0 Sites list
360+ Free Profile Creation Sites List
65+ Free Event Submission Sites List
95 Free Link Shortener Sites to Create Backlinks
60+ Free Micro Blogging Sites List
210+ Free Social Bookmarking Sites List
You May also Like:- 29+ Group buy SEO Tools at just Rs. 99/-Â
What are the Benefits of a Local Business Listing?
The advantages are much more than simply being online. Local business listings are the most cost-effective when properly handled marketing channel.
Massive local SEO boost
Every quality listing serves as a reference that informs Google that your business is legit and has been established. The greater the citations, the higher the ranking of the local searches.
Takes control over local searches
When placed in the top business listing sites you are taken on several places in the search results. All your Google Business Profiles, Yelp profiles, and other business directories appear, pushing other competitors to the bottom.
Makes qualified leads automatically
Individuals who are searching on listing websites possess high purchasing intentions. They are not window shopping; they are seeking to employ, purchase or go. The leads are hot to begin with.
Builds online reputation
Social proof is generated as a result of customer reviews on various platforms. Even negative reviews, when done in a professional way, can serve as an illustration that you are interested in customer satisfaction.
Increases brand visibility
Your company is seen more places on the internet. Whenever the potential customers see you everywhere, familiarity and trust are created before they contact you.
Enhances Google Maps ranking
Regular entries assist your business to score higher in Google Maps, and this is essential because the majority of the local searches occur on a phone.
Costs nothing but time
Unlike paid advertisements, free business listing websites provide you with a constant presence without charging you on a monthly basis. Once, submit and gain years of good.
You May also Like:- Srmehranclub Review- GPL Plugins and Themes for WordPress
Where Can I Post My Business for Free?
You can leave your business in hundreds of free places, but not all of them are worth it. Focus on these categories-
Large search engines and maps-
- Google Business Profile
- Bing Places for Business
- Apple Maps Connect
- Yahoo Local Listings
Popular review platforms-
- Yelp
- TripAdvisor (hospitality/tourism)
- Zomato (for restaurants)
- Justdial (India)
Social media platforms-
- Facebook Business Page
- Instagram Business Profile
- LinkedIn Company Page
- Pinterest Business
Country-specific directories-
India: Sulekha, IndiaMart, JustDial, TradeIndia.
USA: Yellowpages, Superpages, Citysearch, Manta.
UK: Yell, Thomson Local, Scoot, FreeIndex.
Australia: True Local, Yellow Pages Australia, Hotfrog.
Canada: YellowPages.ca, Canada411, Yelp Canada.
UAE/Dubai: Dubizzle, service market, Yellow pages UAE.
Industry-specific platforms-
- Home services Houzz, Angie, HomeAdvisor.
- Business services: Avvo (lawyers), Healthgrades (doctors).
- Retail: Merchant Circle, Shopping.com.
The trick here is to begin with high-authority, globalized sites, and then add those in the country and business-specific sites.
You May also Like:- Download Elementor Pro at Affordable Price
Is Google Business Listing Free?
Yes! Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is 100% free and should be your absolute first priority.
Google Business Profile is the most important because it-
- Available in Google search engine and Google mapping.
- Appears in the local 3-pack results.
- Enables customer commentaries and questioning.
- Offers information on customer search.
- Allows writing posts and offers.
How to set it up (takes 10 minutes)-
- Go to business.google.com
- Write in using your Google account.
- Please enter the name of your business and type.
- Provide your specific location of business.
- Contact information.
- Give contact details.
- Check your business (typically through a postcard to your address).
Pro tips for Google Business Listing-
- Full profiles are 100 percent; half profiles are less favourable.
- Include good-quality photos (businesses that have photos receive 42 percent more direction requests)
- Promote customer feedback and address all the feedbacks.
- Post frequent updates regarding offers, events or news.
- Enter correct business hours and change them during holidays.
Your local visibility can be changed with the help of Google Business Profile only. My businesses have leaped up to page 3 to the top 3 local results simply by maximizing this free listing.
You May also Like:- WorldPressIT Review- GPL Plugins and Themes for WordPress
Benefits of Free Local Business Listing Websites in India
The digital marketplace in India is booming, and the local listing business sites in India have their own advantages to businesses that aim at the Indian market.
Huge coverage in an expanding market-
India has above 700 million internet users and millions of them search local services every day. In India, the free business listing sites can get you in touch with this large audience.
Dominate regional/local searches
Local search results are dominated by the Top 10 free business listing sites in India, such as JustDial, Sulekh,a and IndiaMart. When listed there, you are in front of ready-to-buy customers.
Multi-language support
Numerous Indian business listing sites accept Hindi and local languages, which will enable them to find customers who want to conduct a search in their own language.
Mobile-first audience
Majority of the Indian users are mobile search. Indian local business listing sites are mobile enabled and therefore it is easy to call or direction your business.
Builds local trust
Before purchasing, Indian clients tend to consult many sources. Being present on established Indian sites, such as JustDial or IndiaMart, implies legitimacy.
Industry-specific options
IndiaMART, the Indian business listing site specialized in B2B, and Zomato, the Indian business listing site specialized in restaurants, can help you reach the audience you need.
Cost-effective marketing
Free local business listing websites in India are beneficial for businesses with limited budgets, as they offer advertising exposure at no cost, unlike traditional media.
You May also Like:- 25+ Best PLR Sites to Make Money
10 Key platforms for Local Indian businesses
- JustDial- India’s largest local search engine
- Sulekha- Classifieds and local services
- IndiaMart- B2B marketplace and listings
- 99acres- Real estate listings
- TradeIndia- B2B business directory
- AskLaila- Local business search
- Getit- Local business directory
- Google My Business
- Udaan- B2B e-commerce platform
- OLX- Buying and selling products
You May also Like:- Top 10 Group Buy SEO Tools Providers list
SEO Tips for Optimizing Your Business Listings
It is not just sufficient to submit to business listing sites. Exceptional results and average results are separated by optimization.
Use Consistent NAP Everywhere
This can’t be stressed enough. Google matches your business data with hundreds of sources, so be careful.
Create a master document with-
- Precise name of business (with punctuation marks).
- Complete address (addressing everybody)
- Primary phone number
- URL of websites (including or excluding www – choose one)
- Paste this direct information in each listing. Zero variations.
- Select the Right Business Categories.
The majority of sites allow choosing primary and secondary categories. Choose accurately-
- Too broad: “Services” (useless)
- Too specific: “Emergency 24/7 residential plumbing apartments that are built after 2010” (no one searches this)
- Just right: Plumber (primary) + Emergency Plumbing Service (secondary).
Find out what types of categories your competitors are employing and what is searching the most in the industry you are in.
Write Keyword-rich Descriptions.
- Naturally, add keywords regarding location and service to your description of the business:
- Generic: “we are a great plumbing company and it serves the customers.
Optimized “Plumbing company owned by the family and serving Mumbai and nearby regions since 2015. Emergency repair, bathroom renovation and commercial plumbing Specialists.
See the difference? The second variant consists of location (Mumbai), time range (since 2015), and the particular services the customers are searching.
Add High-Quality Photos
Pictorial listings receive many more clicks and interactions-
- Post a minimum of 5-10 pictures.
- Include your products, work examples, team, and logo.
- Name the filenames descriptively (not IMG_1234.jpg) mumbai-plumber-service.jpg.
- Post pictures often to indicate that you are alive.
Gather and Reaction to Reviews
Factors and trust signals are being ranked-
- Request satisfied clients to make reviews.
- All the reviews (good and bad) need to be answered within 24-48 hours.
- Reward satisfied buyers with compliments.
- Be professional in addressing issues in bad reviews.
- Never argue or get defensive
Keep Information Updated
Obsolete information is a killer of trust and conversions-
Since the business hours are updated, the business hours must be updated accordingly.
- Change address or telephone number of every place at once.
- Add new services or products
- Keep special offers current
Build Citations Gradually
Do not post on 100 sites in a single day. This may be perceived by the search engines as suspicious.
Better approach-
Week 1: Post to 1015 major platforms.
Week 2-4: Add 5-10 more per week
Month 2-3: Finish industry and local specific sites.
This is a natural growth trend that appears more acceptable to the search engines.
You May also Like:- PluginsforWP Review- Best Site For GPL Plugins
How Many Listing Sites Should You Use?
Quality reigns over quantity yet there is a strategic point of maximum impact.
Minimum effective number: 30-40 quality sites.
These include national search engines, review sites, social networks, and important directories in the country. Provides you with good visibility without excessive time expenditure.
Optimal number: 50-80 sites
Includes industry-specific platforms and secondary directories. It is here that you begin to dominate the local search and beat most of the competitors.
Maximum useful number: 100-150 sites
Of this, you are reaching the point of diminishing returns. You only go this far when you are in a very competitive market or when you are targeting more countries.
My recommended strategy-
Phase 1 – Foundation (Week 1):
- Google Business Profile
- Bing Places
- Facebook Business
- Yelp
- Apple Maps
- 5-10 country-specific key locations.
Phase 2 – Expansion (Weeks 2-4):
- Big review (TripAdvisor, Zomato, when applicable)
- Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn business profiles.
- Secondary country specific directories.
- 20-30 total new submissions
Phase 3 – Domination (Months 2-3)-
- Industry-specific platforms
- Chamber of commerce directories in the area.
- Directories of niches within your industry.
- City-specific regional locations.
- Complete 40-60 total listings
Ongoing maintenance-
- Check and revise all listings every three months.
- Respond to reviews weekly
- Add new photos monthly
- Post to 2-3 new relevant sites every month.
Don’t try to do 270+ sites at once. Begin with the basics, gauge the outcomes, and then grow in a strategic direction depending on what is working.
You May also Like:- Top 5 GPL Websites Compared- Best for Plugins and Themes
Conclusion
Look, I realise that the number of listing sites is overwhelming. Don’t let that paralyse you. Begin by making a small start.
This week, do these 5 things-
- Prepare your master information record- NAP, descriptions, images, everything business wise.
- Incorporate and maximize Google Business Profile- That is all that will turn your visibility into reality.
- Post on 5 large sites- Bing, Facebook, Yelp and 2 country based sites.
- Install tracking- Keep record of where you have submitted to and at what time.
- Plan 30 minutes in a week- Apply to 5-10 additional locations.
Month 1 objective- 30-40 quality listings to be made.
Goal (month 2-3)- 50-80 listings, optimization of the ones that are there, begin to gather reviews.
Continuous- Add at least 2-3 new listings per month, reply to reviews, update information every 3 months.
Keep in mind that your competitors are not doing this, or at best, half-heartedly doing it. Constant work on business listing sites will provide you with a huge competitive edge.
The customers are in search mode at the moment. It has just to do with whether they pick you up or your rival.
Start today! Which listing site are you going to address first? Leave a comment and tell me that- I would be happy to support you!
FAQ
- Go to business.Google.com and log in.
- Name of Business and Select Type.
- Include your address, phone and web site.
- Check your business through postcard or telephone.
- Add photos and a description of your profile.
Verification takes 5-7 days. After verification, maximize your profile to get maximum results.
Local SEO matters because-
46% of Google searches are seeking local information.
Three-quarters of all mobile searchers come to a business within 24 hours.
Local searches are converted 3 times more than general searches.
Majority of local searchers are prepared to purchase immediately, but not window shopping.
Without local search engine optimization, your presence becomes unknown when the customers in your locality are searching what you are offering.
Evaluation criteria
Begin with universal necessities-
- Google Business Profile (non-negotiable)
- Bing Places, Apple Maps
- Facebook, LinkedIn
Include country-specific leaders-
- India: JustDial, Sulekha, IndiaMart.
- USA: Yellow Pages, Yelp, Superpages.
- UK: Yell, Thomson Local
- Australia: Yellow pages, True Local.
Include platform-specific to the industry-
- Restaurants: Zomato, TripAdvisor, OpenTable.
- Home services: Angie list, HomeAdvisor, Houzz.
- Professional services: Avvo, Healthgrades, FindLaw.
Check these factors:
- Domain authority (aim for 40+)
- Active user base in your area
- Enters your category of business.
- Accepts your country/region
- Has fast verification or immediate approval.
Begin with 30-40 sites of these categories, and increase accordingly, depending on the outcome.
Yes, they’re still valuable- especially if you’re just starting out, or a local business. It also helps you to boost traffic and in your SEO efforts.
Absolutely yes! One of the reasons why it is important to respond to reviews is that it-
- Demonstrates that you are interested in feedback about customers.
- Enhances your reputation and credibility.
- Manipulates prospective buyers of reviews.
- Ability to convert negative events to positive results.
- Recommendations to search engines that you are a business that is active and engaged.
How to respond-
Positive reviews-
"Thank you, [Name]! We are delighted you liked [whatever they were talking about]. Well, I hope to see you again!
Negative reviews-
Your case is regrettable, Name. We'd like to make this right. We would like to address this problem, please, contact us at [phone/email].
Response guidelines-
- Reply within 24-48 hours
- Be professional and amiable.
- Be grateful to people who write good reviews.
- Respond to negative reviews amicably.
- Agree to go off-line to have conversations.
- Do not be defensive and emotional.
Responsive businesses to reviews achieve 35 percent more conversions as compared to the non responsive ones.
Top 10 for Indian businesses-
- Google Business Profile - Essential for all businesses
- JustDial - India's largest local search platform
- Sulekha - Popular for local services and classifieds
- IndiaMart - Leading B2B marketplace and directory
- Facebook Business - Massive reach and engagement
- Bing Places - Often overlooked but valuable
- TradeIndia - B2B focused business directory
- IndiaMART - Alternative B2B platform
- AskLaila - Growing local search platform
- Yellow Pages India - Traditional directory still relevant
Instant approval business listing websites allow you to submit your profile instantly and do not require waiting to have it verified manually.
Popular instant approval websites-
- Facebook Business (instant)
- LinkedIn Company Page (instant)
- Bing Places (quick approval)
- Merchant Circle (instant)
- Hotfrog (instant)
- Foursquare (instant)
Numerous online directory websites have automated directories.
Note: Instant approval is a handy thing, but should not be mixed up with quality. Gathering of Google Business Profile is verified, but the results are much better than 50 instant-approval, low-quality directories.
The high authority sites should be first considered, though they may need to be verified.
Dominant platforms-
- Google Business Profile (it remains at the first place)
- Apple Maps (growing rapidly)
- Bing Places (underutilized gem)
- Facebook/Instagram Business (enormous coverage)
Review platforms-
Yelp (USA, Canada, a part of Europe)
- TripAdvisor (travel, hospitality, restaurants)
- Trustpilot (expanding around the world)
Emerging platforms-
- NextDoor (hyper-local community focus)
- LinkedIn (B2B services)
- Pinterest Business (visual industries)
Leaders specific to country remain powerful-
- JustDial, Sulekha (India)
- Variations of Yellow pages (several countries)
Local chamber of commerce locations.
The scenery will change, yet Google Business Profile will be crucial, and Apple Maps will be increasingly important as the number of iOS adherents will rise.
Yes! If you are a local business, you can submit your site to location-based business sites to increase local search coverage.
