Almost everybody has dealt with this situation: They go to the Internet to do a search for a business and they get a bunch of results. They get the phone number or email address from the site, only to find out that it is not correct. This is not only frustrating but also reflects poorly on the business.

This is just one of the reasons why it is so important to claim your local directory listings on popular sites like Yelp, Bing, Manta and Google My Business. By claiming local directory listings you can be sure that your business information is always up to date and correct. It will also give you an advantage over the local competition. Here are some of the reasons that you should consider claiming your local business listings, as well as some of the benefits you will get from doing it.

Why You Need to Claim Your Online Local Directory Listings

If you are unsure why claiming your local directory listings is important or you think it is a waste of time or something you can do at a later date then you should consider the following information:

-More than 90% of customers now search for businesses online. This means that if your business is not listed or doesn’t have updated information, you will be missing out on all of this business. If you are not claiming your local directory listings then your local competition is getting this business.

 

-People are increasingly using mobile phones to search. It is estimated that more than half of all Internet searches will be done by phone in just a few years. This means even more customers will be looking online for information about businesses. This allows potential customers to get information on the go. If they cannot find your business then you might miss out on customers that are just outside your doors.

-You’ll be missing our on referrals and repeat business. People now search and share information online, which makes it easy for them to pass along your business information to friends and family. If you are not listed then it will be harder for you to get referrals and repeat business.

The Benefits of Claiming Local Directory Listings

There are many advantages and benefits of claiming local directory listings. Here is what you can expect to get by taking advantage of your local directory listings:

 

-You will have much more control over how search engines index your website and business. This ensures that you will get the most possible hits when people search for businesses in your area. It will also help to send qualified customers to your site, as they will have been searching for your specific type of business or service. Instead of only getting random customers you will actually get people that are ready to buy.

-It will prevent others from taking or using your business listing. Some companies will try to hijack the business listing of their competitors to make it much harder for people to find them. By claiming your local directory listings you will ensure that your competition cannot use your listing against you.

-It will improve your search engine optimization rankings. By claiming your local directory you will help tell the search engines that you are an active company doing business, and if all your stuff matches up on the different directory listings, then all things being equal, you will rank higher in search engine results than a company that is not on top of this.

 

-It will increase both web and foot traffic to your business. Web traffic will be increased because your site will be better optimized for search engines. In addition, people will be much more likely to see your business when doing searches for local businesses. Your foot traffic will also improve, as people will be able to get information about your business using their phones. This means that people that are away from their computer or phone book will still be able to get your company’s information on the go, which will increase your foot traffic.

 

Don’t Wait

If you have not claimed your local directory listings then you are potentially missing out on a lot of business. If customers cannot find correct information about your business online then you could be driving business away. It will not only keep some customers away, but they might even think you have gone out of business if they cannot find accurate information.

 

If you use sites like Google My Business, Facebook, Yelp, Manta and others you will be able to take advantage of a much wider audience of local searchers. Since the Internet now accounts for nearly all searches for businesses you will need to do much more than just put your phone number in the Yellow pages. Now is the time to start taking advantage of local directory listings.