As a small-sized company, anything that helps you build your online reputation is an excellent asset. An example of one such asset that your competitors might use that you could be underusing is online directory listings.
These websites are just the thing if you’re looking to market your business! They make it easy for potential clients to find you, and they give you a chance to show off your products and services to a wider customer base. Who could ask for anything more?
A listing in the Kenyan online directory is the key to unlocking your business’s potential to reach new customers and grow your business. It is an essential piece of the puzzle when it comes to marketing your business effectively in Kenya.
What is an Online Business Listing?
An online business listing is like a business’s little internet-home. It’s a place where potential customers can find important information about the business, like what kind of business it is, where it’s located, positive reviews and what services it offers. Online business listings can be super useful for people who are looking for new businesses to patronize!
Online business directories are useful for both businesses and consumers alike.
What Are Benefits of Online Business Directories?
Business directories are a great way to both find new potential customers and show off your hard work and expertise. Let’s look at some of the ways that the best online yellow pages can make your business grow.
Business Owners Can Improve Online Presence and Local SEO Rankings
If you’re a business owner, one of the best things you can do to improve your online presence is to add your company to online yellow pages. By doing this, you’ll be able to reach more potential customers, and you’ll also be able to improve your search engine optimization (SEO).
Businesses that are listed in online listings are more likely to rank higher in search engine results pages, which means they’re more likely to be seen potential customers. Also, because online listings are often indexed search engines, there’s a good chance your business will too!
Don’t forget that being listed in many business directories can help get backlinks to your website. Most SEO’s claim that having more backlinks increases your chances of being in the first page of search engines like Google and Bing.
Help Your Business Get Local Customers
If you want your small business to succeed, you need to make sure you have a strong online presence. Local business listings can help level the playing field and give you a chance to be found by people in your area.
This is especially important in Kenya most information about local business is through word of mouth. The truth is that local customers find a better service or product when they shop in their neighborhood.
Why should someone travel all the way to a big city to buy something when they can just find it right in their own area?
Enhance Brand Reputation and Get More Customers
Listing your business in online web directories can help you build trust and credibility with potential customers. When people see that your business is listed in a reputable directory, they may be more likely to trust your brand. However, if you add your business in an online directory that is full of spam, your customers may not be as trusting.
The best listing websites allow you to not only promote your business but also generate leads for you. This is one of the most important things to make a business visible.
Online Business Directories are a Cost Effective Investment
One of the great things about listing your business in online sites is that it’s easy and inexpensive to do. In most cases, all you need to do is create a free account and then add your business listing. Many allow you to add your business for free.
Compare that to newspaper classifieds and even PPC campaigns and you shall see that this is one of the biggest benefits of a business directory. Even paid listings come with extras that allow you to get new prospects and customers.
Once your listing is live, it will be visible to anyone who searches for businesses in your industry or location.
Manage What Users Say About Business & Reviews
Every small business owner had to deal with negative reviews from people who may not even be a customer. There are even Facebook pages that promote that behavior. What if you could gain control of your business reputation through verified online reviews?
The best online business listing directories allow only your verified customers to comment on your services. It’s perfect for any business as you can use the reviews to improve on your business process and also get new customers.
Having control over your business information and reviews is crucial to maintaining a good reputation. You can use this control to your advantage by ensuring that only accurate and positive information is being put out there. This will help you attract more customers and keep your existing ones happy.
Boost Search Engine Rankings and Online Visibility
Looking to really boost your search engine rankings? Then you need to get your business listed on as many online directories as possible! Why? Well, because search engines love them. They’re constantly on the lookout for new and relevant websites to add to their databases, and what better way to find new websites than by scouring listing sites?
Get creative and list your business in as many niche-specific directories as you can find. The more places your business is listed, the higher it will rank in search results.
So if you want to give your search engine ranking a real boost, get your business listed on as many business directories as you can. It’s sure to pay off in the long run!
3 Ways to Find the Best Business Listing Directories
But where do you start? There are hundreds of business listing directories. The most important is Google My Business. This only works if you have a real business with a real local presence. Unfortunately for many small businesses in Kenya listing in Google Maps may not be possible. However there are several local directories you can choose.
These are some of the things you need to consider when picking one.
Is the Directory Relevant to Your Niche?
If you want to be successful in digital marketing, one of the best kept secrets is to get links from relevant websites. It’s just like in real life – we tend to get the best recommendations from people who are in the same industry as us.
So for example, if you are a doctor, try and get listed in doctor or medical directories. If you are a school, look for education directories. For larger directories, you must choose the right category for your business.
What is The Domain Authority
Avoid spammed websites that can only harm your business. Find out how often listing site is updated and if they automate their listings. The more active a website is, the more likely they will help you find customers who are looking for your service or product.
Does the Listing Site Have the Right Features to Grow Your Business?
Growing a business isn’t only about adding your company name in many websites. You also need to know that directory sites can help you find customers, nurture them and promote you.
Does it help you grow you brand awareness and visibility? Are the reviews on the website real? Can local customers find your business easily?
Take your time and research. It’s the only way local clientele is going to find your local listing.
How to Improve Visibility and Online Presence of Your Local Business
Claim Your Listings in as Many Directories as You Can
Many directories scrape the internet and add your company to their website. That has also happened to a company as big as Google.
Unfortunately this means that you have no control on your business reputation if someone decides to write negative reviews about you. To avoid that, claim your listings in as many websites as possible.
Input Complete and Consistent Details in Your Business Profile
Local business directories also also allow you to input the correct information about your business. Ensure you have the business name, contact information, business hours, business location and even your services.
Describe your business as if you were creating a brochure. List your services and also your terms. We want people who are looking for it online to find it and buy.
Update New Information About Your Company
Do not set and forget about your directory listing. Always update the latest information and business details. For example, improved services, coupons etc. can help you get more leads for your business. Keep a diary of any updates and you should get the most out of this
Include media-rich content and Update Content
If a directory allows you to add media such as photos or videos or even tweets, please take advantage of it. People buy from people they trust. One of the easiest ways to improve your brand awareness is adding photos and even updates about your company as often as you can.
If the site allows you to have a blog, take advantage of it. Add your own content and save on press releases and gain new customers as you educate them.
Allow reviews from customers
There are significant benefits to any business that allows their customers to vent or even give advice. Most people search your business based on positive customer reviews. Of course you cannot avoid the negative, but by interacting with the negative reviews, it shows that you are willing to improve.
Review sites help a lot when it comes to customer service and helping prospective customers looking for a business with strong ethics.
Getting Started
If you want your business to be successful, you absolutely need to be on online directory listings. The benefits are clear: more customers, more growth, more profitability. And the best part is, there are plenty of platforms that offer this service for free.
So what are you waiting for? Get your business on an online directory today!
Get involved!
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