Local directory: why should your business be listed?

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When looking for a local business, Internet users have several tools at their disposal. In particular, they can consult search engines directly or make their request within their favorite local directory. This is where things get complicated because there are a large number of local directories online, each feeding the local SEO of your points of sale.

In any case, you must understand the crucial importance of your local visibility . Indeed, know that 72% of consumers who carry out a local search online, then visit a store less than 8 km from their location 1 . In addition, 62% of consumers immediately reject a brand that they cannot find online 2 . To generate traffic in store , it is therefore necessary to have optimized local SEO .

Today, let's find out why your business should be listed in local online directories .


1. What is a local directory and why should you be listed in one?
2. What are the main local online directories for a network of brands?
3. How to improve your local SEO with local directories?
Conclusion


local business directory why be listed

1. What is a local directory and why should you be listed in one?
A local directory is a directory that allows you to list businesses in specific geographic areas.

Local directories can be general and present businesses from all sectors, such as the yellow pages. They can also be specialized and list businesses in a specific sector, such as The Fork in catering. Finally, a local directory can also be intended for professionals or certain regulated professions, such as Doctolib.

local directory example search

Example of a search on the Hoodspot local directory

These local directories allow your points of sale to develop their azerbaijan mobile phone number list local SEO by being present in local searches . For example, when a prospect searches for a business on the yellow pages or a restaurant on TripAdvisor. By being visible on all local directory platforms, you multiply the points of contact with your consumers.

Also know that your presence on local online directories feeds your overall local SEO because it creates notoriety links between your website and the different platforms. This is additional proof of credibility for Google!



local directories network brands

2. What are the main local online directories for a network of brands?
As you have begun to perceive, there are many local online directories each with their specificities. We have listed for you the main platforms adapted to brand networks:

Obviously, you have to start with Google My Business ! You probably already know it, Google has developed its own local directory thanks to Google business listings. But did you know that 36% of local SEO depends on your Google 3 listings ? It is therefore essential for the local visibility of your points of sale.
Pages Jaunes.fr : this is the online version of the old paper directory. The yellow pages website is recognized as a trusted directory and is still very present in local search habits .
Yelp: This is a versatile directory whose promise is “ Connect with the best businesses near you .”
TripAdvisor: This one is a local directory specializing in travel and catering. It contains a lot of practical information and customer reviews.
Business Hours presents local businesses and offers search options by location and opening hours.
Opening Hours : within the Le Figaro website, it presents opening hours and customer reviews on businesses, shops and services. It also allows you to formulate requests "near you".
OpenStreetMap : more than just a local directory, it is a collaborative map that allows you to reference everything, including your points of sale.
Justacoté : this platform shares good addresses of local businesses. It is possible to create files for your local establishments and customers can leave reviews there.
local search local business directory

Example of a Yelp local directory search

What you need to remember is that each local directory is aimed at a target or segment of the population. So make your choice based on your objectives! This will help you determine the optimal channels to fuel your local presence .


improve local SEO local directory

3. How to improve your local SEO with local directories?
Fill in the essential information
To begin, you have more or less elements to complete depending on the local directories where you wish to develop your local visibility .

In all cases, certain elements are essential, such as:

the name of your point of sale.
its location (to stand out in local searches!).
opening hours and days.
your telephone number, email address and website address.
Depending on the online directories, you can add additional elements such as:

a description.
categories.
news posts.
links to your social networks.
images and videos.
your services.
a section for customer reviews.
Remember that it is important to be consistent across all local online directories to improve your local SEO . Indeed, search engines analyze all of your data to check for consistency. And beware of penalties on your visibility if this is not the case!


Use a presence management platform
For a chain of brands that manages many points of sale, it can be tedious to create and feed establishment pages on all the local online directories. Not to mention the updates that must be made regularly. It quickly becomes a headache.

Know that you can make your life much easier with a presence management platform . With this tool, you can make updates in one click and your changes are multi-broadcast across all your establishment files. Yes, you read that right, instead of changing the data one by one, they are automatically modified across all your directories.

For example, Digitaleo's presence management platform allows you to manage all of the following local directories in one click:

Google Business Profile (also linked to Google Maps)
Facebook
Shop opening hours
The Schedules
OpenStreetMap
Justacoté
Foursquare
Here
Waze
Qwant Maps
Hoodspot
Apple Plans
And hey presto, with the precious time you've just saved, you can develop other aspects of your local SEO while taking a coffee break!