With more of the buyer’s journey moving online, the days of thumbing through hard copy yellow pages and trade journals are long past. Today’s consumers generally “Google it” when they are looking to solve a problem, and they’ll turn to various online directories to find brands that they can trust with their business.

Having your company appear in these online business directories is vital to remaining competitive in just about any industry. Being found in a business directory can increase your discoverability, improve your SEO and strengthen your online reputation, just to name a few benefits.

Not sure which directories to make a priority? Here are a few to put on your list:

It’s unlikely your customers are using manual directories. Try these online business listings instead.

Google My Business

If you do nothing else, make sure that your business claims and optimizes its business listings in Google. GMB listings will help your business get found in Google for local search terms and show up on Google Maps, where consumers can reach relevant information about your brand, leave and engage with feedback and click through to your website for more information.

(Learn more about how you can Stay Visible in Google’s Universe.)

Facebook

Facebook is another place that consumers are likely to research your brand since it is the world’s most popular social media platform. You’ll want to create a Facebook business page where you can post updates, collect customer reviews and engage with current and potential customers.

Bing Places for Business

Even though Bing doesn’t get as much search traffic as Google, they still get some. So, it makes sense to create your business directory listing on their platform and keep it up-to-date.

Having more visibility through online business listings can help drive sales.

Angie’s List

If you are in the home or healthcare industry, it’s a good idea to create a business listing on Angie’s List. This platform filters out low-quality and anonymous reviews, which is beneficial to protecting your online reputation. Further, it allows you to communicate with users, which can help facilitate transactions.

Trip Advisor

If you are in the travel or hospitality industry, having an active profile on Trip Advisor is a must. As one of the leading websites that travelers use for pre-trip research, Trip Advisor allows you to post photos and information about your business and respond to customer reviews.

Better Business Bureau

It might seem a bit old school, but it’s not uncommon for consumers to look up the Better Business Bureau profile for a company they’re researching. BBB grades businesses from A+ to F, provided they have enough information on hand to do so. Keeping an eye on your Better Business Bureau listing helps ensure your online reputation stays pristine.

Other Industry-Specific Directories

Depending on your industry, you’ll want to target different business listing websites. Here are some of the top ones for different industries:

• Healthcare – WebMD, Vitals.com, HealthGrades, Wellness.com, Care.com
• Real Estate – Zillow, Realtor.com, Trulia, Redfin, Loopnet, Movoto, Hotpads
• Automotive – Cars.com, DealerRater, edmunds, CarGurus

Reputation.com delivers leading online reputation management solutions through a single easy-to-use platform. We help brands monitor business listings and online reviews, generate meaningful feedback and make sense of data to improve the customer experience.

Download our ebook “Getting Started with Online Reputation Management” to learn more.