June 4, 2009
There are a lot of local business listings out there—ThinkLocal®, Yahoo!® Local, and YellowPages.com™ are just a few. Thanks to these online business directories, it’s easy for your clients to find information on your business, which is great. But sometimes the information that is gathered by local directories is incorrect or outdated, which in no way benefits your business. Fixing this situation is easy, however, by simply taking control of your listings.
Take the time to look up your business on some of the top local search engines (click here for the top 5). By taking ownership of your listings, you can take control of what searchers find. In addition to changing or updating existing information, you can also add a link to your website, a description of services offered, your business hours, an email address at where you can be reached, and much more. We suggest taking ownership of your listings at the top 5 directories first, then expanding to the rest when you find time.
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Internet Yellow Pages, Local Search, Uncategorized | Tagged: business directories, business directory, business listing, business listings, online business directories, online business directory, online business listings | 
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Posted by thinklocal
December 11, 2008
Local search directories offer many benefits to a business owner: they’re effective at extending a business’s Web presence, they provide potential customers with the important contact and location information they need, and they can drive traffic to a business’s Web site. While these features can ensure that your business will be found, that is only half the battle; converting your listing’s audience into actual business is another thing.
Many online business directories, including ThinkLocal®, provide a platform where customers can leave their ratings and reviews for each business that is listed. The great thing about customer reviews, in addition to extending a business’s online presence, is their power of persuasion. Customer ratings and reviews make your business stand out from the crowd, and people are more likely to choose a business with a positive review over a business that lacks a customer review. If the search for “sushi restaurants” in your local area brings up multiple results, the restaurant with a 5-star rating and descriptive review is going to grab your attention; it may even convince you to choose that one over the others.
Customer reviews not only help to bring new customers to a business, they also provide business owners with valuable feedback on their business’s performance. Positive reviews point out features that a business owner might want to highlight in their next advertising campaign, and negative reviews let the business owner know which areas need improvement.
If you manage an online business listing, get the most out of it: encourage your patrons to review your business, and then use that feedback to your advantage.
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Internet Yellow Pages, Local Search, Small Business, Social Media | Tagged: advertising, business directories, business listings, customer feedback, Local Search, online business listings, thinklocal, web presence | 
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Posted by thinklocal
June 3, 2008
Local search submission is pretty simple. Once you find an online business directory that receives a promising stream of traffic, search for your listing. Some of these sites purchase business listings from data management companies who may have your business information. If you find your listing, create an account on the site so that you can take ownership of the listing. Once you have ownership, you will be able to edit the listing and add new information.
You may not find your listing. This simply means that you must create your own. Register for an account, just as you would when taking ownership of a listing. Then choose the option to create a new listing. You be asked to provide such information as your business name, location, phone number, description and so on. In addition, some online business directories give you the power to choose a category and subcategory for your listing and/or add store descriptions and links to your business Web site. The more information you provide, the more likely you will be able to sway an undecided consumer.
Local search Web sites like ThinkLocal® and Google Maps typically do not charge for standard business listings although some sites offer enhanced listings for a fee. Enhanced listings prices usually vary depending on market size. Therefore, a business listing targeting New York City, the largest city in the U.S., will cost more than a listing targeting a small town like Vega, Texas, which the 2000 census reports has fewer than 1000 residents.
Enhanced listings usually come with a few extra perks. Every time an enhanced listing matches a search criterion, it will regain a visible placement on every relevant results page. So, if the results end up spanning over 4 pages, the enhanced listing will appear on all four pages. Some enhanced listings packages also include tracking tools to help businesses keep up with the performance of their listings.
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Internet Yellow Pages, Local Search, Small Business | Tagged: business directories, business listing, business listings, enhanced listing, google maps, Local Search, maps, online business directory, thinklocal | 
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Posted by thinklocal
