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How To Check your Online Business Listings (3
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How To Check Your Online Business Listings
Want to look up and review the effectiveness of your own online business listings?
Here are instructions to check your listings for accuracy, enhancements, frequency and position. Remember, there are hundreds of local search directories, search engines, and internet yellow pages. And more popping up every day. The major ones are absolutely essential - but don't stop there. There are less well-known sources that get hundreds if not thousands of local search hits every month. You don't want to miss out on reaching those prospects.
Step 1: Understand How To Evaluate Your Local Search Internet Presence
1.) After reviewing these Step 1 instructions, click a local search link under Step 2 in the right column. A new window will open so that you don't lose this page.
2.) Enter a common keyword or keyword phrase that you think your customers would type in if they did not know your business name, but wanted your product or service. For example, you could type in wood floors for a hardwood floor contracting business or electrician for an electrical contracting business. Make sure to enter exactly the same keyword or phrase for each local search source so you can accurately compare how your business ranks.
3.) Next, enter the city and state or zip code that your business is located in, and click Search.
4.) When the search results display, you will notice some advertising. There could be sponsored ads by Google or Yahoo; or sponsored businesses that appear at the top of the list; and some shading and higher positioning for paid placement ads.
After the paid advertising is listed - which could include your competitors - you'll find the directory of free listings. Find your business. Hopefully, it is listed there somewhere; and ideally, it is listed in the top five or at least on the first page.
5.) How does your business listing look as compared to your competitors? How is it placed? Is it highest enough in the list that consumers will see it and possibly click on it?
Now click on your business listing to view the details. Is it accurate? Is it complete? Can it be enhanced? How does it compare to your competitor's listings?
6.) You may be tempted to add some information and make some changes. That should be done as soon as possible, however, we recommend that you first think through how you want to represent your business and consider optimization techniques. It is also beneficial that your business listings are consistent between directories, with the exception of customizations.
NEXT: Online Business Listing Success - Before and After (4 of 5)
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Step 2: How and Where to Check Your Online Business Listings
*Make sure you enter the same search terms and city, state or zip code for each search to accurately compare your business listing at the sources below.
1) Google's Local Search,
Google Maps -
Enter a keyword or phrase, city and state. The
listings appear on the left, the map pinpointing each listing on the
right. Notice that you can refine the list by rating - getting positive
customer reviews helps improve your credibility and click-through results.
*If your business is not in the top ten, or at least on the first page, the chances your listing will even be viewed by consumers is reduced by 92%!
2) Yahoo's Local Search,
Yahoo Local -
Click
"Local" just under the Yahoo logo at the top of the page. Your city and
state may fill in automatically based on the IP address of your
computer. You may change it if you wish. Notice that you can sort by top
results, distance or highest rated. You can also print the results.
3) MSN's Yellow Pages,
Maps Live -
Enter your search terms and a city, state or zip code.
Notice that you can refine the search by Category, and sort the results
by relevance and distance.
4) Yellow Pages,
YellowPages.com
-
Enter search terms and location. You can also click on a specific city
to search in, or search by category. Notice that you can sort by
distance or display the listing alphabetically. In the left column, you
are provided with more options to further refine your search.
5) Ask.com,
Ask City -
Enter search terms and location. Note that you can print
or email the results.