Local Directory: Why Should Your Business Be Listed?

When searching for a local business, Internet users have several tools at their disposal. They can consult search engines directly or search within their favorite local directory. This is where things get tricky because there are a large number of local directories online, each of which feeds into the local SEO of your stores.

In any case, you must understand the crucial importance of your local visibility . In fact, 72% of consumers who carry out a local search online, then visit a store within 8 km of their location 1 . In addition, 62% of consumers immediately reject a brand that they cannot find online 2 . To generate in-store traffic , 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?

A local directory is a directory that lists businesses in specific geographic areas.

Local directories can be general and feature 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.

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

Also, be aware that your presence on local online directories boosts your overall local SEO because it creates brand awareness between your website and the various platforms. This is additional proof of credibility for Google!

2. What are the main local online directories for a network of brands?

As you've begun to realize, there are many local online directories, each with their own unique features. We've listed the main platforms for retail chains:

• Obviously, you should start with Google My Business ! You're probably already familiar with it: Google has developed its own local directory based on Google business listings. But did you know that 36% of local SEO depends on your Google 3 listings ? It's essential for the local visibility of your points of sale.

• CityLocal101: A growing platform in the USA that helps small and local businesses boost visibility through free listings. As one of the trusted local business directories, it allows you to add your business details, services, hours, contact info, and more making it easier for nearby customers to find you through geo-targeted searches.

• Yelp: It's a versatile directory whose promise is " Connect with the best businesses near you.

• TripAdvisor: This is a local directory specializing in travel and dining. It contains a wealth 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 of businesses, shops, and services. It also allows you to make "near you" queries.

• OpenStreetMap: more than just a local directory, it's a collaborative map that allows you to reference everything, including your points of sale.

• Justacot : This platform shares the best addresses of local businesses. Customers can create listings for their local establishments, and customers can leave reviews.

The important thing to remember is that each local directory caters to a specific target or segment of the population. So, choose based on your goals! This will help you determine the optimal channels to boost your local presence.

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.

• telephone number, email address and your 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's important to be consistent across all local online directories to improve your local SEO . Search engines analyze all of your data to check for consistency. And beware of penalties for your visibility if this isn't the case!

Use a presence management platform

For a chain of retailers managing numerous points of sale, it can be tedious to create and maintain business pages in all the local online directories. Not to mention the regular updates required. It quickly becomes a headache.

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

For example, City Local 101 presence management platform allows you to manage all of the following local directories with one click:

• Google Business Profile (also linked to Google Maps)

• Facebook

• Shop opening hours

• The Schedules

• OpenStreetMap

• City Local 101

• 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 enjoying a coffee break!

Conclusion

Online local directories help improve the local visibility of your retail locations by being present on multiple platforms in local consumer searches. Depending on your strategy, objectives, or even your field of activity, you can choose from different local directories, each with its own unique features.

To easily strengthen and optimize your presence in local online directories, you can rely on a presence management platform like City Local 101. With this tool, you can multi-distribute your information across a large number of local directories in just a few clicks. It's the perfect ally for maximizing the local SEO of your points of sale!