How to Use Mobile Directories to Optimize for Local Search

If you’re a local business relatively new to the world of mobile marketing, you will still be discovering new ways of leveraging consumer attention away from competitors through mobile directories. Perhaps you’ve just got a handle on your social media campaign, or you’ve optimized your website for common search terms, but you’re unsure where to turn next.

Equally as important – though oft-ignored – are online business directories. Each one acts as a conduit through which potential customers can access your service, so the more directories you add yourself to, the bigger your reach. You don’t need any particular technical expertise to get listed, just some time and effort, so adding yourself to as many business directories as possible should be a priority of your mobile marketing strategy.

As usual, the big players like Google, Yahoo and Yelp are a sensible place to start. Take a look at these fifty directories and add your business to as many as possible. But don’t limit yourself to the most commonly used directories – it’s a huge playing field populated by major brands, all packing a serious financial punch. Augment these listings with more localized directories by searching for ‘business directories Florida’ (or wherever you are situated). The smaller your operation is, the more specific you should be in terms of location; there is no point advertising your services to people all over your state if you can only serve customers within your county.

As easy as it is to achieve, getting listings in multiple directories can be time consuming, and not a little tedious. To speed up the process of filling out the same information on multiple forms, use Firefox’s neat add-on tool – it also helps you maintain consistency across all listings. Be sure to include a map of your store location in every directory that allows it. Don’t try to create your own personalized map – you can’t do better than Google Maps, which has the advantage of contextualizing your street address in a map of, you know, the world. Users are far likelier to engage with an embedded Google Maps image which they can click through to obtain directions.

Remember, 52% of all local searches are being done on mobile devices. If you haven’t climbed on board with a comprehensive mobile marketing strategy, you may have no idea how much business you are losing out on. Yes, SEO and social media are vital to your online presence, but directories are one of the most useful, easy-to-implement mobile marketing solutions around. Take a day out of running your local business to set up as many listings as possible – it’ll be worth it.