Small businesses can find it difficult to build brand awareness. There is plenty of competition in all areas of commerce and industry, and you need to make sure your business is the one people see when they run a web search. However, there’s more to it than that, as these days local searches are the most commonly used type of online search. We’ll talk about why that is the case later in this article, but we’re going to tell you why a local directory listing is essential for building your brand.
Optimize for Mobile
The simple fact is that mobile searches are the most often used to access businesses and services. This is because mobile smartphones are now ubiquitous. Nobody could have foreseen that the mobile phone would become considered an essential tool not just for business, but for the average individual in leisure use. People looking for local businesses use their mobile as it can see where they are, and direct them to the right business close to them.
Now, you may think that getting your page high in the Google rankings is all you need to do for the ultimate in search engine optimisation. That may once have been the case, but there is something else you need to do, and that’s make sure your business is present in local listing directories. These will provide users searching for your type of business with the top-ranking and most appropriate results. If you are not listed, you are allowing your rivals to get the business you deserve.
Listings directories are widely used by people on the move for local searches, and they are convenient and efficient. There are many around, so check out the top ones now and make sure you are listed. Let’s have a quick look next at why local searches have become the prevailing method of finding products and services.
Local Searches are Popular
While search engines remain the primary source of searching, local listings are becoming more popular with people on the move. Let’s have a look at an example. A person is travelling for business, and wants to find somewhere to take a client out for dinner. It’s a town or city they are not familiar with, so they run a search for ‘restaurants near me’. If they prefer a certain cuisine, they could include that in the search too.
The local listings directory will supply them with a choice of restaurants that are in easy reach, and also with an address and directions. This example could be applied to someone needing a particular shop or item, looking for somewhere to fill up with petrol, or to find a hotel or any other product or service. The emphasis is on local, as before things became refined searches would return results from everywhere, many of which were no use.
Nowadays the use of powerful GPS systems in smartphones enables accurate geolocation and eve more accurate and specific searches, so people are getting used to searching locally rather than generally.
Conclusion
If you have a growing smaller business that you are trying to build a brand with, you need to be listed in local listing directories if you are going to gain the business you need. There’s a lot to be said for optimising your website for mobile users as well as making sure it has a strong online footprint. Local searches are popular with the younger generations, so if your business is targeting that demographic the time is now for you to start finding local directories and ensuring you have a presence on them.