Free Ways To List Your Local Business Online: A Directory of Local Directories
A friend of mine just opened a really cool ice cream, coffee, cakes place here in Denver. It's called TheRedTrolley.com
He and I got to talking and I mentioned that he should get listed in lots of local directories to drive more traffic into the business.
He's a smart individual, and so must have passed the idea along to the local business manager.
The manager for the store called me a few days later (today), saying that he didn't know that much about how to get the business listed in local online directories, and asked if I could offer him some help.
I don't know that much about local directories either, as my business is worldwide and Internet based, but I know there are hundreds (if not thousands) of web sites which can be used for getting local business listings "out there" and promoting a local-based business online.
So here's some quick discovery stuff I did with a little Googling...
Some are free, some cost something... you'll have to research...
But, I would exhaust all free local listing possibilities first (and then move into the pay ones, if you aren't getting the foot traffic you want).
Getting listed in all of these local directories will gain you more customers, particularly if you're a restaurant or hotel, and especially if you offer them something for free, in order to get them to come in to your business.
https://www.openlist.com/
www.craigslist.com (Put a buy two get one free card on here - or something like that...)
https://www.angieslist.com/AngiesList/
https://listings.local.yahoo.com/
https://www.local.com/
https://www.yellowpages.com/
https://froogle.google.com
https://www.google.com/local/add/lookup?hl=en-US&gl=US
https://www.cityslick.net/
https://www.nitpickit.com/
https://www.yellowbook.com/
https://www.locald.com/
https://yellowpages.aol.com/
https://www.b2byellowpages.com/
https://www.staylocal.org/biz/
https://www.superpages.com/
https://www.yarrabusiness.com/Pub/pStart.asp
https://www.brownbook.net/
https://local.botw.org/
https://www.smallbusinessbigworld.com/
https://www.lopico.com/index.php
https://www.listyoursite.us/
https://www.locobee.com/
https://denver.citysearch.com/
https://www.tripadvisor.com/
https://www.igougo.com/
https://www.virtualtourist.com/
https://travel.yahoo.com/topreviews
https://www.mytravelguide.com/
https://realtravel.com/
https://www.travbuddy.com/
https://www.fodors.com/world/restaurant-reviews.html
https://www.travelpost.com/
https://www.gusto.com/
https://www.forbestraveler.com/
https://www.concierge.com/
https://www.etravelreviews.com/
https://www.tripreport.com/
https://www.zagat.com/
https://dine.com/cgi-bin/public/main.cgi
https://www.menuism.com/
https://www.restaurants.com/
https://foodio54.com/
https://www.gayot.com/restaurantpages/index.html
https://www.insiderpages.com/
https://restaurants.yumm.com/
https://www.boorah.com/restaurants/
That's what I came up with after about 20 minutes of research.
It will probably take some time to submit to all of these, but will be worth it.
How to use this directory of local directories to your benefit:
1. Make sure your business is listed on each and every one of these that it can be listed for free on.
2. One thing you could do is become the "reviewer" and post reviews of the restaurant to all of these sites. Don't list the same review on more than two sites (or use the same reviewer name) otherwise it looks rigged. (Even write a bad review as someone else, and then refute the review as the owner, or as another customer. Let your conscience be your guide how far you take this.)
3. Once you get through adding your business to all of these, do Google searches for "business reviews" "travel reviews" "restaurant reviews" and see what other sites you come up with.
4. Once you get through that, search for "your city your business review". So in this case (a REALLY GOOD ice cream and cakes shop), I might research "denver restaurant reviews" and "denver travel reviews".
5. There are a whole bunch of other things you can do (and I can help you, for a fee, if you want to contact me) to get your store's name "out there".
But this is where I would start.
Post any questions or comments below, and I'll respond to them below.
Hope this is helpful for getting your local business listed online, and getting more customers to walk in the door of your business.