Q: What are local web listings?

A: Much like a phone book lists businesses within a certain geographic area, local web listings help people use the internet to find businesses near their home. A local web listing is just like a phone book listing: it includes important information about your business, including contact information and sometimes a list of services and brief description of your business.

 

Q: What if I don’t have a website?

A: It doesn’t matter. Online listings work much like the phone book: people use them to learn where you are located and what number to call, and you want that information to be there.

 

Q: What is the difference between search engines and online directories?

A: Search engines (such as google.com, yahoo.com, and Bing.com) help people find information from thousands of different websites, and they let users focus their search on very small geographic areas (hence “local search”). Online directories are individual websites that specifically help people find information for thousands of businesses.

 

Q: What about mobile listings? How are those different?

A: Mobile listings are specific services and directories that cater to people who are on the go. 411 is the most well-known directory of mobile business listings: dialing the number gives you access to all the information in the phone book, without having the phone book in front of you. Newer mobile directories let people access this information in a variety of ways, including loading maps onto their cell phones, or using a GPS navigation device to navigate to local businesses.

 

Q: I’m already in the phone book, so shouldn’t my information be listed online automatically?

A: Unfortunately, no. There are literally hundreds of websites and services that provide local business, but there is no central phone book that serves as the primary source of information. Some services might share information with others, but the only way to make sure you’re included (and that the right information is listed) everywhere people look is to work with each site manually, or hire someone like us to do it for you.

 

Q: My business is listed online, but the information is wrong. What can I do?

A: The internet is a big, fast moving place. Information listed somewhere is often duplicated to many other places, which is good unless that information is inaccurate. Even if you have contacted a specific site to correct the information, there is a good chance that the errors have already been duplicated elsewhere. We can help you fix this problem by listing consistent information (and removing outdated information) in not only the most highly-trafficked websites, but also many of the less-trafficked sites. We have the time, tools, and contacts to quickly correct wrong information so you stop missing out on customers.

 

Q: Will local listings change what my website looks like?

A: No. Listing your website in local search directories doesn’t require us to make any changes to your website at all. However, it will make it much easier for people to find your website, so your website’s effectiveness is likely to improve anyway.

 

Q: Is this search engine optimization (SEO)?

A: Yes and no. Search engine optimization is the science of optimizing something to be easier to find when people search for it. When we list your business in the various directories, we are optimizing your listing, rather than optimizing your website itself. This means that it makes it easier for people to find the listing, which can direct them to your website, but also to your storefront itself.