List of the top citation sources for contractors and home service businesses
Now that you have claimed your Google Places Listing and optimized it to its fullest potential, you need to build its authority. Just because you have a well claimed and optimized Google+ Local listing does not mean that you will be ranking on page one. Google wants to list the most legitimate and qualified providers first. So, how do they filter who gets the page one listings? There are a number of factors. One of them is how widely the company is referenced on other online directory sites such as Yellow Pages, City Search, and Yelp.
Citations are web references to your company name, address and phone number. The more correctly listed citations you have, the better. You can add citations via a variety of sources and approaches. There are directory listings that you want to be sure that you claim manually and others that you can submit via submission services such as Universal Business Listing or Yext.com. My personal preference is to claim my listings manually. That way, you can be sure that you are in full control and can make updates/edits as needed.
TOP Citation Sources to claim manually:
- Google+ Local
- Bing Local
- Yahoo Local
- City Search
- Angie’s List
- Yelp
- YP.com
- Merchant Circle
- Manta
List of the most Authoritative Citations for Contractors and Home Service Businesses
1) Google
Probably the most important and most talked about place to list your local business. Getting citations and ratings from many of the sites below can help boost your business’ listing on Google.
2) Yelp
Yelp is the most popular social networking, directory and review site. Aside from counting as a citation for your business in regards to the search engines, this site can deliver quite a bit of traffic on its own. Business owners should learn how to deal with the occasional nasty review.
3) foursquare
The popular way to check in via smart phone can also provide a valuable citation for your local business.
A multiple local listing service, UBL.org (along with Localeze below) is one of the major players in the effort to only fill in your information once to get it listed with multiple yellow pages sites, directories and social networking/review sites. It save time and effort, but may be slower than going direct with the individual sites (see Localeze and InfoUSA below as well).
5) Yahoo Local
Yahoo’s local directory, tied to Yahoo Maps.
6) Local.com
Business listings, event listings, coupons and reviews.
7) CitySearch
One of the most authoritative local directories.
8) Bing Local
Bing’s local business listing service integrated with maps of cities and towns.
9) CraigsList
Some SEO’s recommend creating classifieds for your business on popular classified sites such as Craigslist. There is some disagreement over whether this is effective from an SEO perspective.
10) GetListed.org
Convenient way to identify where you’re listed (and where you’re not) in major directories. Provides referrals to Universal Business Listings and Localeze as well as consultants (if you need extra help).
11) dmoz (Open Diretory Project)
A free and authoritative index (in the eyes of Google) that is managed by volunteers. If you can get your business listed, this helps with an authoritative backlink (but not necessarily a local citation). It can be difficult to get a new listing due to the limited resources and large volumes of submissions.
12) Superpages
One of the many Internet Yellow Pages directories (IYP). Includes business listings, people search, reviews and local deals.
13) Localeze
A multiple local listing service.
14) InfoUSA
A multiple local listings service.
15) Your local Chamber of Commerce
Joining your local chamber of commerce can often get you a business listing (and a citation for local SEO purposes).
16) InsiderPages
Local directory and rating site.
17) Merchant Circle
Local directory and rating site.
18) Best of the Web
A popular directory with free and paid listing options – specifically for local, they have a Best of the Web Local directory.
19) Yellowpages.com
Internet Yellow Pages (also YP.com).
20) Business.com
Business.com provides business information but also has a directory.
21) Kudzu
Business review site (similar to Yelp).
Your local Better Business Bureaus usually charge for membership and provide a link to your business.
23) DexKnows
Business and people directory.
24) Acxiom
A major source of data for various yellow pages and directories – they don’t take business submissions like some of the other data providers or multiple local listings services.
25) Your local newspaper’s Website
Getting an article, business listing or classified ad optimized with your local information and a link can provide a citation for your business.
26) Yellowbook.com
Internet yellow pages.
27) HotFrog
A business directory with free and fairly inexpensive paid listing options.
28) Crunchbase
A listing of technology companies that is user-generated.
29) Angie’s List
Service provider directory.
30) Judy’s Book
Local review site.
31) Jigsaw
Business people and company directory.
32) ibegin
U.S. and Canada business directory.
33) OpenList
Local directory with ratings.
34) wikimapia
Wiki-based directory of places including schools, businesses, and more – laid out on maps.
35) citysquares
Local business directory with ratings.
36) Infospace
Business and people listings.
37) magicyellow
A straightforward internet yellow pages directory.
38) whitepages.com
People and business listings.
39) Manta
Company profiles.
40) EZLocal
Local business listings and ratings.
41) BrownBook
Local business listings and ratings.
42) CityVoter
Vote for your favorite businesses.
43) ShopCity
Local business listings.
44) YellowBot
Local listings and ratings.
45) MojoPages
Social networking and review site (similar to Yelp.)
46) Tupalo.com
International social networking and review site.
47) Praized
Social networking and review site.
48) Panoramio
Pictures associated with maps. Geotag images, upload to Panoramio and add them to your Google Places listings.
49) GetFave
Business directory, including featured listings (with additional content such as videos, pictures).
50) BizJournals
Business journal that includes business directories for certain U.S. cities.
51) Tjoos
Online store listings and coupons.
52) JoeAnt
Website directory.
53) Zidster
Products, services or business listings.
54) TrueLocal
Business directory – seems to have sparse listings.
55) ZipLeaf
Network of international business directories.
56) WCities
Places and events for cities and towns, including ratings.
57) Naymz
Personal branding site.
58) Zoominfo
Database of people and companies.
59) Yellowikis
Wiki-based business directory.
60) gomylocal
Yellow pages/local directory.
Online business networking site.
62) City Slick
Free business directory.
63) Busiverse (also businessdb)
Business directory.
A general directory.
65) Service Magic
Directory of service companies (includes a “seal of approval”).
By securing these high quality citations, you will boost your authority and highly improve your probability of achieving a high ranking in the Google Map Listings. The next critical step is to get online reviews!
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