Local directories - does it matter if your business isn't listed?

So what is a citation?
A citation, or being listed, is an online reference that contains information about a business, namely their name, address and phone number (NAP). This mention can be made on directories, like Thomson, Yell or 192, on websites like Netmums, or social media platforms like Facebook.
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Google My Business is a core platform that all businesses should try and list their businesses on as it’s key to being seen on Google Maps. It also allows customers to connect with companies directly via a search, Maps or Google+.
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Is it worth taking the time to cite your business on local directories?
Yes! It allows you to be found by a greater number of online customers and search engines like Google and Yahoo.  The more directories your business is cited on, the better, as it will increase your chances to rank highly for local searches.

​Online directories have replaced the paper versions of Yellow Pages and Thomson Local.  Whilst they still exist in paper form, how many of us actually access them to find out where the Chinese restaurants are if visiting a new town? Or which shop on the high street sells your favourite perfume? Are you really going to carry a paper directory around, just in case you need it?  Didn’t think so!
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The fact is, online directories offer the facility for customers to find out much more about a business other than just the name, address and phone number. It has the added bonus of being accessible whilst on the move via your mobile phone, laptop or iPad.

Here is a list of the information that a business may include on a directory listing:

• Categories of the business
• Description of the business
• Opening hours
• Photographs relating to the business (images or videos)
• Methods of payment accepted
• Reviews/Ratings of the business and responses to comments by the owner
• Links to the company website and other forms of social media
• Details of the business email address/fax number/phone number
• Location of where the business is on a map

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​Listing a business on a directory is not difficult, but it can be time consuming. If you choose to give it a go yourself, make sure you do the job properly. If you don’t, it could affect your income, online rankings as well as your reputation.
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Follow these tips to ensure that search engines, like Google, view you as a business that’s real and worth trusting and ultimately worth ranking:

• Be accurate with what you write. Your NAP should be consistent across all directories.
• List your business once only per directory.
• Keep track of where your business is cited. If details of what your business offers changes (hours, phone number etc), then this will need to be reflected on your citations.
• If reviews or complaints are written, have a strategy of how you’ll be alerted to this.  Good customer practice is to follow up on all comments and engage actively with people.

​Remember, citations that are accurate help your business to be discovered. Which business wouldn’t want the traffic to their website to increase?
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Have you undertaken a review of where your business is cited lately?

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