There is a new Internet trend – search domination by the major directory sites. For someone in search marketing this can be intimidating at first, but it actually presents a nice opportunity that can be put to work for you.

Proof in the pudding?

Search for anything – which sites come up? You will see a very common denominator, directory websites such as:

– DexKnows.com – SuperPages.com YellowPages.com CitySearch.com InsiderPages.com Local.Yahoo.com Maps.Google.com Yelp.com ThinkLocal.com AboutUs.org MagicYellow.com 411.com Addresses.com Switchboard.com Cityvoter.com Local.com

Is your business listed on these websites?

Can you affordably compete with them for keyword placement? Probably not. The good thing for you is that the point of these sites is to list your business information on their website! Your profile on their site can link to your website and allow your clients to let the world know how you’re doing through comments and ratings. This is a real opportunity.

How do you take advantage? Get listed.

What are the benefits?

First, by listing you link these very popular index sites to your website. These links can create a considerable Search Engine Optimization boost – providing a chance for you to elevate your position for key terms and business products and services.

Second, no matter where your clients find you, they will know you are loved by the comments people leave you. Directory sites are the new century’s phonebooks, and are even interactive.

Third, your clients will be able to find your business:

no matter where they start their search (Google, Yahoo, Dexknows.com)

– and no matter where their search takes them (YellowPages.com, SuperPages.com, Citysearch, et al).

If they end up at your website GREAT! If they call you before they get there, ok! Make sure you are listed so your potential clients can find you, find your website and read positive client reviews. With positive comments, every person that finds you becomes a referral before they even contact you. With a comments page on your website, we can transpose your client comments to the major directory sites so that no matter which site they find you at, your reputation precedes you.

Get listed. Let your reputation precede you.

20 years ago a business couldn’t survive without being in the phone book. Now a business can’t survive without attractive Internet listings – without being visible.

The major directory sites are THE NEW PHONE BOOKS.

The Directory Site Listing Service is a one-time $350 that will get you:

– Organic Search Engine Listings

– Search Engine Optimization benefits

– An Expanded Reputation

Example

This here is our first client whom is fully listed, and it looks as though there was a significant increase in business exposure. This client had been advertising with us on Craigslist, Willamette Week and Citysearch for months – then we listed him on the major Internet directories in February. We didn’t have metrics set up with this client, so we can’t tell how many of these new unique visitors were from his directory listing, but everything else remained constant.

Month

Unique visitors

Number of visits

Pages

Hits

Bandwidth

* Seasonal tendencies and other factors may have affected these results; they may not be representative of what will occur for you with a Directory Site Listing service.

Jan 2008

201

299

2398

41331

480.98 MB

Feb 2008

205

307

2027

40845

511.99 MB

Mar 2008

395

463

2791

43025

499.89 MB


Metrics are very important in order to measure marketing ROI.
It is a good idea to add a phone number that forwards to your main line, in order to see exactly how many calls come through your marketing efforts. We can also use a specific referring link to see how many click-throughs occur.

Our expectation is that results will build over time as more comments are made on your various profiles and as those profiles and your site make their way up the organic listings.

It can be very difficult to get new clients in a slow economy with no advertising. We want to help you get through a potential tough patch by helping you to be positioned appropriately.

Get listed. Let your reputation precede you.