Local Business Directory: Top 10 Free Listings to Grow Your Traffic

Growing traffic your business and winning new customers is both exciting and hard a lot of the time.

With paid ads on Facebook, Google, and other platforms getting more and more expensive to run, it's important to focus on marketing methods that don't break the bank.

And yes, marketing channels that don't break the bank do exist. 😅

Did you know that 40% of shoppers use Google to research a purchase they plan to make online or in-store?

They also use Google Search and map apps such as Google Maps and Apple Maps to find local stores in their area where they can shop. Searches for “shopping _____ near me” have grown by 100% yearly, while a local search phrase like “open now near me” has grown by a whopping 400% globally year over year.

People are living la vida local

Clearly, many of the search engine queries that people plug into Google are local searches for things nearby. They're keen to find businesses, brands, and products in the local listings that they can buy online or by going to a brick-and-mortar store.

That's why you need to ensure your website, business name, address, and contact information show up on local search results. This is key to getting more customers through the door.

One of the easiest and most affordable ways to do this is to list your business in local business directories.

Besides boosting your local SEO (search engine optimization) and increasing your the domain authority of your site, creating local business profiles on these directories enhances your visibility and makes it easier for customers to find you.

Business directories list essential information about your business. This includes your working hours, location, site, pricing, reviews, and contact information. Some listings also include pictures of your establishment and offerings.

This local business information helps potential customers find you and make up their minds about whether to buy your products.

There are countless free listing and paid directories out there, some general and some specific to different industries. To make your job easier, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most useful business directories.

Keep scrolling to learn more about our top 10 free business listings that can help your business grow!

What is a local business directory?

A local business directory is a website that lists businesses that operate within a particular industry, location, or niche.

So you might find separate directories that contain information about medical, food and beverage, travel, automotive, home service and other industries.

You'll also find universal directories that cater to all kinds of businesses. You must create profiles on both types of directories, so your business has greater online visibility and is easy to find on the web.

One of the best examples of local business directories is Google Business Profile, formerly known as Google My Business. It's a free local business listing service that allows businesses to create profiles and share relevant information about their location, website, contact details, and prices.

Other directories similar to Google Business Profile include Microsoft Bing, Yelp, Foursquare, Yellow Pages, Hubspot, DoorDash, and Angi.

Benefits of getting on local business directories' sites

Creating a free local business listing on an online directory has several benefits. The most obvious one is that you get more online visibility and better reach — without having to spend a dime. But, that’s not all!

Here are some of the other benefits of local listings:

Increase traffic to your business

A recent study has found that organic search and local search drive more than 69% of website traffic. This means that having a good online presence and ranking on search engines can direct more people to your site.

And these leads can convert into sales, increasing revenue. When potential customers can find you online via listing websites, it can lead to more organic traffic to your website.

Earn high-quality backlinks

The practice of one site linking to another site through a clickable hyperlink or anchor text is called backlinking. Google checks for the number and quality of backlinks on your website while ranking your pages on search results.

The more backlinks you get from listing your business on trusted and relevant online directories, the better chances you'll have at improving your local SEO performance.

Build authority in your industry

Signing up on leading local business directories that are valued by customers can help you build and manage your reputation as an important player in your industry.

You can emerge as an authority in your field by getting more positive reviews, higher ratings, and using the voice of your customers as testimonials on your website's reviews page and in your advertisements.

Easily win 4x more customer reviews

NiceJob’s set-and-forget review software automatically gets you reviews and shares them on Facebook, Instagram, and more so you can become top rated — without spending a dime on ads.

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Boost local SEO

Listing directories always record your address and the area where you conduct your business. This information is crucial when customers open up their favorite search engines to look for a product or service nearby.

It also helps improve your local SEO and rank better on Google searches, especially for those looking for local businesses.

10 Best and free local business listings

Now that you've understood how listing your company on online directories can benefit small businesses, it's time to get listed! Let's take a look at 10 of the top free local business directories.

1. Google Business Profile

GBP helps you manage how your business appears across Google products such as Search and Maps. It displays information about your business address, hours of operation, category, telephone number, and reviews, among others.

2. Yelp

Yelp is a popular site where customers review and recommend local businesses. Yelp is an important online business directory, and a good rating on it can improve your sales.

3. Bing Places for Business

Bing Places for Business is a directory of local enterprises created by the popular search engine. A listing on this platform will appear on Bing’s Search page and Bing Maps.

4. Local.com

This is a broad directory that stores information about local businesses, events, and services. Listing your business is free of cost, but other advanced features come at a cost.

5. LinkedIn Company Pages

LinkedIn is a networking platform that allows you to create company pages. Potential clients can look up your business on the platform to find out more about your work.

6. Angi

Formerly Angie's List, Angi is a local directory that helps consumers find service providers like plumbers, gardeners, and roofers. Businesses can create their profiles on Angi to inform their audience of their services and make it easy for consumers to get in touch.

7. Foursquare

Foursquare is a location technology platform local businesses use to geotag their locations. It also doubles up as a directory of local brands. Listing your business on Foursquare is completely free of cost.

8. Nextdoor

Nextdoor is a mobile app that allows businesses to list themselves on its hyper-local business directory. You can sign up for free and target your content to specific areas. This is because of the app’s focus on connecting consumers with local events and businesses.

9. Yellow Pages

This age-old classic directory used to sit in everyone’s homes as a phone directory. It is now an online platform where businesses can get listed for free.

10. CitySearch

This platform is similar to Yelp and lists local restaurants, businesses, services, and retailers. Adding your listing is free, but you have to pay to advertise your posts on the website.

Which local business directory should I list mine on?

Given the wide variety of choices, it can be pretty confusing to choose which local business listings to put your company.

To narrow down your choices, you should pick those that lend credibility to small businesses and have a higher likelihood of increasing foot traffic.

Make a list of the most trusted and valued online business directories and register your company on each one of them. Remember to keep a consistent NAP (name, address, and phone number) and make any other information you put down the same across different platforms.

Listings management is key! So as soon as there are any updates to your business listing, make sure you prioritize those changes quickly and carefully.

This will help boost your local SEO and get your business listing ranking higher, and make it easier for customers to trust you.

Should I limit myself to the "big name" directories for local businesses?

Absolutely not! While they're a fantastic place to start, there are relevant sites that offer niche directories depending on your type of business listing.

For example, Roofing Insights started the Roofing Insights Directory specifically for contractors in that industry. Their goal?

"To connect you with the most knowledgeable and reputable roofers in your area.

We’ve done the research and due diligence to find the highest-quality contractors, so you don’t have to. We don’t just let any roofing contractor onto our directory — they have to prove that they are a trustworthy and reputable option beforehand."

What's great about niche directories like these is that people visiting them appear to have a higher intent to choose your business listing (or at least get a quote).

What can I do next once I'm on local business directories?

Once you’ve created your profiles on local business directories, there is still a lot you can do to ensure that you are extracting the most value from your business listings. Here are a few things to take care of:

• Remember to add a link to your business’s website in each directory. This will help drive traffic to your website and allow customers to make online purchases.

• Make sure that all the business information uploaded to different directories is consistent and up to date. This helps customers see you as a legitimate brand and makes it easier for them to get in touch with you.

• If you find that you are already listed in a directory, you can claim that listing and add more information to it. This will help you control the information you want to share on that particular directory and respond to customer reviews.

• Work on writing a high-quality description of your business for business directories. An engaging and informative description can go a long way in attracting new customers.

• Use multiple media formats to provide ample information about your business. Add photos, videos, and your social media handles to your listings so customers can learn more about your brand.

• Encourage customers to leave reviews on local directories so other customers can validate the quality of products or services you offer.  

By listing your business on local directories, you can grow your business quickly without spending too much money. Free business directories are low-hanging fruit that can help bring local customers to your doorstep and result in winning more sales.

Just open up your laptop and start listing your brand on every worthwhile local directory you can find!