Top 10 Local Search Directories By Importance

October 27, 2010 · 65 comments

Because there are hundreds of Local Search Directories we researched to determine which are the most important. We recommend using Universal Business Listings and provide this information on How to Obtain Local Business Directory Listings; however, even if you use them it is still imperative to claim and enhance your most important listings.

Any listing that has reviews should be protected by claiming – especially Google – because it is possible for someone to hijack your good reviews and change the contact information and address to their business which effectively takes business away from you.

I have personally seen that happen to a local Dallas mobile mechanic. He was able to get his account restored but prevention is much faster and easier.

The Local Search Directories listed below are the ten you may wish to spend the most time optimizing. I have a spreadsheet of the 107 listings using UBL created for Florida custom milling company Good Millwork.

I created this list by checking PageRank and traffic to each site roughly one year ago so the order may have changed, but Google is definitely number one for traffic and the others are probably still the key sites.

If anyone disagrees, has more recent research, or would like to see the entire spreadsheet let me know by leaving a comment in this post or using the information on my contact tab.

TOP LOCAL SEARCH DIRECTORIES:

IMPORTANT: All of these directories have a free option; however, they WILL try to upsell you into a paid offering and that can be monthly charges. Some make the free listings difficult to find or will even tell you there is no free option. When they call – and some will – simply tell them you are happy with your free listings.

If you are unable to find a free option contact me and I will find it if it still exists. To date I have always been able to locate a way to obtain a free listing; however, that could change.

As I wrote in my previous comprehensive post about the importance of Local Search Listings:

“It is foolish for any business not to obtain their free listings on at least the major sites offering local directories. Not having these listings is like having someone offer your business years of free advertising and saying “no thanks”.

See our Local Search Directory categories for additional posts on how to submit to several of these specific directories.

Additional Local Search Resources:

GetListed.org Local Listings tool to see where your business is listed and what local listings you have claimed.
Google Places Category Tool – search to find out what the best categories are for your business for your Google Places listing.

Tagged as: Local Search, local search directories, submit to local search directories

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Dawson February 3, 2012 at 4:39 pm

This is a great resource to anyone who is new to online business.

I was just wondering if you could add http://www.lacartes.com to the list of local business directories as well? It is another free local business directory where any business can create a listing and reach thousands of customers every month.

Heidi German February 1, 2012 at 12:07 pm

I had a free listing on YP.com and got no calls, probably because it was buried & not on page 1. So I opted for a paid listing which moved me to the first page and broadcast me out to over 100 partner sites and mobile apps. Then I started getting lots of calls. The YP.com network has been very effective at helping me grow my business.

growmap Twitter: GrowMap February 1, 2012 at 2:39 pm Twitter: @GrowMap: Hi Heidi,

Thanks for sharing that. Yes, we have to be aware that most people only look at the first page for reasons I don’t really understand because they should be willing to look harder to find the very best!

Check out the post I’ve put in CommentLuv in this reply. There is a very good way to get far more first page listings in additional directories including niche directories in your industry and location. How is explained in that post or you can contact me for details.
growmap would love you to read ..Small Business Internet Marketing: Where to Start

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Nathan Woodbury January 15, 2012 at 11:46 pm

Thanks for this list, this will make my work a lot easier, I have been struggling to find directories other than google places, yellowpages, superpages, and yelp for my business.

growmap Twitter: GrowMap February 1, 2012 at 2:41 pm Twitter: @GrowMap: Hi Nathan,

You can also use the recommendations you’ll get by putting your business in the Get Listed local search directory tool>.
growmap would love you to read ..Small Business Internet Marketing: Where to Start

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iPhone App Development December 26, 2011 at 1:01 am

Hey dude i like to thank you for giving a such list. I only heard a name o local search directories and never tried for it and also did not know about top 10 directories. One thing that i knew from your post, for Geo-targeted business local search directories definitely play an important role. I trust you i will give a try to add my business with this top 10 list. Thanks for sharing and hope you continue with such others stuffs.

Oahu Plumber Twitter: Aaron111 December 16, 2011 at 2:36 pm Twitter: @Aaron111

awesome content surrounding local search directories – whatever your trying to get search engine optimize for listings = it is definitely a good idea to higher somebody to list your blogs in these directories unless you’re going to do it yourself — any type of local business such as plumbing, carpentry, dentistry, hospitalization,local handyman etc.
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WP Themes September 28, 2011 at 7:11 am

Yeah these are the best ones I have used for local search. Thanks for remembering it again since I fail to use some of it like Topix.
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Danny who writes about Pole chain saw September 28, 2011 at 6:54 am

Yeah that is something I hate about many directories, they really try to hide the free listing part on their site. Making me believe there is no free listing, but then I check who are in the directory and I am sure that they got in for free.
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mike gilchrist Twitter: Gilchrist_Inc September 1, 2011 at 1:22 pm Twitter: @Gilchrist_Inc

thank you for the list

mike August 25, 2011 at 9:17 pm

Thanks for the great list .
it was a big Help
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Bill Wisfer Twitter: realseocompany August 18, 2011 at 1:44 pm Twitter: @realseocompany

Awesome local directories list! I like this efforts especially the top 1o local directories views. I actually believe that Google Map listing is very effective for local search placement in Google. I appreciate this is an opportunity for finding the top local search in online business. Thanks for the useful plugings, thank you!
Bill Wisfer would love you to read ..Local Search Engine Optimization For the Business

Heather Smith December 29, 2011 at 2:26 am: Great post, so informative , thanks for the list. keep up the good work.

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wny yoga Twitter: n/a July 14, 2011 at 4:58 am Twitter: @n/a

we all talk about going global but in terms of specifics i love local directories..they make it easier and searchable

dallas dentist June 3, 2011 at 7:15 pm

Thanks for the list. I have been struggling to find directories other than google places, yellowpages, superpages, and yelp for my business. Will definitely be bookmarking your site.
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growmap Twitter: GrowMap June 4, 2011 at 12:52 pm Twitter: @GrowMap: There are literally hundreds and possibly thousands of local search directories. You can see list of 76 local directories I found doing research and get more information at this link on how to optimize local search listings.

Submitting manually to local directories is the really hard, time-consuming way to do that and you will never find all of them. Every business I do ends up listed on tiny directories I’ve never seen before. In the Local Search Case Study I did for a Texas Gazebo Manufacturer I found incoming traffic from 332 directories – most of the tiny.

The easy way is to use Universal Business Listings to submit to local business directories. They cover all of the major and hundreds of minor ones and the databases that feed cell phones and GPS systems. That link has additional information to help you if you want to do it yourself and also the local listing services we offer.

Getting those listings in the first step in our Small Business Internet Marketing Starter Package. See that link for what to make your priority after that one.
growmap would love you to read ..Small Business Internet Marketing

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Flowers May 2, 2011 at 8:36 pm

Thanks, we use Google Maps above all others, but do find them cluttered at times

Armil who writes about listing in google maps March 23, 2011 at 12:20 pm

I just wonder, what could be the the difference between local business listing and local business directories? Local business listing of Google is an amazing way of locating local business establishments in a specific area.
This information was also made available mobile to certain areas of the globe.
I hope this local business directory will be available in mobile too. Isn’t it amazing?

Neil March 18, 2011 at 2:51 pm

Interesting article. However, I still have a hard time liking the Google map. They only give a few listings. Not that they are bad, but as a user I like a lot of options. Search Engines get so cluttered with other “Stuff” that doesn’t relate I find it frustrating. However, I do like how the google map is most of the page and the other “Stuff” is minimized. At the end of the day, when I do a search for a business to call, I tend to use Yellowpages.com. The mobile app is great.

growmap Twitter: GrowMap June 4, 2011 at 12:54 pm Twitter: @GrowMap: Hi Neil,

I am glad you noticed. Google limits what we can easily find and that IS their plan, so anyone who likes to do their own choosing or has a business that needs to be found needs to stop using Google for everything and use alternative search engines instead.
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COMMODITY TRADING COURSE January 12, 2011 at 12:17 pm

Great list. It is important for a company to be found locally. I am surprised that some still use phonebooks. But there are many people who are still computer illiterate. Think I am related to all of them. lol

DUI penalty January 11, 2011 at 2:01 am

Thanks for this list of directories. What you did was of help to most of us. I have peers who are into Internet marketing and I know they too want to have these lists for their reference. Though, I prefer GoogleMaps among those that you’ve listed, still the rest of are all effective.
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Hugh Mac Twitter: highlinesouth January 6, 2011 at 12:47 pm Twitter: @highlinesouth

This list is invaluable for local search marketers, especially the top 6. It has increased my local business by 20%, a great value!
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Florida Speeding Ticket Lawyer December 3, 2010 at 11:40 pm

You have one great of a help there Gail. Thanks for listing all that directories. I have friends who have online businesses and I think they’d like to have these list as reference. But, personally I like GoogleMaps best among your selection. It’s very effective and broad.
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growmap Twitter: GrowMap December 9, 2010 at 2:30 pm Twitter: @GrowMap: I agree that Google Maps has the largest share of the search market but I encourage everyone to use others and to get their listings elsewhere. Even if the other sites did not send traffic (and they do – even obscure niche sites do) they provide valuable high quality incoming links.

Personally I like to use ValueCom and US Counties first and then maps.yahoo.com over Google.
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Eren Mckay Twitter: erenmckay November 22, 2010 at 8:40 am Twitter: @erenmckay

Hi Gail,
This list is great. I have lots of friends that have local businesses and will love this – so I tweeted and facebooked this to get the word out.
Blessings,
Eren
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