The Essential SEO Guide to Local Business Listings 

As a local business owner, you must know how to use all the online tools at your disposal. 

And what is a local SEO strategy without local business listings?

These online profiles contain key information about your business. They're also known as local citations. 

Local business listings can help your business reach new customers. They also play an important role in local SEO. 

This guide will explain the importance of local business listings for local SEO. We'll also give you a list of local business listings you can use. 

📝 What Are Local Business Listings?

Local business listings are online profiles for businesses. They contain information about businesses in a specific local area. 

They're also known as local citations. 

They're a valuable tool for consumers looking for local services and products. They're also important for business owners who want to increase their online presence.

These citations are usually posted on online directories. These are official review sites that list businesses across different industries. 

Apart from local directories, business listings can also be found on:

• Social media platforms
• Blogs
• Dedicated apps

They usually list basic information about a business. 

This includes the business name, address, and phone number. This basic contact information is otherwise called NAP information. 

Other components of a local listing can include:

• Available payment forms
• The website URL
• Opening and closing hours
• Customer reviews
• Photos and videos

Business listings are especially important for local businesses. 

To be more specific, brick-and-mortar businesses.

These businesses rely on local customers and foot traffic. But they also have many benefits from local SEO efforts, including business listings.

Local brick-and-mortar businesses need online marketing even though they operate in physical locations. 

That's because local queries make up nearly half of Google searches. This is one of the reasons these two business models are intertwined.

In other words, more and more people are turning to Google to find the best local businesses in their area.

📍 Types of Local Listings

There are two ways to group local listings. 

The first group includes industry-specific and geo-specific listings. Structured and unstructured listings make up the second group.

As the name suggests, industry-specific listings focus on specific industries. Geo-specific listings are specific to one area or region.

For example, you will find a medical business listed on a healthcare directory. This is important for potential patients looking for healthcare services. They will have a better chance of finding that medical business. 

Geo-specific listings are optimised for local search results. 

A business in Melbourne might apply for a local directory specific to this city. This helps increase its online presence among potential local customers.

Both types of local listings can help in this sense. This is especially true for local businesses wanting to broaden their customer base.

As a local business owner, you can list your business on both types of business directories. That way, you can throw a wider net and boost your chances of getting an online customer base.

Structured listings are official review websites designed for customer feedback. Here, all information about your business is organised into fields. 

Unstructured listings are not official business directories. Instead, they can be:

• Blog posts
• Mentions
• Online magazines
• Government websites
• Other types of online sources 

These listings don't have pre-defined fields. They can be presented in various formats.

🔨 How to Set up a Local Business Listing

Are you interested in setting up a local business listing? The first step is deciding which online directory to use. 

There are various online directories for different types of businesses. But we'll get to that later. 

All you have to know for now is that the more business directories you use, the better local SEO results you'll see. 

Doing so will expose your small business to more traffic. It will also increase your search engine rankings on local searches.

The process of setting up a local business listing isn't identical. It rather depends on the online directory you choose. 

We'll show you how to do it on Google My Business. It's also called a Google Business Profile. 

This free tool is the most popular online business directory, and it's used all over the world. Here's how it's done:

1. Add your business to Google Maps

Find the location of your business on Google Maps and choose the "Add your business" option.

2. Sign up for your Google Business Profile

 Follow the on-screen instructions to complete your business profile.

3. Claim your business through Google Maps

Find your business on the map and choose the "Claim this business" option.

4. Verify your business

You can do this through phone, text, email, or video.

5. Add all the necessary information to your listing

Enter your business name, address, phone number, and other details.

The process of listing your business on other directories is slightly different. But it's usually straightforward.

💡 Why Are Local Business Listings Important for SEO?

Local listings are directly tied to search engine optimisation rankings. 

Google and other search engines use local business listings as a key factor. They use it to measure a business's relevance and authority online.

Here are some of the reasons why using local business listings should be a part of your local SEO strategy:

• Potential customers can find your website faster
• The provided information tells them everything they need to know about your business
• The increased exposure drives more organic traffic to your site
• Customers have a place to leave reviews
• It gives you a chance to outrank other businesses in the same industry
• It builds trust with your customers and makes you more credible

Using and optimising your business listings will boost your search engine rankings. More and more customers will be able to find your business.

Local business listings are also critical for local SEO.

They provide search engines with key information about a business's location and services. They make it easier to match the business with relevant local search queries.

You must keep your business information consistent, accurate, and up-to-date across all directories. 

This is very important if you want to improve your visibility on local searches. 

This step will also help search engines understand what your business offers. This, in turn, increases your credibility.

Google uses the following ranking factors for local business listings:

• Exactly how far your local business is 
• The keywords you use in your listings
• Domain authority
• The number of local citations related to your business
• Behavioural signals like click-through rates and check-ins
• How often and accurately you use your NAP information
• Review signals, such as the quality, frequency, and diversity of your reviews

🏆 The Best Local Business Listing Directories for Local SEO

Here are the best local business listing directories you can use for your local SEO strategy:

1. Google My Business

The most popular local business listing directory, ideal for any business model. If you're going to use only one directory, we recommend this one.

2. Yelp

This review-based local business directory allows customers to rate and review businesses. You can update your business info and respond to reviews.

3. Yellow Pages

This traditional business directory moved to the online world. It continues to be one of the most trusted platforms. It provides accurate business listings.

4. Bing Places

Bing Places is owned by Microsoft. It's a great platform for businesses to improve their search engine rankings. Keep in mind that this listing won't appear on Google search results.

5. Facebook Business

This platform allows businesses to reach a broader audience. They can also use it to promote their products or services online.

6. Moz Local

Moz Local is a popular local listing management tool. It's an excellent option for small businesses and enterprises. Even though it's not free, it's an affordable option.

7. Apple Maps

This platform is for businesses that want to reach iPhone users.

Keep in mind that you don't need to sign up for every single directory. Instead, focus on major platforms like Google My Business, Yelp, and Yellow Pages. 

You can also choose niche directories relevant to your industry or location.

You can sign up for different listings. But, your business information must be consistent and up-to-date on all those listings. 

✔️ What Are the Best Online Listings in Australia?

All the business listings we mentioned above can also be used for Australian businesses. 

But Australian-based directories might make your local SEO strategy even stronger. Take a look at the following options:

• True Local

True Local is an Australian-based online directory. It allows businesses to create a profile and show their products and services. Customers can also download the smartphone app.

• Hotfrog

This business directory was developed in Australia. It now covers over 40 countries and more than 120 million businesses.

• Local Search

Local Search is another popular Australian-based directory. It lets you provide all the necessary information about your business in one place. There are over 100 business categories. They range from plumbing and pest control to real estate and accommodation.

• StartLocal

StartLocal is a directory that features local businesses in various industries. It's both free and easy to use.

• AussieWeb

AussieWeb connects local businesses directly to customers. You can browse the directory for various featured categories. You can also list your business for free.

Before you choose one or more listings, make sure they are relevant to your business.

🏁 Improve Your Local SEO with Local Listings

Every great local SEO campaign includes local listings and online directories. 

By listing your business on popular online directories, you can get more customers. Some of these directories include Google My Business, Yellow Pages, Yelp, and others.

You can provide accurate and up-to-date information about your business to your clients. At the same time, you can present your products or services online. 

As a result, your local SEO strategy will drive more organic traffic to your website. It will also increase your online visibility.

If you're not sure which directory is the best option for your business, RankRise can help. 

We specialise in crafting the perfect local SEO strategy for a wide range of businesses. More importantly, we understand the importance of local business listings. 

Contact us for more information.