Northern Beaches WebMan

Depart with your hard earned cash for business directories?

Just like the good old yellow pages telephone book but instead of “let your ‘fingers’ do the walking”, it’s on the internet so you can “let your ‘mouse’ do the walking” instead. Web based directories are popular due to the fast searching power – users type in a search word or keyword to find what they are looking for. Boom, you get your results. The tradition yellow pages advertising is dying a slow death because of the popularity of the internet and Google. Google is really the modern version of the yellow pages but with a ‘global search’ ability.

Should I Pay to be Listed on a Business Directory?

• If you are a local business – “No”, unless you have cash to burn.

How does Google’s SEO (search engine optimisation) relate to Directory Listings?

• business directory services are considered websites too! The more relevant ‘keywords’ on their directory listing, the higher they will rank in google. Note: business directory rankings fluctuate a lot, google prefers website’s than directories and so do people because website’s often contain more information, pictures and more!

WebMan’s Golden Rules for Online Business Directories:

• Submit your website to all free directories, especially those that include your category of business and cover your geographical location : i.e. northern beaches, plumbing, electrician & hair dressing
  

  What the Google Local Directory Looks like

• Pay special attention to directories that provide ‘free links’, remember a directory listing normally contains dull text, no pictures, so getting the user onto your beautiful and dancing website is a bonus.
• Expect a telephone call from the business directory sales rep requesting to “buy” further advertising. PLEASE ’say thanks but no thanks’, you don’t need to pay!
• If your website is ‘under construction’ or not not built yet, submit to the directories anyway, you can still get business

• 

  This is how the directory appears in Google!

  Make sure you submit your listing with the major directory listings, google and yahoo have some.

• Track the effectiveness of your referrals with Google Analytics
• Beware of local business directory ’sharks’ that promise the world but don’t deliver

nano nano
WebMan

If you are a local business owner, there is a pretty high chance that you have been approach by numerous business directory website companies. There are tonnes of them, wanting to advertise and promote your business on their website directory…

WebMan’s inside story…

“WebMan was approached by a local business directory company to promote the Northern Beaches Web Designs business. The initial approach (sales pitch) was that they wanted to ‘refer’ their customers to Northern Beaches Web Designs when their customers and contacts required website assistance.  A meeting was arranged over coffee to discuss the details (special note- WebMan loves coffee, can’t say no) Not only was the rep. over 20 minutes late, he also smelt of alcohol from the night/day before. Unknown to WebMan, the rep. would only refer web development services if advertising on their website was purchased… let’s say $1,000 – $3,000 for 12 months! What a scam! What a waste of time! What a fraud! What bad business ethics! Grrrrr!”

There is very little benefit of these banner ads and profile pages if you have a  SEO optimise your business website on directory listings. You should ask yourself or even the sales rep. the question… If I post a banner/profile page advertisement how will I get a ROI (return on investment)? Do you track the number of hits from people (excluding their internal staff) looking at my ad?

In all honesty, if you provide local business services, you are much better off, speaking to a SEO (Search Engine Optimiser) for advice and consultation, they will work with you to get propper results that are much more effective and long lasting.

So how did the meeting finish? Let’s say, WebMan was pissed off for the rest of the day! He did learn his lesson though:-)

“nano”
WebMan