Directories that will help boost your SEO

I’ve talked about localised SEO in other articles, and how it’s becoming more and more vital to businesses. As an increasing number of people switch their buying habits from in store to online, it's crucial that your business appears exactly where your target market is looking.

One of the ways to do this is through directories, and more specifically, through NAC:

• Name

• Address

• Correspondence

In order to boost your localised SEO you need to have the correct citation and, more importantly, have the directories point back to your website. As a company we’ve recently researched more than 50 of the top directories in the UK - here’s our list of 29 directories that you can add your details to for free.

Before you begin to add your details to these directories you need to apply keyword research to discover the most appropriate description and keywords to use in your listing.

Description: This will be what people will read that will ultimately encourage them to get in touch with you for the product or service they require. For example, here’s a basic description that we wrote for the marketing side of our business, Novus Marketing Solutions LTD:

Novus Marketing Solutions LTD is a multi-award winning content creation company, based in Doncaster. Specialising in branding, website design, SEO, social media advertising and videos, we make sure your product/service is seen by your target market on the most effective platform. Check out our website www.novusmarketingsolutions.co.uk or give us a ring to see how we can take your business to the next level.

This is a basic description that contains the keywords we’re wanting to be found for. Some directories ask for a short bio, others allow you to have descriptions as long as you want; that said, remember that your prospective customers will be reading these, so make sure you’re to the point. Encourage people to get in touch with you - your listing will be next to your competitors’ and people can be put off by too many words.

As well as a description, directories often ask you for:

• Pictures of your business (e.g. your logo)

• Videos

• Services and products you offer

• Business Name

• Address

• Company size

• Email

• Social media links

• Phone number

• Key words you want to be found for

It’s a good idea to write these into a Word document, so that you can simply copy and paste the information. It will save you a lot of time re-writing the same details.

Here’s our list of the 29 online directories in which you can be featured for free (last checked 07/07/2020).

*Freemium means free for a specific time period, or that the directory offers a premium version that carries additional features.

1. www.google.co.uk/business – Free

2. www.bingplaces.com – Free

3. www.yell.com – Freemium

4. www.yelp.co.uk – Free

5. www.thomsonlocal.com – Freemium

6. www.scoot.co.uk – Freemium

7. www.foursquare.com – Freemium

8. www.uklinked.co.uk – Freemium

9. www.freeindex.co.uk – Freemium

10. www.hotfrog.co.uk – Freemium

11. www.lacartes.com – Freemium

12. www.192.com – Free

13. www.locanto.co.uk – Freemium

14. www.approvedbusiness.co.uk – Freemium

15. www.uksmallbusinessdirectory.co.uk – Free

16. www.opening-times.co.uk – Free

17. www.yalwa.co.uk – Freemium

18. www.brownbook.net – Freemium

19. www.businessmagnet.co.uk – Free

20. www.opendi.co.uk – Freemium

21. www.thetradefinder.co.uk – Free

22. www.listedin.co.uk - Freemium

23. www.searchme4.co.uk – Free

24. www.pinbud.co.uk – Freemium

25. www.tradepages.co.uk – Freemium

26. www.ukbusinessdirectoryltd.co.uk – Freemium

27. www.business-directory-uk.co.uk – Freemium

28. www.uk-businesses.co.uk – Freemium

29. www.bizify.co.uk – Free

If you have any problems adding your company’s details to the above directory sites, get in touch with us. We admit that it’s time-consuming, we’re more than happy to create your listings on your behalf.

Check out our website: www.novusmarketingsolutions.co.uk; alternatively, message us by email: Info@novusmarketingsolutions.co.uk or through social media.

I hope you found the above useful. Remember, SEO isn’t just a one-off project - you need to keep developing new content to make sure you keep rising up the ranks. Read our other articles to find out more about SEO and how you can do it yourself.