How to Set Up Your Online Business Listings (+ Our Top 10 Listing Sites)

Creating local business listings is a great way to maximise your business’ exposure in your community and improve your online presence. Business listings are profiles of your business registered onto directory websites, which archive your business information for directory users to search up and potentially contact you through.

As rewarding as business listings are, registering multiple from scratch on the hundreds of directory websites can grow tiresome quite quickly. To help you set up your business listings as efficiently and effectively as possible, here are our top five tips to follow! (We also link to our top 10 free online business listings for Australia).

Make sure your Name, Address and Phone Number (NAP) are the same

Many small businesses may fall into the trap of creating hasty business listings, without taking into account their NAP information. When registering your business as a listing, always make sure to use your real-world business name – and keep it consistent. Advanced search engines such as Google can match your business name to physical signs on maps, printed content and online logos, so it is imperative that you keep your business name consistent across all the listings you create.

Similarly, including your real-time address and phone number across all your directory listings will also help you create a uniform account of your business. Make sure your address is typed the same way every time (for example, the suburb or city you use, how you spell street and road, etc.) and your phone number is listed the same as well. Also remember to update your information if you ever change address or phone number as that way, your contact information is always readily available to potential clients.

Include your website URL

A website URL is always the best marketing tool to include in your business listings, as it may secure the attention of potentially interested clients. Depending on what you’d like your business listings to do, you will need to decide whether to link the URL of your website’s home page, or more specific pages such as service information, contacts or branch listings.

Including your website’s home page URL is always the safe option, as visitors will receive a more holistic idea of what your business is about, and can freely navigate to whatever service or product they prefer. However, if you are looking to advertise a specific location of your business, a particular product or employee profile, linking to such pages may be more beneficial as it will save your website visitors from sifting through your website. Potential clients may appreciate the functional and convenient web experience and be more inclined to contact you further.

Select the right categories

Most business directory listings will need you to select the category or industry your business belongs in before posting. Oftentimes, you will be allowed to pick up to three. Hence, make sure that when you are selecting your categories, you are picking the right ones that accurately reflect your business, while also opening up your business to more industries.

For example, in the case that you run a skincare clinic, you may select the skincare industry, as well as the broader health industry to keep your options open and attract a larger number of listing visitors.

Link your social profiles

Linking your social profiles in addition to your website is key to a successful business listing. Nowadays, most consumers look to social media to research businesses. This is because such platforms provide a more ‘unfiltered’ look into a business’ practices and products. The amount of comments, likes and followers a business profile has on social media also helps potential clients make a decision on the reliability and quality of the business’ services.

As a result, it is important to link all the social media profiles that you have, and to quality control the posts you have on your social media. Try to reply to interact as much as you can with individuals on your social media accounts, so that you can also improve your web presence.

Substance is key

It may be tempting to create thousands of business listings with simply your NAP information and links. However, for better quality and stand-out listings, taking the time to add substance to your listings is also important. Make sure you always add an easily readable and accurate description of your business in your listings, as well as your tagline or slogan. This will make your business easier to remember.

It may also be worthwhile to include images, such as your business office or logo, to make your listing visually appealing and to give potential clients a brief look into your business. Be sure to always follow the guidelines on individual business listings when posting pictures, as some may have struct content rules or specific formats images must be uploaded in.

Free online business listings

There are many free and paid online business listings in Australia. Why not register an account and submit your free online business listings to these 10 great sites:

In conclusion…

Setting up business listings is an easy way to promote your business online and gain potential clients. However, despite it (usually) being a free process, creating business listings may not be worthwhile if it takes up too much of your time. For this reason, it is important to keep our five tips in mind to ensure that your time is well spent creating all your business listings!

Marshall Thurlow

Marshall Thurlow is Director and Founder of Orion Marketing Pty Ltd. He is a digital marketer with expertise in SEO, website design, content marketing and project management. With over 15 years of experience spanning government, not-for-profit and the private sector, he is well equipped to lead teams to success. He is a big proponent of environmental sustainability, critical thinking and progressive issues.

How to Set Up Your Online Business Listings