How to Claim Your Local Business Listing In Search Engines
By Tom Warthen – President, ProSite Web Design LLC - www.prositewebdesign.com
Now, more than ever, it is essential for your business to have a prominent, informative listing in online search engines. Consumers are looking for the services you provide right now, so make it easy for them to find you. One of the easiest ways you can do this is to claim your local business listing with search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo. A local business listing is an expansion of the search results that people get when they’re looking for a particular business in a specific area (i.e. a search for: "accountant Washington DC") . Best of all, it's free and only takes a few minutes of your time.
If you haven't claimed your local business listing yet, below are step-by-step instructions using Google as an example. Don't worry, it's simple!
#1 - See if you are listed
Go to Google Maps and enter your business name and zip code. If the search engine already includes your business listing, click on the "more" tab to claim your listing. A form with information displays. (skip to step 3).
#2 - Add your business listing
If the directory does not include your business, go back to the Google Maps homepage and click on "Put your business on Google Maps". A blank form displays.
#3 - Update your information
Complete the form with current information about your business, including website address, phone number, hours of operation, and details about your products and services.
#4 - Submit
After submitting your information to the search engine you may need to verify that you are the official contact for the business either by phone or regular mail. If you choose to be contacted by phone, you'll receive an automated call with a PIN number that you will need to enter online.
You're done! Expecting more steps? Sorry to disappoint.
Make sure to keep your information up-to-date and include pictures, videos, and online specials, if available, to continue to draw customers to your business.
Tom Warthen is the President of ProSite Web Design LLC and has been helping businesses looking for a high return on their online marketing investment since the early days of the Internet in the 1990s. To learn more about how to optimize your website, and to contact Tom for a free assessment, visit http://www.prositewebdesign.com.
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