Free 'Business Web Listings' Can Increase Your Visibility 10-Fold

You can skip this article if you're profit margins are sky high and your new customer pipeline is so packed you're turning people down.

However, if you'd like to increase your visibility and sales through a few smart moves, please read on.

One of the best deals going when it comes to getting your name and service/product out to a mass audience FOR FREE is the business Web listings offered by several big-name companies. Good deals are hard to find, so take advantage of them when you can. Here's how:

Verizon SuperPages
Have you optimized your Verizon SuperPages listing?
If you don’t have a SuperPages listing then you should. It’s free.

SuperPages allows members who've signed up to have their free listing appear in multiple categories. Many consumers use the SuperPages when searching for local services and products so it’s a good idea to have your listing in as many relevant categories as possible. SuperPages has search functions that allow users to search by keyword, business name, city, state or zip.

Local Folks Equal Local Business

People like to do business with people they know, or at least with someone they can see face to face should the need arise. Users will tend to ignore all the sponsored listings and sponsored ads until they find a local listing. When you create your listing consider using in the text a combination of your company name and its location.

For example, if your company name is Rourk Public Relations, you might consider the following combinations: Virginia Beach Rourk Public Relations or Virginia Rourk Public Relations. This way you are better positioned to catch users' attention while they scan the page for listings.

To get started paste this link in your browser.
http://yellowpages.superpages.com/profiler/register_import.jsp?

Google Local Listings
Do you have Google Local Listing on Google Maps?
It won't cost you a thing. You can create and display a business listing for free.

Reach Qualified Prospects

There's a good chance that lots of people are currently searching on Google Maps for the products and services you offer. Why not make it easy for them to find you?

Here's what my local listing looks like for Visionefx Web Design Development.
See letter H under local listings.
http://www.google.com/maps?complete=1&hl=en&lr=&q=web+designers&near=
Virginia+Beach,+VA&sa=X&oi=local&ct=title

You Have Full Control Over Your Listing
With Google Maps you don't have to worry about publishing deadlines or outdated content. After they initially verify your address, you can edit your listing whenever you like. You'll see your changes reflected in the search results within six weeks.

Offer Coupons for Free
Displayed in your listing on Google Maps, coupons can reward loyal customers and attract new ones. You can manage listings for businesses of any size. Whether you have one business location or one on every block, you can manage your listings from a single account. (If you have more than 10 locations you can make updates by sending Google a data file.)

Google Base Listings
Do you have a Google Local Listing on Google Base?

Listing services or products is free. If you have something to sell like promotional items, real estate, cars, trucks, office space, teddy bears you can list it, and just about anything else, on Google Base. http://base.google.com/

Let's try it. In Google Base search "homes in Virginia Beach."
http://base.google.com/base/search?q=homes+in+virginia+beach&btnG
=Search+Base

If you're a realtor you should be listing your properties. I've seen Google Base cross results show up in the regular Google search engine.

How about something a little more obscure? Search "electronic test equipment."
http://base.google.com/base/search?q=electronic+test+equipment&btn
G=Search+Base

Using free listings is one of the best marketing bargains at the moment. And with thousands of new users coming to the Web each day, and millions more making it a bigger part of their lives, it's a must do item for your business.


About the Author
Rick Vidallon is President of Visionefx, a Web design company based in Virginia Beach, Va. They provide services to national companies as well as small to medium businesses throughout the United States. Rick can be reached at (757) 619-6456 or rick@visionefx.net.