Huge website directories containing thousands of links and state, city, and local web pages continue to increase online at an alarming rate. Similarly, search online for services such as roofers or lawyers. Therefore, you will likely find a directory website on the 1st page of Google.
WHAT IS A BUSINESS WEBSITE DIRECTORY?
A website directory is a repository of individual websites and business listings commonly offering products or services. Moreover, directories typically appear at the top of Google search results. To illustrate, search for services. For example, search roofers, painters, real estate, home remodel, lawyers, and so on. 9 times out of 10, you will see a directory listing at the top of Google results.
DIRECTORIES COMMONLY SEEN IN A GOOGLE SEARCH
Air BnB
Angieslist
Avvo
Bark
BBB
Find Law
Home Advisor
Houzz
Hotwire
Kudzu
Local.com
Merchant Circle
Porch.com
Realestate.com
Super pages
Thumbtack
Tripadvisor
Trivago
Yellow Pages
Yelp
Yext
Whitepages
Zillow
(These are just a few, and there are hundreds more.)
DIRECTORIES ARE CROWDING OUT WEBSITES IN GOOGLE SEARCH RESULTS
Directories dominate Google search results year after year. Furthermore, Google searches for service-based businesses show an alarming trend that will continue if left unchecked. For instance, below are some examples and ratios. *Below, we have searched ‘home remodelers Virginia Beach.’ Please note that these search results may vary depending on your location and browser search history in Chrome.
Out of 11 organic results, 5 are directories. This is not because of the lack of home remodeling websites; instead, the directory websites’ size, power, and funds give them the power to outperform small business websites in Google search results.
HOW DO DIRECTORIES WORK FOR CUSTOMERS?
*Results will vary over Google
1. Directories supposedly benefit both customers and vendors by creating a clearinghouse. Customers may search for services or post an inquiry that gets routed to a participating vendor.
2. Most directories are free to use. Some directories, such as Angie’s List, have an optional membership subscription that provides customers with more features and tools.
HOW DO DIRECTORIES WORK FOR VENDORS?
1. Most directories allow a business to join for free; however, vendors must pay to access more sales tools or have a ‘featured listing.’
2. Some directories charge the vendor a ‘fee’ for each inquiry they receive from a customer. – But at least the vendor gets to communicate directly with the customer.
3. Vendors must ‘pay’ to respond to customer inquiries.
SUGGESTION TO THE GOOGLE SEARCH TEAM
Google could save consumers and vendors lots of time, money, and aggravation by moving ‘Directory’ websites to a ‘Directory’ section in Google Search. I suspect this will never happen.
There will come a day when Google’s top 10 search results are filled with directories, and small business websites are pushed to no-man’s land on the 2nd page of organic search results. Or maybe service-based business directories will suffer the same fate as MySpace.
ABOUT VISIONEFX
VISIONEFX provides services to small business owners throughout the United States. Services include WordPress, Drupal, Moodle, and Joomla development. We also offer expert SEO and web maintenance services.
Please read what our customers have to say about VISIONEFX on Google Reviews.
For more information, call (757) 619-6456 or email info@visionefx.net.
Also, see
Web Development Directory Websites
Advertising Directory Website Design Virginia
Website Coupon Directory Design
Web Design Eastern Shore VA
Website Design Medical Listings Directories
