For businesses recovering from 2020's economic challenges, finding ways to stand out and reach your customers is key. With more Americans shifting to supporting small businesses
profitability. You don’t need to sink thousands of dollars into expensive directory listings to make it happen either-- the five best places to list your business are completely free! In fact, you’re probably already familiar with most of them.
Boost Your Business with a Facebook Page
One of the most widely used social media platforms in the world, Facebook is also one of the most powerful digital marketing tools you can use in 2021. A Facebook business page for your company has a few immediate advantages:
Backlinking: With its high domain authority and Google ranking, being able to link your website to your Facebook business page is a powerful organic link that can significantly boost site traffic. The more trustworthy websites where your business appears, the more easily Google can verify its authenticity and begin promoting it accordingly.
Ease of Access: Not everyone who may purchase your products or services will go looking for your website. With nearly 2 billion daily users, they are far more likely to find your Facebook business pages. Facebook’s recommendation feature also allows its users to ask for suggestions from friends, family, and group members; having a Facebook page allows your customers to recommend your company and link to you directly.
Direct Communication: Connecting with your audience is easier than ever with a Facebook business page. Just as we update friends and loved ones on our personal social media profiles, a business page allows you to do the same thing. Instead of sharing your personal life (unless that’s part of your brand-- it’s up to you!), use your Facebook business listing to give customers insight on things like business hours, current promotions, upcoming events, etc.
One common reason business owners shy away from digital marketing and social media is because it can be confusing. Creating a Facebook business page is simple and straightforward, but be warned: without a proper strategy in place, it’s easy to sink money into paid services like post boosting and advertising without seeing a return.
Jali Creatives has the insight and marketing expertise to help! Contact us today for a free digital marketing consultation.
Optimize Your Google My Business Listing
Just as the name suggests, Google My Business (GMB) is Google’s built-in business directory. Setting up a profile for your business through this platform is essentially a shortcut to giving your website a major boost. Because Google is its own ultimate authority, if your company has a GMB profile, it will drive inquiry traffic straight to its own listing. From there, you can redirect that traffic to your website, in turn building its authority as well. Just as with Facebook, a Google My Business backlink is a must-have for SEO and organic search purposes. Beyond this, GMB acts as a one-stop-shop for all the pertinent details a new customer would need to know to make an educated decision.
The downside of Google My Business? Though you can make posts directly to this platform, they aren’t likely to see much real traffic; mostly, posting to GMB is about building backlinks and keyword targeting. That’s not to say you shouldn’t post here: things like videos and images are enticing for potential clients and make them more likely to follow through with a purchase.
Google My Business is also a great platform for collecting reviews from satisfied customers! Be sure to stay on top of these, though, as displeased clients may also post about their experience. Either way, it’s important to respond professionally and as promptly as possible. Thank people for their glowing reviews, and offer to address concerns for those who are more critical. This approach to reputation management helps you stay on top of public opinion.
Utilize the Power of Yelp to Boost Your Business
An innovator in the digital space, Yelp was one of the first websites to allow customers a voice. It helps us choose the best places in town for dinner, a spa day, or kickboxing lessons by getting insight into a business before we spend our money. On the other side of the coin, Yelp is a great free tool for small business owners. As an authority in the world of business recommendations and reputation management, having a free Yelp listing helps increase visibility for those who may not have found your business otherwise. This is especially useful for up-and-coming restaurants, retailers, and home service providers.
Just as with the other platforms on this list, Yelp offers incentives to switch to a paid account or creating sponsored ads. While these can certainly help with your digital marketing initiatives, spending money isn’t necessary to benefit from this listing. Backlinks, authority building, and keyword targeting can all get a boost from a free Yelp listing.
Don't Forget About the YellowPages
In the same vein as Google My Business and Yelp, YellowPages is an authority in business promotion and directories. Around since before the digital age, the company’s digital transition has made it easier to create and update your business listings. Unlocking certain categories and options does require a switch to a paid listing, but just having a basic profile is still advantageous. Somewhat more basic than the social media options, YellowPages doesn’t require much maintenance or updating except when updating business details.
Be Sure Your Company Has a LinkedIn Business Page
LinkedIn, the Facebook for professionals, is exactly that: a social media platform focused around making connections, self-promotion, and growing your business. It allows you to connect with others in your industry, stay on top of relevant news, and potentially scout your next great employee.
As a platform built for business, LinkedIn is less for finding new customers (unless your usual clients are also business owners) and more about building authority and professional visibility. Being an active part of your industry helps you stand out among competitors and grow your professional audience. Use LinkedIn to participate in a conversation around relevant trending topics, gain industry insight, and create lasting partnerships and connections.
That’s not to say it doesn’t also benefit you on the customer-facing end; after all, business professionals are consumers, too. As with the other free listings here, having a business listing on LinkedIn benefits your overall digital marketing efforts. If you are new to organic digital marketing, beginning with these five free listings is a great place to start.
Ready to step your game up? Jali Creatives can help you exceed your 2021 marketing goals! Let's talk about how we can help, click here to connect with us.
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