The Little Sites Provide Online Traffic Too

We’ve all heard the hype of being found on the first page of Google.  But what about those smaller search engines and directory sites?  You do see the value in getting your business found everywhere don’t you?  Online traffic has many sources.

While I’m not a big fan of the larger paid directories such as CanPages and Yellow Pages (I just don’t see a huge value in paying oodles of money each month just to be lumped in with all of your competitors), I do think that being listed in other websites such as Hotfrog.ca, CanadaOne.com and ByzHub.com help with your online traffic and are a good idea for a few reasons.

1- Many of them allow for you to provide a back link to your website which helps for S.E.O ranking purposes (whenever possible, try to include the http:// so your link is live and counts as aback link in Google’s eyes. Just having YourDomain.com or www.YourDomain.com isn’t enough.)

2- It adds a “citation” which helps in ranking your Google + Local business listing above your competitors. (For those that don’t know, a citation is your name, address and phone number exactly how it is displayed in your Google + Local business listing. Even changing it slightly can hurt you. ex. If you have brackets around your phone number in Google, then put brackets around your phone number in every single directory listing. Google LOVES consistency.)

3- Believe it or not, some people actually look through these types of sites for local business and they just might find you.

Sometimes that online traffic or that one extra set of eyeballs on your website can turn into a paying customer which then refers other friends to come and buy from you. Every bit of traffic you can get helps (think about lifetime value of a customer.)

There are a lot of these types of directory sites and some that are specific to your industry. Spend a few minutes and look for some to add your company’s information to (or better yet, give this task to an employee when things are slow.)

While it may not be a super “sexy” subject, directory sites can bring you new customers… and you like those, right?

Keep on the lookout for a new cutting edge local business directory “community” from lil’ ole me. It might just give a whole new meaning to directory sites.