Let’s Talk Local Search Engines

Let’s talk local search engines.

Whether you are a small or large business establishment, developing your presence within local search engines as well as major directories, data suppliers, and review sites is imperative. As users search the web for the ‘best bite’ or ‘best service’ in their local town, you as the related business must be at the forefront of their search. You want to catch their attention not only with your contact details, but also with information about multiple locations, hours of operation, social media networks, payment methods, and other related facets pertaining to your business.

Make it easy for your users and potential customers/clients to find you.

Be present. Be known. Be shared across networks.

Below we highlight set-up details to keep in mind for search engines, directories, data suppliers, and review sites noted within our related post on working on local search. Set up takes time and a bit of hard work especially with multiple locations, but the resulting reward…well, you guessed it, it’s far ‘greater’ with increased visibility.

Local Search Engines & Major Directories:

*Note: Provided monthly/yearly prices are subject to changes depending on the related source

• Local.com
  • One account setup
    • For each location, separate listing may be created with proper address, zip code, hours of operation, payment methods, company description, services offered, and organization categories.
  • Premium Listing is $49.95 a month
  • This will include photos, video, twitter feed, special links.

• SuperMedia
  • One account setup
  • For additional features:
    • $25.00 per month for picture, logo, or slogan to be included
    • Including Promotion Text: $27.00 per month
    • Including Logo/Icon: $38.00 per month
    • Main dashboard allows measurement of clicks, impressions, and CTR

• BING
  • Account setup with ‘Bing Business Portal’
  • Must ‘claim your business’ if business information already exists within Bing, otherwise create a new business listing
  • Convenient multiple location registration; however verification for each location must be completed via mail or phone (requires receiving confirmation code)
    • For multiple locations, separate listing may be created with proper address, zip code, hours of operation, payment methods, company description, services offered, and organization categories.
    • Mobile version for each location is provided with availability to highlight key business services, products, and offering
    • Photos may be uploaded and arranged for each business setup
    • In addition to business information, categories for “What I Sell,” “Events,” and “Deals” are provided.
    • “Advance’ section of main dashboard allows management of all content under one interface.
    • “Marketing” section provides opportunity for management of brands, designs, advertising, and other related promotional materials.

• Yellowpages
  • One account setup
  • Convenient multiple location registration; however verification must be completed via mail or phone (requires receiving confirmation code) before listing can be created
    • For multiple locations, separate listing may be created with proper address, zip code, hours of operation, payment methods, company description, services offered, and organization categories.

• Yahoo
  • One account setup
    • For multiple locations, separate listing may be created with proper address, zip code, company description, services offered, and organization categories.
    • Each listing must be reviewed by Yahoo for final approval. It is standard for a review to remain in ‘Review Pending’ status for up to 5 business days from submission
    • After listings become “Active” further edits can be made to include “payment information, hours of operation, photos etc.”

Data Suppliers/Review Sites/Other Directories

• BOTW
  • One account setup with multiple locations
    • Business profile pages are subject to ‘pending review.’ Due to an overwhelming amount of Free Jumpstart submissions (basic BOTW listing submissions), it can take 2-3 weeks before a page is reviewed. Users will notified by email as soon as the review is complete.
    • For multiple locations, separate listing may be created with proper address, zip code, company description, services offered, and organization categories.
  • Free Jumpstart listing limited to 2 photos
  • Additional features – Must upgrade to “Premium” from “Jumpstart” listings
    • $29.95/PER MONTH
    • This Includes
    • VIP placement in your categories and locations
    • Feature your website links and contact information
    • Receive email alerts when someone leaves a review
    • Your business photos and videos
    • Feature detailed business description, products, services, brands, hours of operation and more
    • Premium service

• CitySearch
• • Website contains broken links
  • Not recommended to provide listings for local search.

• InfoUSA
  • 2 Accounts must be created for initial setup
  • 1 under Info USA, 1 under Express Update from InfoGroup
  • Express Update from InfoGroup – Location where listings reside. (InfoUSA is the general account)
  • No photo capability
  • Under the main account must verify whether or not your provided business (s) already exists for you to claim. If yes, after you claim your business be sure to update necessary contact information (address, zip code, services offered, hours of operation, social media links, and restaurant descriptions and categories.
  • 10 free listings per year may be created and updated under one account. If more listings are needed, must call for information about our low-cost Bulk Upload service.

• Insider Pages
  • One account setup
  • Under the main account must verify whether or not your provided business (s) already exists for you to claim. If yes, after you claim your business be sure to update necessary contact information (address, zip code, services offered, hours of operation, social media links, and restaurant descriptions and categories. (Heavy legal fine if we are not the correct reps. for the locations)
  • Claimed all 17 locations using one account setup.
  • For multiple location, proper address, zip code, hours of operation, payment methods, company description, services offered, and organization categories should be included
  • In addition, for all locations additional photos may be added in highlighting specific locations, and products/services offered

• Localeze
  • One account setup
    • For multiple locations, separate listings may be created with proper address, zip code, company description, services offered, and organization categories.
    • If interested in additional features, subject to ($200+)
    • Additional features to enhance the listing (i.e. hours of operation, photos, etc.)

• Openlist
  • Local information service
  • Searches web for third-party reviews and ratings
  • No Account/Listing creation available
  • DATA provided by LOCALEZE

• iBegin
  • One account setup
  • Convenient multiple location registration; however verification must be completed via mail or phone (requires receiving confirmation code) before listing can be created
    • For multiple locations, separate listing may be created with proper address, zip code, hours of operation, payment methods, company description, services offered, and organization categories.

• Kudzo
  • One account setup
  • Must pay for additional features to enhance main account/profile
    • $5, 500/year
    • This includes: Company Logo, Portrait Photo, Photo Album, Video, Marketing Description, Business Email Address, Higher in Results, Attachments

• MagicYellow
  • One account setup
  • Must first claim your business(s) by submitting phone number of related location. After review of business, representatives will contact to verify the identity of the person in charge of the business

• MerchantCircle
  • Users often solicited for sign ups.
  • Not recommended to provide listings for local search.

• All Pages
  • Website contains broken links.
  • Not recommended to provide listings for local search.

• Brown Book
  • One account setup
  • Under the main account must verify whether or not your provided business (s) already exists for you to claim. If yes, after you claim your business be sure to update necessary contact information (address, zip code, services offered, hours of operation, social media links, and restaurant descriptions and categories.
    • For multiple locations, separate listing may be created with proper address, zip code, hours of operation, payment methods, company description, services offered, and organization categories.
    • Additional features may be added in such as logos, related business photos, text, widgets, and endorsements
  • Listing layout may be adjusted for logos, photos, contact information, and other related features that are included.

Do you have any questions about local search?