According to studies, 83% of US shoppers who visited a store say they conducted an online search before going to a store. With more and more people turning to the Internet for ideas, answers, and suggestions, it should come as no surprise that businesses with an online presence enjoy more sales and drive more customers.
Local listings are essential for local businesses to thrive. Before Google and mobile devices came into being, local businesses used to sit back and let customers find them.
Today, the pressure is on the local businesses to reach out to customers.
When a customer looks for a local service, the first thing they do is pull out their cell phone and search on the Internet. A quick search engine query gets them the results they are looking for. If a local business is not visible online, it will not show up in SERPs amongst its competitors.
That is where online directory listings come into the picture.
To put it simply, a local listing is an online citation of a local business that includes the essential information of a business. If a local business does not list their information on a free business listing site in the USA, they are missing out on big perks.
There are numerous benefits of local listings for businesses. Not only do they increase the business’s visibility online and the likelihood of getting found online, but they are also an effective way to reach a broader audience.
Following are the benefits of local listings:
A local business has one primary goal – to reach as many customers as possible. Local business listings in online directories play a key role in successfully achieving the goal.
Increased online visibility contributes to higher website traffic and more in-person visits to a store.
When someone asks Google for a local service via voice search, Google will not respond with businesses that do not have online listings. With 40% of all voice searches having local intent, it is vital that local businesses make their information available online, which includes the location, store hours, phone number, and available services.
One bonus that you get from the local listing is an automatic boost in Google’s search results. Instead of pulling information about the business from multiple sites, search engines rely on the information given in the listing. This provides the brand with consistency on the Internet, which results in a higher position in SERPs.
When it comes to researching businesses, 63% of consumers tend to trust online search engines. Hence, if a business does not appear in search engine results, why should customers trust it? Unless they already know the business, consumers are more likely to try a well-reviewed local service on Google.
Are you interested to know more about getting your business listed on a free listing site? Please contact Now service if you have further queries.