Top 15 Online Business Directories

1. A Step by Step Guide to
Getting Your Business on the
Internet’s Top Directories
Quickly and Easily
By Mike Coleman (513) 428-9170
www.MobileMarketingRX.com

2. There are literally hundreds of online directories
available on the internet. These directories are
designed to help online users locate the
websites and information they are looking for.
They are also a great way to help businesses
increase their Internet traffic and improve
customer recognition.

3. There are many reasons why a small business will want to
register with the top directories on the web. Directories
serve many purposes, such as:
– Categorizing websites so that they are easily found using
search engines.
– Linking websites to one another for easier access.
– Increasing traffic to individual websites.
– Providing an easy way for consumers to find out about
specific companies.
– Boosting Search Engine Optimization (SEO) keywords and
tactics for businesses so that they receive higher SERPs
(search engine result pages) rankings.
– Helping business websites stand out to potential consumers.

4. Getting your small business registered on the top
online directories will result in:
– Increased website traffic
– Increased sales/revenue
– Increased SERP rankings
– More reciprocal links to your website
– Greater brand recognition
– More interactions with customers
– The ability to share deals, promotions, press releases
and other special events with customers.
– A better and more comprehensive online appearance.

5. In order to gain the most out of your business’s website and other online materials
you will want to sign your company up for listings in the following online directories:
• Google Places • Citysearch
• Bing • MapQuest
• Yahoo! • Local.com
• Yelp • Foursquare
• Merchant Circle • LinkedIn
• Yellow Pages.com • CitySlick
• Supermedia • Angie’s List.com
• Yellow Book • BONUS! Facebook Fan
Page

6. Google Places is a free local platform
directory service provided by Google. It
allows your business to appear on To submit your business listing to
Google’s maps and search engine result Google Places start by going to
pages. It allows to you better interact www.Google.com and clicking on the
with your customers. Google Places icon. Once there click
on the ‘Get Your Business Found on
Google Places allows you to: Google Get Started’ button.
•Auto-respond to your customers
•Post live business updates
•Highlight special promotions
•Find out info about your customer base
•Locate business specific keywords and
rate their search ability
Google Places is free to use.

7. Steps to Submitting Your Business to Google Places
Step 1- Sign into your Google account
or create a new Google account for
your business. Once you are there the
site will direct you to the box that will
locate your business information on
Google Maps. This will help people
find a map of your business when they
perform a search.
Step 2- Fill in your
business’s country and
phone number and click
‘Find Business
Information’.

8. Step 3- Google will show your
business’s location on its maps. If
it doesn’t find your business you
will be required to create a basic
business profile for Google Maps.
The Google Accounts Page
allows you to create a public
profile for your business. This is
what customers will see when
they perform a Google search
on your business name or
business category.

9. Step 4- Once your Google Map business information is upload Google will
have to verify your business as a real one. You will receive a letter from Google
within 2 weeks containing a personal identification number or PIN.
Step 5- Once you receive your
PIN number you can activate
your Google Places account on
Google’s Dashboard site.
Once you activate your
Google Places account your
customers will be able to
read your company profile
and locate your business on
the map. They will also be
able to find promotions, deals
and more.

10. The Yahoo! Directory is one of the most popular search websites on the internet.
Getting your business on Yahoo’s Directory will vastly increase your online presence.
It costs money to submit a website to the Yahoo! Directory.
To submit your business listing to Yahoo! Directory go to:
www. ecom.Yahoo.com/dir/submit
and click on the ‘Get Started’ button.

11. Steps to Submitting a Directory Request to Yahoo! Directories
Step 1- Create a standard Yahoo!
Account with a username and a
password.
You will have to fill out your
contact information, select and ID
and create a password and type in
the security code.
Step 2- Once you have a Yahoo!
Account you will be in the Yahoo!
members homepage. Click on ‘How
to Request a Listing’ under the
Yahoo! Directory Listings

12. Step 3- On the ‘Request a New
Listing’ page, you will have to read
through the terms and conditions.
You will also have to verify your
Yahoo! ID.
Step 4- Click on the ‘Request a
New Listing’ form.
Step 5- Click “I Agree” to the Yahoo!
Directory Submit Terms of Service

13. Step 6- Fill out the Your Site
Information. You will need to fill
out:
•The category your website will
be listed under- for example if
your website sells tires then it
would be listed under:
automotive.
•Your website’s title
•Your website’s URL address
•A brief description of your
website’s content. This will better
help the directory’s reviewer to
determine the best place to
categorize your site.
You will also have to create a login ID and password- this should be
different from the Yahoo! account username and password you have
just created.

14. Step 7- Next you will have to fill out
your credit card information for the
annual payment to the Yahoo!
Directory.
Yahoo! Directory charges a non-
refundable price of $299 to
review each website submitted to
the directory. If the site is
accepted into the Yahoo Directory
the site will be charged an annual
fee of $299. This fee schedule is
for websites that do NOT contain
adult content. The price for adult-
content sites is $600 initial
processing fee and a $600 annual
fee.
Once you submit your credit card numbers you will automatically be charged the
non-refundable fee. Yahoo Directory will review your information and provide an e-
mail response within 3-4 business days.

15. There are two ways to submit your website
to Bing:
You can sign-up for a Bing Webmaster
Tools Account. This provides services that
allow you to:
•Research targeted keywords
•Find out who is linking to your site
•View your website’s crawl activity, find
traffic stats and locate index coverage.
You can also submit your site to Bing using
the site’s depreciated tool. This tool
doesn’t offer the above information.
To submit your website to Bing go to:
https://ssl.bing.com/webmaster/SubmitSitePage

16. Steps for Submitting a Website to Bing Directory
Step 1- If signing up for the
Bing Webmaster Tools then
click on ‘Sign Up with
Windows Live ID’. Fill out the
form with your company
name and e-mail address.
Step 2- Once you have created a
Windows Live ID account with Bing you
will be asked to fill out your company’s
preferences.

17. Step 3- On the
webmaster home
page click on the
button that says
‘Add Site”.
Step 4- Enter your
website’s URL
You will then be
asked to verify
your ownership of
this site by two
options.

18. Or you can choose to submit your
website via Bing’s depreciated tool.
To use this tool start by typing in
the security characters in the box
and typing in the URL of your
homepage.
This will automatically update your
page for indexing on Bing.
Once your website has been verified by either process Bing will add it to the
directory. You will also receive communications detailing how to best use the
Bing Directory and how to better manage your website.

19. Yelp is a local internet business directory that To get your business onto
allows your business to grab the attention of local Yelp local start by going to:
customers. Yelp also provides a place for https://biz.yelp.com/signup
customers to upload reviews of your business. It
is free to sign up with Yelp.
Step 1- On the Yelp sign-up page you will start by attempting to locate your business by
typing in your business name and where it is located.

20. Steps to Sign Up for the Yelp Directory
Step 2- If your website is not
already listed you can click on
the ‘Add Your Business’
button.
Once there you can fill out
your business’s information. It
will also ask you to fill in an e-
mail address.
Step 3- Yelp will send an e-mail
verification to the e-mail address
you have provided. You must go to
that e-mail and click on the
verification link.

21. Step 4- Your business has now been added to Yelp, but
you will have to wait until the Yelp Customer Service Team
has reviewed your site. Once that process is complete you
will receive an e-mail with information about your
website.
Hint- In order for your website to gain credibility on Yelp you should
take the time to positively review other local businesses. These
businesses may return the favor. Keep it positive however if you want
your business to establish credibility.

22. Merchant Circle is a social network for businesses.
It helps local business gain more online exposure and
connect with customers and other local businesses.
Businesses who use Merchant Circle are able to:
•Create an online listing for their business
•Show up in search engines
•Find out what is being said about their business and
monitor its reputation.
•Use As Wizard to advertise on Google and Yahoo!
•Gather new customer referrals To Join Merchant Circle go to:
www.MerchantCircle .com and
Merchant Circle is free to join. click on the ‘Sign Up’ button.

23. Steps to Add Your Business Listing to Merchant Circle
Step 1- Click on the ‘Free Online
Advertising for Local Businesses- Get
Started’ Button
Step 2- Register with Merchant
Circle by filling out your company’s
information and create a Login ID
and Password.

24. Step 3- Fill in your business’s
information, including your
website URL, a description of
your business, your hours of
operations and payment
information.
Then click ‘Next’.
Step 4- Personalize how your
business will appear on the
Merchant Circle website by
choosing a color scheme and
other information.
Then click ‘Next’.

25. Step 5- Add friends or other business contacts to create a network. Or
you can search for other Merchant Circle members to create a larger
network. The larger your business’s network is- the more people will see
your website listing!

26. Your Merchant Circle listing is now set up. If you choose to add more advertising
services and options to your listing you can choose from the many that are
offered by Merchant Circle.

27. Yellow Pages.com
Yellow Pages.com is an online version
of the classic phone-book directory.
Registering your business with Yellow
Pages.com allows your business to be
easily found by a search directory that To begin advertising your business on
is used by a large number of Yellow Pages.com go to:
consumers. It also has other tools for www.yellowpages.com and click on
helping your business expand. It is the ‘Advertise with Us’ Button
free to sign-up with Yellow
Pages.com.

28. Steps for Signing Up with Yellow Pages.com
Step 1- On the ‘Advertise with
Us’ page click on ‘Get Started
Now’
Step 2- Enter your business’s basic
information in the box provided.

29. Step 3- Continue to fill out the boxes
regarding your business’s contact
information and business description.
Step 4- Fill in the ‘Sign Up for Online
Account Services’ box and click ‘Sign
Me Up Now’

30. Step 5- Choose the
verification process that you
wish to use. You can choose
verifying by phone or
verifying by credit card or
debit card authorization.
Once your website and
business information has
been verified you can
manage your business’s
profile and update your
listing anytime.

31. Supermedia allows you to create a free online
listing that works to connect your business
with your customers. Supermedia offers a
range of directories designed to enhance your
business’s search-ability and relevance.
To get started go to:
www.supermedia.com/directory.
options.
Click on the ‘Add/Edit a Free
Listing icon.

32. Steps to Setting up a Business Profile/Account on Supermedia
Step 1- Choose what options you want, whether they are click packages, online
coupons or a business profile. To start click on ‘Sign Up’ in the Business Profile box.
Step 2- Find your business’s listing
and click ‘Search’.
Step 3- If your business is not already
listed when you clicked ‘Search’ the
‘Add Your Listing Information’ page
will show up. Add your information in
and click ‘Continue’.

33. Step 4- Add
your business
categories and
click
‘Continue’
Step 5- Add in your business’s details.
These might include the type of service
your business renders, relevant
keywords, payment options, any photos
that you may wish to upload and more.

34. Step 6- You will be asked if
you want to choose an
additional click package for
a fee. If you do click on
‘Add to My Cart’ but if you
don’t want to pay for
additional services then
simply click the ‘No,
thanks, continue’ button.
Step 7- You will also be given the
chance to enhance your listing
for an additional fee. Again you
can click on the ‘No thanks,
continue’ icon if you do not want
these services.
Your listing will then be updated onto
Supermedia’s site.

35. Yellow Book.com is the classic directory
that is now available online. It allows
your business to connect with customers
and create a company profile so that
consumers can easily find out what your
company offers them.
To create a new Yellow Book profile start by going to:
www.Yellowbook.com
Click on the ‘Corporate Icon’

36. Steps to Create a Business Advertising Listing on YellowBook.com
Step 1- Click on the
‘Request a Free
Consultation’ Icon.

37. Step 2- Fill out all of the required
information for your business’s
directory information.
Click on the ‘Free Business Listing’
icon.
A customer service
representative will be in touch
to help you create your free
business listing.

38. Citysearch offers its users information about businesses in specific cities. It provides
contact information, local maps, directions and reviews about local businesses,
which helps consumers choose a business they may wish to use in a new city.
Getting your business onto Citysearch’s online directory makes it easy for anyone
traveling to your location to find your business.
To register to advertise your business on Citysearch go to:
www.citysearch.com
Click on the ‘Advertise With Us’ icon

39. Steps for Signing Up with Citysearch
This takes you to the
CityGrid Media page.
Step 1- You can choose to
create a business account
by phone or by clicking the
‘Sign Up Now’ button.
Step 2- Search for your
business listing by typing in
your business name and zip
code.

40. Step 3- Unless your business listing is already in the database the website will not find it.
Click on ‘Create New Listing’ if it doesn’t locate your website.
Step 4- Fill in your
business’s information to
create a business account.

41. Step 5- Select the address the website
finds for you.
Step 6- Fill out your business’s
contact information and create a
username and password for your
Citysearch account.

42. Step 8- Search for keywords that relate to your
business and click ‘search’. Then click on the
keywords you want in the ‘Available Primary
Categories’ and click ‘Select’.
Once you review and finalize your
listing it will be listed on Citysearch.
Step 7- Choose to enhance your
listing by adding taglines, etc or skip
this step.

43. MapQuest is an online mapping and driving
directions website. It makes it easy for
consumers to locate businesses they may
wish to use locally. MapQuest can help your
business get found online and will make it
easy for prospective customers to find your
location in person. Getting your business on
MapQuest is free.
To get started to go MapQuest’s home page at
www.mapquest.com.
Under the MapQuest Icon click on- ‘Local
Business Center’.

44. Steps to Getting Your Business Listing on MapQuest
Step 1- On
MapQuest’s Local
Business Center
page type in your
name, phone
number and e-mail
address to begin
creating a new
account.
Then click on
‘Create an
Account’.

45. Step 2- You
will have to
open the e-
mail account
that you
entered in
order to
confirm your
e-mail
address.
Step 3- In your e-mail
account open the e-mail
from MapQuest and click
on the ‘Get Started’ icon.

46. Step 4- Once you have confirmed your e-mail
address and clicked on ‘Get Started’ your account
will become activated. Create a password under
your e-mail account name.
Step 5- Fill in your
business information.

47. Step 6- Confirm your business
listing and address and click ‘Add
Business’.
Step 7- Next you can add additional business
information to your listing such as your
website URL, your business’s description,
hours of operation and relevant keywords.
This will provide customers who search for
your business with more information
regarding your company.

48. Step 8- MapQuest will have to verify your business listing before it can be posted
online. You can choose to verify your business listing instantly for $8.25 a month or you
can do it for free by clicking ‘Manual Verification’. The manual verification process may
take up to 90 days to complete.
Once your business has been verified it will be listed on MapQuest

49. Local.com is another locally-
based online directory that is
available for free to
businesses. Local.com helps
customers find local
businesses as well as deals
and advertisements.
To get your business
listed on Local.com start
by going to
www.local.com.
Then click on either
‘Advertise with Us’ or
‘Get Started’.

50. Steps to Listing Your Business on Local.com
Step 1- Choose the
options you want to use to
set up your Local.com
business account. Choices
include free local directory
sign-up, social media
upgrades and SEO
keyword placement
upgrades. There are even
free mobile link sign-ups.
For the free service click
on the icon that looks like
this:

51. Step 2- Fill out
your business
listing
information.
Step 3- Create your business’s profile page,
including your business’s primary category
and tag line information.

52. Step 4- You will be asked to search for
keywords relating to your business’s
category. Simply type in a keyword that
relates to your business and the site
will automatically locate relevant
keywords for you to choose from.
Select keywords that will help
customers locate your business.
Step 5- Confirm your
business’s listed
information. Then create
a password for your
username.
Then click on ‘Confirm
Listing’.

53. Step 6- Your Local.com business
listing has now been submitted.
You can also choose to upgrade
your listing options by selecting
the ‘Upgrade to Premium
Business Listing’ icon.
Once your business listing is
complete you can upgrade more
photos, videos and special links if
you choose to

54. Foursquare is an innovative online social directory for mobile devices. It allows online
users to locate local venues and businesses while they are on the go. Creating a
Foursquare account will increase your business’s online presence and allow customers to
find you on the go.
To get started go to:
http://foursquare.com/business
/merchants
Then click on ‘Claim your Venue’

55. Steps to Setting Up a Foursquare Account
Step 1- Type in your business name and
location to see if Foursquare can locate it.
Step 2- If the website cannot find your
business then click on ‘Add a new venue to
Foursquare’.
Step 3- Click on the ‘Sign Up for
Foursquare ‘icon

56. Step 4- Fill in the required sign-up
information.
Step 5- The
website will ask
you to connect to
different networks
in order to
network with
others. You can
choose to do this
or click on ‘Skip
this step”.
Step 6- Click on ‘Continue
to Homepage’ unless you
want to check-out the
mobile options.

57. Step 7- Click on ‘Continue
where you left off’.
Step 8- Add in your business’s
information to the ‘Add
Venue’ screen.
This includes the business’ s
name and address.
You will also have to click on
the map to save your
business's location.

58. Step 9- Select a category
that matches your business.
Step 10- Your information will appear on the screen.
Review it to ensure that it is correct and then click on
‘Claim Here’.

59. Step 11- Click on ‘Continue
claiming this venue’.
Step 12- It will ask you if you are
authorized. Click ‘Yes’.
Step 13- Confirm what type of
business you have. This
example is a single location.

60. Step 14- You will have to have
your business’s information
verified by Foursquare. This
can be done by answering
their phone call, or by
requesting a confirmation
letter via the mail.
Choose which verification
method you want to employ.
Verification via telephone is instant- verification via mail may take
up to 5-7 days. Once verified your business will be listed on
Foursquare.

61. LinkedIn is professional business-related online
networking site. It allows business professionals to To set up a LinkedIn profile go
interact with one another and create business to: www.linkedin.com
connections. Your business’s LinkedIn profile will help it And click on ‘Join Now’.
be found on search engines by consumers. Signing up is free.

62. Steps to Creating Your Own LinkedIn Profile
Step 1- Fill in the required
information to start creating your
profile.
Step 2- LinkedIn will
ask if you want to
search for other
members that you
already know. You can
click on ‘Skip this step’
to continue creating
your profile.

63. Step 3- LinkedIn will ask you to
confirm your e-mail address. To
do this open your e-mail
account, then open the e-mail
sent from LinkedIn. Then click
on ‘click here’.

64. Step 4- Now your LinkedIn profile is set-up. You can now choose to
share your new profile with other social networks or click on ‘Skip this
step’.

65. Once your LinkedIn profile is set up you can choose to add premium features for
$24.95 a month. The basic LinkedIn package is free.

66. To get your business
listed on CitySlick go
to:
www.cityslick.net
and click on the
‘Submit a Listing’
button.
CitySlick is a website that offers local online advertising solutions for
businesses. Adding your company to this site will increase your
online presence and help distribute local search engine traffic your
way.

67. Steps to Setting Up an Account with CitySlick
Step 1- Create a
username and a
password and fill in
your e-mail
information.
Then click the box
next to ‘I agree to the
Terms and Conditions’.
Type in the listed
security code and click
‘submit’.

68. Step 2- Select the type
of CitySlick
membership you
want.
Both paid and free
memberships are
available.
This example will use
the free membership.

69. Step 3- Fill out the information
for your business’s free profile.
Pay attention to the keywords you
choose to avoid overstuffing,
which will cause penalties on the
site.
Then click ‘Submit Profile’.

70. Step 4- The website will ask you to submit a
series of optional items. Each will increase
your online presence and look better to
customers.
These optional items include coupons,
gallery images and upcoming events.
It is recommended that you upload such
items.

71. Step 5- You will be asked to
click on the ‘Submit Profile’
button to prove that you are an
actual human being.
Step 6- You will
be asked if you
would like to
check for
reciprocal links
and receive a
free upgrade. If
you do, then
copy the listed
code to your
computer’s
clipboard and
click ‘Validation’.
Or click ‘Skip’.

72. Your CitySlick profile is now activated! You can alter it or add articles and press
releases at any time.

73. Angie’s List is a user-specific online site that allows consumers to provide first-hand reviews
of local businesses. To ensure that all reviews are accurate, Angie’s List requires that all users
register and pay to use the site, as a way of verifying their comments. Setting up your
business on Angie’s List allows it to be easily found and lets you take advantage of positive
reviews from your customers. This is a free service.
To get started go to the
Angie’s List Business
Center at:
http://business.angielist.
com
And click on ‘Register
Now’

74. Steps to Registering with Angie’s List
Step 1- Fill in your personal
information, including e-
mail, zip code and password
information.
Step 2- The website will
ask you to fill in
information so that it can
search for your company.

75. Step 3- The website will not
find your company’s
information and will request
to add it to Angie’s List.
Step 4- Fill in your
company’s information
in the requested boxes.
This will include
choosing designated
service categories that
will make it easier for
online searches to
locate your business.

76. Step 5- Continue filling
the information about
your company. This will
include choosing
licensing options,
general information
regarding the business
and business hours.
Step 6- Click the box to
confirm the information
and to agree to the
‘Angie’s List Service
Provider Usage
Agreement’.

77. Your Angie’s List Company Profile is now step up. You can update your
profile’s information at any time.

78. Facebook’s Fan Page lets you
gather as many fans as you
want. It also provides a way
to interact with a large scale
of customers. You can set up
Facebook Fan Page links on
all of your business’s online
media outlets, which lets
online users go to the fan
page and directly interact
with your company. This
increases your SERPs
presence, as well as
increasing customer
participation and brand To start creating a Facebook fan page go to:
recognition. www.facebook.com and either log into your account
or sign up for an account.

79. Steps to Creating a Fan Page for your Business
Step 1- If you do not already have a
Facebook account for your business
then you need to create one. If you
do already have an account you can
skip this section. First Facebook will
ask you if you already have friends-
you can skip this by clicking ‘Skip this
step’.
Step 2- Fill out the profile
information for your
business or skip what
information you do not
want to appear online.

80. Step 3- Upload any business-related or
product photos that you want to appear on
the site. Photos are very helpful for brand
and company recognition and are highly
encouraged.
Step 4- Facebook will ask
you to verify the e-mail
address that you have
provided for them. This e-
mail address will be
publically shared so make
sure it is something that
you want to be available on
the internet. Open your e-
mail from Facebook and
click ‘Agree’.

81. Step 5- You have now
created a Facebook
profile page and have a
Facebook account.
You will want to add
photos and other
content to make your
company profile page
interesting to online
viewers. You will also
want to share it with as
many ‘friends’ as is
possible.
Step 6- On your profile page click on the ‘Create a Page’ icon at
the bottom of the screen to begin creating your company’s
Facebook Fan Page.

82. Step 7- Choose what type of
Fan Page you want to create-
either a local business or
place or a company,
organization or institution.
Step 8- Once you have chosen a page to create
fill out the information box about it. This
includes the business’s name, location and
category. Then click the box to agree to the
‘Facebook Pages Terms’.

83. Step 9- Fill in the security
check words and click
‘submit’.
Step 10- Upload or
import photos for
your Fan Page.

84. Step 11- Invite as many
friends as contacts as you
can to share your Fan
Page.
Then add your website’s
URL address and a short
description that tells
viewers about your
company.

85. Your Facebook
Fan Page is now
set up.
Constant
updates,
interesting
content and
photos and
establishing as
many contacts as
you can will help
ensure that your
Fan Page gathers
fans and keeps
your company
listed high up on
SERPs.

86. Thank You!
Would you like us to do all this work
for you? Please contact us at:
Mike Coleman, (513) 428-9170
Mike@MobileMarketingRX.com