A Business Directory Can be Effective Marketing Tool to Reach to Prospects

Getting listed in a reputed business directory, under a highly relevant classification, is one of the best marketing options for your business.

Paid advertisement solutions (pay per click, banner etc.) and organic search engine marketing is very important for a business to be successful over internet. It’s also important for a business to be listed in reputable business directories.

Though consumers search products or service on search engines, they esp. b2b buyers also use the business directory as a database to collect specific and detailed information of a business, compare products, analyze and evaluate product specifications and features.

Scope of a business directory: A general business directory list businesses from more than one industry. Every directory has its own object and scope. Below is given a general picture of sites that business directory can list:
  • Sites of manufacturer, distributor, marketer, sellers.
  • Sites of trade associations, educational institutions and training programs, business and economic news, events, etc.
  • Sites of service providers who provide business services like accounting, finance, human resources, management, marketing, etc.
Given below are some of the features a business directory offers that a business can benefit from-

Regular listing: Adding business is through comprehensive category structure is the main service a directory offers. Being listed a business can increase its online traffic. Major business directories can send very relevant traffic to a business.

Featured listing: Featured listing some directory also called it sponsored listing. If business is added as featured it is shown at the top of the category it is listed. The feature gives a listing opportunity to be noticed first when the category is visited. A sponsored listing will send more traffic than a basic listing.

Advertisement: Business directories also offer advertisement service like pay per click campaign, banner advertisement, news letter advertisement etc. Some directories also offer offline advertisement in their print news letter or magazine. A business can spread the word further taking advertisement service of business directories.

Market place: Many business directories also offer marketplace to buy or sell products or service. By taking part in the market place that a business directory offers a business can increase its sells.

Other features: Business directories also offer industry news, market research information, how to guide and other innovative services.

Indirect benefits a business directory can offer:
Most of the business directory offer search engine friendly listing. When a business website is added in a directory, it gets a link. The link from a business directory is one way and very much relevant. It is one of the editorial forms of link that a site can have. This type of editorial link from authority business directory helps to improve search engine ranking that will result in more traffic from search engines.

A business must consider a business directory important marketing tool to promote a business over internet along with its other online marketing and promotion campaign.

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