Google allows you to list your business directly in their small business directory for free.
https://www.google.co.uk/business/
This means that if a user searches for a local business in Google, you will tend to see a map appear first with up to 10 businesses on it. Having listings in the business centre means your business could appear on the local search map. You can also see that if a searcher looks for you by name, you will get a large listing on the right hand side with much more details about your business.
With more and more users accessing the web via their mobile device or smartphone looking for businesses “near me”, making sure you have a listing on the Google business platform can be a great way to drive traffic and enquiries.
Here is an example using “Insurance Thanet”
As you will see the first set of results returned use a map and have listings next to them. This is the integration of Google business into their search results.
You will also note that all of the paid advertising around this local search term is being bought by insurance aggregator websites so they see the power of local search but they can’t take real advantage of it other than by paying for advertising. If an aggregator is paying for this traffic then it is obviously worthwhile. The bottom line is you need to make sure your site appears in local listings.
You can also do a similar thing by adding your business to both Bing and Yahoo.
You can find out more details on how to do this by using the links here:
Bing – https://www.bingplaces.com/
Yahoo (is managed by Infoserve) – https://www.infoserve.com/local-listings/yahoo-local/
Other places to list your site to help you appear under local terms:
Hotfrog – http://www.hotfrog.co.uk/
LocalSearch24 – http://www.localsearch24.co.uk/
Thomson Local – http://www.thomsonlocal.com/
Scoot (Scoot Network gives you a directory access to The Sun, The Independent, The Mirror, amongst others) – http://www.scoot.co.uk/
Touchlocal – http://www.touchlocal.com/
We hope this gives you some food for thought. Most if not all of these options have free and paid versions. It is worth at the very least completing the free options as it can drive some traffic and enquiries.
