The most basic and possibly the most important step you can take to boost your site’s search engine optimization (SEO) is to list your business with the major search engines and aggregators; make sure the information is correct and up-to-date; and become the verified representative for your business. While finding the time to perform these functions can be a challenge, the payoff is well worth the time spent.
Sundog would love to be able to do this for you, but the engines that power the internet require phone or email verification that only you can provide as direct verification with a listed business is the most reliable.
If your business is new and there are no listings on any search engines or aggregators, you should create and verify a business entry on all the major sites. If you have been in business for more than five minutes, you quite likely have a listing even if you have not created one. Verification to make updates requires your authorization via email or a phone call so you’ll need to be near your computer or business phone depending on how they verify.
It is important that your business’ entries ARE CONSISTENT. Write out the following vital information and use it for each of your listings.
- Business Name
- Address (City, State, Zip)
- Main Phone Number
- Website
- Business Hours
- A description of your business, minimum 250 characters.
- Category (-ies) of your Business
- Logo and images
Unfortunately, there is no single place to add your business. Your time is valuable so we recommend you update your Google listing first. You will also want to have your site listed on the most influential business listing sites: Google Maps, Bing, Facebook, Yahoo and the Yellow Pages. For each of these, you will need to sign in. We highly recommend that you keep close track of the logins you use for your business and that you use a Business (not personal) Email for your listing verifications.
- Google: a Gmail login
- Yahoo: a Yahoo login
- Bing: a Microsoft login
- Facebook: a Facebook account
- Yellow Pages: a Google+ account
https://www.google.com/maps – if your business is not there, click “Add a missing place to Google Maps” – you will be prompted to login and can then claim the business and fill in any missing or incorrect information. You will also be required to verify.
https://business.google.com/create – Create a Google My Business account. Select the business type that best fits your category and then enter business name. If you are not there, follow the directions. This process also adds a Google+ Page.
Bing
Go to https://www.bingplaces.com, sign in using your google, facebook or microsoft log in and scroll down to the business type that best suits your business (store front, chain or at customer location) and follow the instructions.
Yahoo
Go to http://www.yext.com/pl/yahoo-claims/index.html, enter your business information, select your business type and click “Scan My Listings”. A Yext page comes up with a busy, intimidating page – just SCROLL to the bottom and Click “Fix My Listings Now”. Update the information about your listing and click “Continue”. Yext then offers paid plans, but immediately below these plans click the THIN BLUE LETTERING link that says, “Claim your Basic Listing only on Yahoo.” Fill in your business and contact information, toggle the 2 agreement sections, certify you are not a robot, then Complete the checkout and click “Place Order” (it is free). From there, just follow the instructions they send to your email.
Yellow Pages
Go to http://m1.adsolutions.yp.com, enter your business name and phone number then click “Get Your Free Listing”. Enter your name and email, then click “Claim Now.”
The time between completing the verification process and seeing your correct listing appear online varies widely. Just be patient and check in every so often to see whether your business has been updated. We recommend that you not make changes a second time because it could make the process take even longer.
Your website’s SEO is within your grasp, so do not hesitate. Put your digital stake in the ground and claim your space on the web!
