
Though web directories existed since the early days of the internet, their role in online promotion went through twists and turns. In quest of visibility and traffic, businesses often use or abuse business directories such as Yelp and Yellow Pages. One of the most popular uses of these websites is to obtain backlinks. Due to the search algorithm, it is no longer useful to obtain backlinks from any web directory. However, there are business directories that still benefit you in different ways.
These sites also have value for Local SEO. This article discusses the top 20 business directories that still have value for online and offline businesses. Continue reading if you want to know more.
20 Web Directories That Still Have Value
- botw.org
It is one of the oldest business listing websites that stands for ‘best of the web’.
- aboutus.com
About Us is another old and useful business listing website. By listing on it, you can drive traffic and boost the search engine rankings for local keywords.
- spoke.com
It has got a lot of daily traffic and you can benefit from it.
- blogarama.com
This is another website with high domain authority. Its link will mean a lot to your website.
- googlemybusiness.com
Google My Business or GMB needs no introduction. Though it is not too old, it is has emerged as the most important web directory. Over the years, it has become the most important option in ranking for local keywords.
- bingplaces.com
Bing Places is one of the most important web directories that can drive traffic and boost the search engine rankings for local keywords.
- smallbusiness.yahoo.com/local
Yahoo is one of the leading search engines and its business listing service can help you in many ways.
- yelp.com
It is also one of the most important web directories that can drive traffic and boost the search engine rankings for local keywords.
- foursquare.com
Due to its advanced map-related features, Four Square has become popular in recent years. You can improve your local visibility and conversion by getting listed on this service.
- yellowpages.com
It is also one of the most important web directories that can drive traffic and boost the search engine rankings for local keywords.
- chamberofcommerce.com
It is an online version of your local chamber of commerce that boosts your business online.
- hotfrog.com
Hot Frog has more than 1.6 million monthly visitors that find 120,000 businesses on HotFrog.
- superpages.com
You might not have ever heard or read about Super Pages but it is quite famous. More than a million people use it every month.
- merchantcircle.com
All kinds of businesses can benefit from the Merchant Circle web directory.
- bbb.org
Your business needs to be credible and getting listed on bbb.org is one of the ways to become trustworthy. BBB stands for a better business bureau which is an American organization for listing reliable businesses.
- b2byellowpages.com
B3B Yellow Pages is another old web directory that has been active for more than 20 years.
- nextdoor.com
Next Door has developed from your friendly neighborhood website into a viable business directory.
- elocal.com
If you are a local business, you need to be on elocal.com because it empowers local businesses.
- dexknows.com
More than 200000 people use this valuable business listing website.
- alignable.com
It is a small business network that also acts as a business directory website. use it if you are a small business.
The Last Word About Useful Web Directories
Search Engine Journal has written that “88% of consumers who do a local search on their smartphone visit or call a store within a day” (Nectafy) and “72% of consumers who search for a local business, end up visiting stores within five miles.” (Wordstream)
local.com is another useful web directory in addition to the 20 mentioned above. You have read how some top-ranked listing websites can be useful for online promotion. If you are a business, you can use these and similar other websites to get more traffic and valuable backlinks.
This post has been inspired by Amelia Wilson’s post on Search Engine Journal. Thank you, Amelia. In the end, we can say that you can improve your appearance against local search words if you have used relevant web directories. I wish you all the best with your local SEO goals.