How Directory Listings Help Industrial Businesses Get More Exposure

Yellow pages used to be the go-to for consumers looking for service providers. But now that everything has turned digital; more directory listings can be found online—and with more useful features. Not only that, online directory listings are definitely more accessible. All you need is an internet-enabled device, and you can look up a virtually infinite number of business listings on the world wide web!
 

For businesses that provide industrial products and services, such as those that offer industrial shelving supplies, construction services, and the like, listing in modern directories is an often-untapped opportunity to get more exposure. If you’re a business owner who’s yet to discover this opportunity, here are the ways it works (that you could be missing on):

 

1. It Helps Reach Prospective Customers Directly
 

This is perhaps the best thing about directory listings. The people who look them up are often the ones with an intention to buy your products and services. Moreover, customers who are looking for industrial services often use directories.
 

But unlike company websites that have to compete for visibility and run campaigns to reach target groups that would only have a small percentage of actual customers, the percentage of potential customers viewing directory listings is far higher. 
 

If you’re familiar with how a sales funnel works, directory listings are like a shortcut to the bottom of the funnel. 
 

 

2. It Increases Traffic 
 

Whether you’re running an eCommerce business or a brick-and-mortar shop, listing your business in directories will bring you more traffic online and offline. 
 

If you have a website or just a dedicated business page on social media, an online directory listing will help you drive traffic to both. If your website isn’t ranking high enough on Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs), listing on an online directory with a higher ranking will benefit you in two ways. First, it will direct prospective customers to your website. Second, the backlink from the directory will contribute to your Search Engine Optimisation (SEO). 
 

On the other hand, even if all you have is a physical shop for your business, you’ll still benefit from a directory listing. For one, your business will be seen as legitimate, which is an important first step in earning the trust of potential customers. Moreover, the directory listing will have your company’s details such as your business address and contact numbers. These are enough to bring interested customers from the directory listing straight to your shop’s door, or your business phone line.
 

For the sheer convenience it offers, more customers these days prefer to search for business providers online. Aside from physical directories or yellow page books being considered somewhat obsolete already, the world wide web offers far more options for customers, which is exactly what they want when they want to buy something. 

 

3. It Improves Local SEO 
 

If you’re running a local business, local SEO will be valuable for you. One way to improve your local discoverability is by listing your business in local online directories. Local SEO helps to make businesses more visible in their targeted geographical area. This means that when people in your area search for business providers, your company will appear higher on the list of results.
 

When consumers search for industrial products and services within their area, what they’ll usually look for first are directory listings. Doing so saves them the hassle of going to physical stores in the hopes of finding what they’re looking for, and then getting disappointed that they’ve got the wrong address or establishment, for instance.
 

Directory listings help consumers get the answers to their initial queries with more convenience. With just a few clicks, they’ll be able to get the business’ name, address, contact details, and other information they need to make a decision.

 

4. It Gathers Customer Testimonials 
 

The directory listings you'll find online are better and improved versions of the old-school directory books in the past. The traditional directories usually only had the business name, operating hours, and contact information. But in online business directories, you’ll have options to display more details that can attract customers better. 
 

There are also plenty of online directories that gather and include consumer reviews on their listings. These testimonials can make or break your business. But if you have products and services that you’re actually proud of and loyal customers who have nothing but good words for your business, then this is something you should leverage on. Good reviews, especially a significant amount, will help you attract more customers faster.

 

What Your Listing Should Include
 

Are you ready to get listed? Here are the details you should include (where possible) to attract more prospective customers:
 

Company name
 

Business address
 

All contact information: phone numbers and email addresses 
 

Link to your website, if you have one
 

Social media pages
 

Good reviews and testimonials
 

Eye-catching images of your business
 

A catchy tagline

 

Conclusion
 

Online directories vary in the way they display their listings. Some directories are basic and won’t include images and reviews. But to give you an idea, choose listings that can display as many details as possible. Also, the directory website should have a high-enough SERP ranking. After all, this is a form of investment that’ll help your industrial business grow, so make the most of it.