Get more visitors to your website with free off-page SEO links from business directories
Perfect For:
- Increasing your Google page rank
- Cost nothing, just your time
- A newly launched website
Top ten free business directories to improve your website off-page Search Engine Optimisation
To improve your Google Page Rank, it’s important to get good quality links to your website – this should form part of your off-page SEO strategy. A simple and very cheap way (free, except your time) is to add your site to various business directories. We have collected a list of the ten best business directories to register with. They vary in the features on offer, so it’s best to try them all!
To really improve your off-page SEO when registering your business in a directory we suggest the following:
- Make sure you add a link to your website.
- Don't pay to get a listing, unless you really think it will pay dividends.
- When registering, consider using an email address you don't mind getting spam email in.
- Consider uploading some images to a gallery if available and adding descriptive text.
- Make sure you write unique content on every directory, don't cut and paste from your website. Really important
Google Business Profile
The number one place to get a listing for your business is with a Google Business Profile. It was formerly known as Google Places and latterly as Google My Business. As the most popular Internet search engine in the UK you must get yourself listed here.
The ability to add photos, opening times, description and reviews are just some of the features available to the discerning business owner. You will need to get verified with a postcard, but this is a fairly simple task. You will also want to complete the Services section for good mobile search performance.
Yell
Yell offers a comprehensive business listing. As well as featuring in Google searches, your business will appear in all yell.com searches and in the mobile app version of Yell.
Listing is easy and you can add a vast number of keywords in the Services/Products section. Also worth doing is adding your social media links and of course your main business website.
FreeIndex
FreeIndex has been in existence since 2003 and offers a great place to list your business. As well as links, the site is crawled regularly by the Googlebots and your listing will appear in Google search results within 24 hours.
By completing more of the profile questions you business ranks more highly within the FreeIndex website. Customer reviews will propel you to the top.
Lacartes
This is a relatively new business directory, but it is well respected by Google, and you can expect to be listed on it very promptly. It has a very professional look to it, and you can even add a header photo to make your listing look very smart indeed.
Make sure you add all your keywords in the Offering section to get your business found.
Scoot
Scoot powers the business directories of The Independent, The Mirror and Touch Local, so getting yourself listed here makes sense. Although you don’t get a free link to your website, you do get them to your social media profiles.
An upgrade costs £199 + VAT and gets you a priority listing.
Cylex
Another popular business directory is Cylex and is human edited, consequently it performs well with Google’s search algorithms and it is worth getting your business listed here.
The Cylex business directory operates in over 30 countries. Your business listing can have multiple keywords, long and short descriptions, logos and more.
Bing Places for Business
Another fantastic place to get a business listing is Bing Places. Although Bing only has 2-3% of the search engine market, the results from Bing Places appear on all Windows based PCs by default.
They have made it easier to register for this directory if you have an existing Google my Business listing. Simply sign up and import it over.
Yelp
Yelp is a global business directory for local businesses. It offers a comprehensive range of features, including a website link, opening hours, photos and more. It’s recently been updated to make registration easier which is great!
Hotfrog
A comprehensive directory listing that has the usual features, however, the unique selling point of this directory is the ability to post news about your company on the website. Definitely worth five minutes of your time to get listed.
UK Small Business Directory
Last but not least, the UK Small Business Directory offers a human edited directory in microdata format. Definitely worth the effort of getting listed on here, don’t forget to say thanks to Tim for this great small business directory.
Other free business directories to consider
Open Di – A PR7 human edited directory.
Thomson Local – Now offering a free link and used by people searching on the web and in the published directory.
Locanto – Offers free advertising of services across the United Kingdom.
Unitel Direct – Can take a while to get listed here, but every little helps.
Europages – A European focussed business directory with good domain authority.
Our Business Directory expertise
Having been in the SEO business for over 15 years, we have a very good understanding of what it takes to optimise your website and get found online. We only employ techniques that are industry standard and won’t get you banned by the likes of Google if you try to fast track the system – it simply doesn’t work! Business directories are only one facet of the tools available to score well on Google, there are many other factors that come in to play.