Wondering where to list your specialty trade contractor business online?
In the local contracting and trade industries, having a strong online presence is vital for success. With countless people using the internet daily to find local services, not being visible can seriously impact your business’s growth. This guide helps local contractors and trade professionals navigate online directories and makes sure potential customers can find you when it counts.
The Importance of Online Listings
As a business owner, you understand how important it is to reach out to potential customers and make your services easily discoverable. If a local homeowner is looking to remodel their basement, they’re likely to search online for nearby contractors. That’s why online listings are a fantastic way to enhance your business’s visibility and credibility.
By providing customers with a platform to leave reviews and ratings, you build trust and establish a positive reputation. Moreover, these listings can significantly boost your local search engine optimization (SEO), making it easier for customers to find your services when they search for related businesses in your area.
What You Need to List Your Business
Before you dive into listing your business, ensure you have the following information at hand for consistency and ease:
- Business Name: The legal name under which your business operates.
- Mailing Address: Your complete physical business address.
- Main Phone Number: Your primary contact number.
- Website URL: Your business website address.
- Business Hours: The hours during which your services are available.
- Detailed Description: At least 250 characters describing what your business does.
- Business Categories: The sectors or niches your business falls under.
- Company Logo: A professional logo that represents your business.
- Relevant Photos: Images like before and after photos, team photos, or images of your workplace.
Why Your Business Information Matters:
Having accurate and consistent online information for your business listings is crucial. It builds customer trust, improves search rankings, and enhances the overall customer experience, leading to increased success.
By preparing ahead of time and ensuring accurate information, your business listings can boost your online presence and increase your chances of finding high-quality leads.
Best Practices for Creating and Managing Business Listings
For specialty trade contractors, managing online listings isn’t just about getting found—it’s about establishing trust and reliability. Consistency is key. Your Name, Address, and Phone number (NAP) should match across all platforms. This consistency helps build your brand identity and prevents customer confusion. Inaccurate information can lead to lost business, especially if potential clients can’t contact you or don’t trust your listings.
Keeping your information updated is crucial. As your business evolves, so should your listings. Whether you’re adding new services, changing operating hours, or updating your contact information, staying current ensures that potential customers have accurate details. It’s also vital to engage with reviews, both positive and negative. Responding to customer feedback professionally shows you care about customer satisfaction and are proactive in addressing issues.
In a nutshell:
- Consistency is Key: Ensure your NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number) is consistent across all listings to avoid confusion and to strengthen your SEO.
- Keep Information Updated: Regularly update your listings to reflect any changes in your business, such as new services, changed business hours, or updated contact information.
- Engage with Reviews: Respond to customer reviews professionally, addressing any issues and thanking customers for positive feedback.
Comprehensive List of Listing Sites
The following list includes popular websites where you can list your business to increase your online presence. The list provides a bunch of information, such as the type of website, how popular it is, and whether listing your business there costs anything.
Here’s a short overview of what you’re looking at:
- Site Name: This tells you the name of the website where you can list your business.
- Type: This describes what kind of website it is, like a business directory, social media platform, or industry-specific site.
- Domain Rating: This is a measure of how authoritative or trusted the website is on the internet, typically on a scale from 0 to 100. Higher numbers indicate greater trust and influence.
- Traffic: This shows how many people visit the site. High traffic means many potential customers use the site.
- Cost: This tells you whether listing your business is free or if it requires a payment.
- URL: This is the web address you can use to access the site and start listing your business.
For example, “Google Business Profile” is a business directory with a high domain rating of 99, has high traffic, and is free to use.
| Site Name | Type | Domain Rating | Traffic | Cost | URL |
| Google Business Profile | Business Directory | 99 | High | Free | Google Business Profile (Hey, this is a lot of work, contact us to do it for you) |
| Facebook Pages | Social Media | 100 | Very High | Free | Facebook Pages |
| Yelp | Business Directory | 95 | High | Free/Paid | Yelp (Note: We don’t personally recommend Paid ads on Yelp) |
| Professional Network | 98 | High | Free | ||
| Houzz | Industry Website | 88 | High | Free | Houzz |
| HomeAdvisor | Industry Website | 87 | High | Free/Paid | HomeAdvisor |
| Angi | Business Directory | 91 | High | Paid | Angi |
| Thumbtack | Industry Website | 90 | Moderate | Free/Paid | Thumbtack |
| Nextdoor | Community Network | 89 | High | Free | Nextdoor |
| Bing Places | Business Directory | 93 | Moderate | Free | Bing Places |
| Apple Maps | Map Service | 97 | High | Free | Apple Maps |
| Foursquare | Business Directory | 91 | Moderate | Free | Foursquare |
| The Blue Book | Industry Directory | 58 | Moderate | Free/Paid | The Blue Book |
| MapQuest | Map Service | 95 | Moderate | Free | MapQuest |
| Porch | Industry Website | 75 | Moderate | Free/Paid | Porch |
| Merchant Circle | Business Directory | 63 | Low | Free | Merchant Circle |
| Yellow Pages | Business Directory | 68 | Moderate | Free/Paid | Yellow Pages |
| Superpages | Business Directory | 37 | Low | Free/Paid | Superpages |
| Local.com | Business Directory | 84 | Moderate | Free | Local |
| Citysearch | Business Directory | 68 | Low | Free/Paid | Citysearch |
| Manta | Business Directory | 82 | Moderate | Free/Paid | Manta |
| Zillow | Real Estate Directory | 92 | High | Free/Paid | Zillow |
| Trulia | Real Estate Directory | 90 | High | Free/Paid | Trulia |
| Construction.com | Industry Directory | 60 | Low | Paid | Construction.com |
| BuildZoom | Industry Website | 62 | Moderate | Free/Paid | BuildZoom |
| Glassdoor | Employment Website | 65 | High | Free/Paid | Glassdoor |
| Craft | Business Network | 47 | Low | Free | Craft |
| Architizer | Architecture Network | 70 | Moderate | Free/Paid | Architizer |
How to Find Local Websites for Business Listings
Local visibility is crucial for specialty trade contractors. While major websites offer broad exposure, local directories help you target specific communities, particularly in central/south-central Pennsylvania.
Here’s how to find and leverage these directories:
- Use Google Search: Search for “local contractor business directory [your city]” to find specialized options. In Lancaster, for instance, “Building Industry Association of Lancaster County” serves as a local directory that lists specialty trade contractor businesses and helps users find local contractors.
- Local Chamber of Commerce: Many local chambers of commerce offer directory listings as a membership benefit.
- Local Publications and Websites: Community-focused publications and websites often have business directories. “lancasterpa.com” is a notable example of a comprehensive business directory for the Lancaster County area.
- Networking and Referrals: Connect with other business owners, attend local industry events, and participate in networking groups. Organizations like the “The HBA of Metropolitan Harrisburg” and the “York Builders Association” can help you network and discover valuable local directories.
- Local Government Websites: Municipal websites often have business directories or community resources pages that list local businesses.
Why Online Directory Listings Matters
Did you know that utilizing online directories effectively can substantially benefit your business? It’s true! Studies show that more than half of mobile searches seek directions, while an equal number search for business addresses. So, it’s essential to ensure that your online listings have accurate addresses and Google directions.
Additionally, Google’s Consumer insights report that search phrases like “near me” or “close by” have increased by over 900% in two years by searchers, which means that your listings have a higher chance of being noticed by potential customers. By keeping these things in mind, you can make your business more visible and attract more customers.
Maximizing ROI Through Online Directory Listings
Marketing is an investment, and by investing time and effort into online directory listings, your business can improve search engine rankings and drive more organic traffic to your website. This, in turn, can lead to more leads and revenue opportunities, making online directory listings a cost-effective and essential component of any contractor’s or trade industry business’s marketing strategy.
Listing your business in relevant online directories is an investment in your business’s future. By leveraging online directories effectively, you can establish a solid online presence, attract more qualified leads, and achieve sustainable growth in today’s digital marketplace.
Tired of struggling to attract qualified customers to your business? Want to make a lasting impression and stand out from the competition? Let our experts guide you through strategies to boost credibility and generate high-quality leads. Book a free strategy call today or visit our contractor and trades page to learn more >>