To understand the role business directory listings and online reviews play in a business’s success, let’s go back to the basics.

How does a business gain customers?

First, the potential customer has to come across the particular business. When he finds that the business offers the products or services required, the next thing the customer does is check the authenticity of the business. Reviews come in handy for this task.

About 76% of the customers always check out the online reviews before associating with a local business.

How Do Listings in Business Directory Sites Help in a Business’s Success?

Now, you might be wondering how a single page of basic information about your business can influence the fate of your business.

However, there is a reason why business owners are asked to create as many listings as possible with quality business directory sites.

This is because business directory listings offer the following benefits:

• Enhance your online presence and make it possible for potential customers to find your business.
• Improve search engine optimization which in turn helps your business rank higher in search engine results.
• Listings with top directory sites increase the business’s trust and credibility since valuable backlinks are obtained with these listings.
• Increase visibility among local customers.
• Reinforce brand identity.

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Also Read: How to Use Business Profiles as Landing Pages for Marketing Campaigns? 

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What Should You Do to Harness the Power of Business Listings Fully?

Creating the listings and then forgetting about them is the most common mistake that business owners make. Here are some things you can do to effectively use business listings.

• Start with Google Business Profile: About 90% of people now use Google to search for businesses. Hence creating or claiming your listing in GBP should be your first step.
• Find Relevant Directories: There are thousands of directories out there and you can't list your business with every one of them. Instead, take the time to find quality business directory sites with impressive domain authority and also find niche directories relevant to your business.

If you are a small business owner without a website, then find business listings that can act as a website for your business. For example, LocalBizNetwork provides listings with extra features like the option to add blogs, videos, podcasts and more. You will even get a customer contact form that can help with lead generation and there is a provision for your customers to leave reviews about your business. A complete package indeed!

• Provide Accurate Information: Most directories often ask for basic information like business name, contact information, address, and more. When you are entering this information, make sure that it is accurate.
• Keep the Information Consistent Across Listings: While creating multiple listings, there is a chance of accidentally entering faulty information. This might look like a simple mistake but search engines do not take it lightly. Consistent and accurate information across different listings will help your business gain the search engines’ trust.
• Complete the Listings: You might be tempted to leave the listing incomplete or skip some information, especially when you are entering the same information repeatedly across different listings. However, complete profiles will gain better recognition from the search engines.
• Put Effort into the Content: When you create the listings, especially the first one, spend some quality time to make your listing stand out. Keep the content concise but also catchy. Include relevant keywords and make it look natural.
• Keep Updating: Your job doesn’t end after just creating the listings. You need to make sure you keep updating the listings. Upload photos regularly and also update any change in information.
• Reply to Reviews: Check out the customer reviews on the listings and reply to them. Thank the customers for positive reviews and try to resolve the problems mentioned in the negative reviews.

The Power That Customer Reviews Hold

What makes a person order a product without seeing it in person?

The trust and credibility associated with the business and customer reviews help create this trust in a business.

The customer is the king and hence customer reviews can make or break the business. Reviews play a major role not only in creating a reputation but also in improving search engine rankings.

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Also Read: How to Gather Positive Testimonials & Reviews 

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Managing Customer Reviews Effectively

Customer reviews directly contribute to lead generation and consequently to the revenue of the business.

Dealing with reviews can be heart warming but also exhausting at times. Here are some tips for you to tackle customer reviews like a boss.

• Always respond to the reviews ASAP. And be consistent.
• Personalization is the key. Make sure to craft tailored responses to each individual. Address them by name.
• Make customer satisfaction your primary focus.
• Try to solve the issues mentioned in the negative reviews and communicate gently.
• Maintain professionalism in all interactions, even with ones that have the potential to make you lose your cool.
• Share instances where you have solved the problems mentioned in negative reviews and have gained positive feedback for them.
• Encourage customers to leave reviews. Offering discounts or coupons can help with that.

LocalBizNetwork

Business directory listings and customer reviews go hand-in-hand in contributing to a business’s success. If you are in the process of making a list of directories to which you want to add your business, then LocalBizNetwork needs to be on top of that list. Check out the awesome features that we have to offer here