Online business directories are the 21st century version of yesteryear’s phone books. And like phone books, online directories can give you a lot of extra exposure, helping you rank on Google and drive traffic to your website and through your business’ doors. With so many online directories out there, you won’t have time to list on all of them (nor do you necessarily want to), so we put together the ultimate list of the 38 best online directories for businesses.
Pro tip: You need a professional and well-designed website for site visitors. If your site looks outdated or is broken, you risk undoing all the trust you built by listing your business in online directories and rising in search engine results. Squarespace is an all-in-one website builder that makes it easy to create a website or online store.
The Best Online Business Directories by Category
- Yahoo
- BBB
- White Pages
- Yellow Pages
- SuperPages
Be sure you’re consistent with listings across business directories so visitors won’t get confused. Choose the right category for your business, use the same address, email, phone number, and other information. Browse the various directories we’ve listed, and choose the right ones for your business.
Here are the best online business directories you should use for your business:
1. Facebook
Category: General
Domain authority: 96
Monthly traffic: 2.3 billion
It’s easy to list your business on Facebook. When you create your page, add your location, phone number, website, and hours, and don’t forget to add a category, such as restaurant, salon, pet store, and so on. Locals will find you easily in the Facebook directory.
In order to get found on Facebook, you’ll need a Facebook Business Page. Learn how to create your free Facebook Business Page.
2. Yahoo!
Category: General
Domain authority: 90
Monthly traffic: 17.9 million
To ensure your business shows up on Yahoo! Local listings, you’ll have to add your information to Yext. It’s free if you’re updating a single listing. You have the option to add your listing to more than 50 other sites, but this service comes at a cost, ranging from $199 to $999 annually.
3. Better Business Bureau
Category: General
Domain authority: 91
Monthly traffic: 26 million
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is more than a century old, and it serves local communities to help customers find reputable businesses. The BBB offers ratings based on reviews, complaints, and how a business responds to its patrons’ comments. You can add your business to its online directory for free. Accreditation requires an application fee ($75) and annual dues that range from $411 to $3,123, depending on the number of employees you have.
4. Instagram
Category: General
Domain authority: 93
Monthly traffic: 1.3 billion
There isn’t anything in particular that you need to do to use Instagram (IG) as an online directory except what you’d normally do with an IG profile. Use it for your business as you would for a personal account. Instagram is a visual social media platform, so post lots of relevant photos. Then use appropriate hashtags for locals to find you. For example, if you run a bakery in Miami and specialize in macarons, you may want to use #miamibakery #macarons.
5. Twitter
Category: General
Domain authority: 94
Monthly traffic: 1.1 billion
Twitter is another social media platform that works well for businesses that want to interact with customers. It works best as an online business directory for online businesses and brands. Just be sure to add a link to your website and a bit about your business. Also, make good use of the pinned Tweet feature, which lets you keep one Tweet high on your profile (such as a product launch, new hours, or limited-time discount).
6. LinkedIn
Category: General
Domain authority: 98
Monthly traffic: 141 million
LinkedIn is a social media platform for professionals. You’ll find most posts are think pieces, congratulations for new positions, and job hunts or advertisements. You’ll have the most success on LinkedIn if you fully fill out your business’ profile, including a thorough About section.
7. Whitepages
Category: General
Domain authority: 72
Monthly traffic: 5.2 million
Adding or editing your business information on Whitepages isn’t as easy as with other online business directories. Business listings come from the third-party entity Infogroup/Express Update. So, you’ll have to contact that business and submit a ticket to change information about your business as it shows on Whitepages.
8. Yellow Pages
Category: General
Domain authority: 88
Monthly traffic: 15.2 million
Yellow Pages is one of the oldest business directories. It used to be a printed phone book full of business listings, and you’d get free delivery of the book that was updated at least annually. Now it’s an online directory, and you can claim your business on its directory for free. It also offers paid advertising to get your listing higher than your competitors.
9. SuperPages
Category: General
Domain authority: 67
Monthly traffic: 1 million
SuperPages is affiliated with Whitepages and Yellow Pages, so you likely won’t need to do anything to your listing on SuperPages if you’ve submitted edit requests through Infogroup/Express Update. If you want to claim your listing on SuperPages, you’ll have to pay for advertising.
10. Google My Business
Category: Local
Domain authority: 94
Monthly traffic: 650.5 million
One of the best online business directories you can join is Google My Business. It’s free to claim your business on Google, and you can control what’s in your profile, for the most part. Add your location, phone number, and website. You can add posts, photos, and a description of your business in the About section. Customers find you through Google searches and can leave reviews. If you only want to use one business directory, this is the one to use.
Learn more about how to set up a great Google My Business account and when you’re done, remember that it’s vital to get as many positive reviews on Google in order to rank higher in local search results.
11. Bing Places
Category: Local
Domain authority: 93
Monthly traffic: 21.3 million
Bing Places for Business operates similarly to Google My Business. In fact, if you’ve already claimed your business via Google, you can import your information from Google My Business to Bing Places.
If you search for your business on Bing and find incorrect information, you can click on the edit button to claim the business and change hours, location, and phone number. Reviews for businesses are imported from Tripadvisor.
12. Angi (Formerly Angie’s List)
Category: Local
Domain authority: 79
Monthly traffic: 1.7 million
Angi (formerly known as Angie’s List) is a popular local online directory known for listing services, such as plumbers, lawn care companies, and roofers. Most homeowners use it to find those services and contact business owners through the Angi service.
To get more out of Angi as a business, you might want to pay for a membership, but pricing isn’t transparent. The cost is often based on the industry and how many competitors you have.
Ready to build your client list for your service-based business? Learn how to use Angi for your business.
13. Citysearch
Category: Local
Domain authority: 72
Monthly traffic: 23K
Citysearch is an online business directory that pulls info from Yext, but you can claim your business through Citysearch when you find it on its site. It focuses on local services, retailers, and events. Adding or claiming your business is free, but you also have the option to advertise for sponsored posts to show on searches related to your industry.
14. Yellowbook
Category: Local
Domain authority: 59
Monthly traffic: 133K
Yellowbook combines business and people search on its engine. To claim your listing, you need to find it on Yellowbook and then click on the link that reads “Claim this listing.” A rep from Yellowbook will call to verify your information.
If you want to advertise on Yellowbook, you’ll go through Hibu, a digital marketing service. In addition to advertising, Hibu can help manage your online reputation, including reviews and mentions across multiple websites.
15. Nextdoor
Category: Local
Domain authority: 77
Monthly traffic: 4.7 million
Nextdoor is a unique blend of a social media platform and an online directory that’s based on neighborhoods, making it hyper-local. Most people use the platform to connect with neighbors about local news and events. It presents an ideal place for local businesses and services to show up among those posts with coupons and deals. It’s free to create your business page, but it will cost to create posts and advertise local deals.
16. Thumbtack
Category: Local
Domain authority: 71
Monthly traffic: 6.5 million
Thumbtack is a local business directory similar to Angi. Professionals can create free profiles on the site, and potential customers can find them through searches on the site. Your profile includes information about your service, but not outside contact information. If a customer wants to do business with you, they contact you through Thumbtack. There’s no subscription fee—you only pay when you get a lead.
17. Yelp
Category: Local
Domain authority: 93
Monthly traffic: 478 million
Yelp is better known as a review site, but it’s primarily an online business directory. It’s also mostly associated with restaurants, but all types of businesses can claim a listing on Yelp for free. You can add all your contact information to your profile, and you can respond to reviews for free.
Yelp offers paid sponsored posts, so your business shows higher in Yelp searches, in the app, and email promotions.
Want to learn more? Get the complete breakdown on how to use Yelp for business.
18. Care.com
Category: Local
Domain authority: 79
Monthly traffic: 4.6 million
Caregivers for children, seniors, and pets may want to consider joining Care.com. It’s a local business directory that focuses on the caregiving niche. It’s also a job search site, so if you need employees for your caregiving business, you can find them too. A business profile is free, but you’ll have to pay for a subscription once you connect with clients.
19. Local
Category: Local
Domain authority: 61
Monthly traffic: 563K
You’ll find everything from local businesses and services to PTA meetings and events on Local.com. As far as online business directories go, this one is far broader than most. It’s free to claim your listing, but if you don’t pay for ads or featured listings, your business will appear below many other search results.
20. Doctor
Category: Local
Domain authority: 51
Monthly traffic: 131K
Doctor.com sets itself apart from other online business directories by providing a service that helps you manage your listings on other health-related directories. Potential patients can find doctors, dentists, and specialists on Doctor.com, but more important to these practices is the platform to help ensure all your listings are correct. Other sites Doctor.com monitors include Wellness.com, Bing, Google, EZdoctor, DocSpot, and Sharecare.
21. RateMDs
Category: Local
Domain authority: 63
Monthly traffic: 1.5 million
Like other business directories, RateMDs lets you claim your profile for free if you’re a medical professional or run a facility. Patients can view your location, contact information, website, ratings, and reviews. Your profile will show up in searches for your area, but to get more visibility or full access to appointment requests, you may want to pay for promotion and advertisement.
22. RealSelf
Category: Local
Domain authority: 69
Monthly traffic: 1 million
RealSelf is a niche online business directory for cosmetic doctors. Users can browse doctors in their area or search by procedure to see local results. Like other business directories, you can claim your profile for free. When you pay for advertising on RealSelf, you can integrate your Instagram profile, get a verified badge, and your profile gets a spotlight in searches. Plus, you can promote special offers.
23. MapQuest
Category: Local
Domain authority: 89
Monthly traffic: 52.9 million
Before Google Maps, there was MapQuest. Primarily, MapQuest is a map directory, but it shows local results of whatever you need. It’s free to claim your business on MapQuest, but you can sign up for a plan that comes with more information for users searching your area and industry. The difference with MapQuest is that you pay for transactions, so the free plan gives you up to 15,000 transactions per month. The lowest-priced plan after that is $99 per month for twice as many transactions.
24. Foursquare
Category: Restaurants and Bars
Domain authority: 92
Monthly traffic: 11.3 million
Foursquare is known for its geolocation service, mostly for food businesses. Claim your listing on this business directory for free. You’ll be able to update your location, hours, website, and menu. Foursquare has turned its check-in feature for users into a game. Users earn coins when they track their visits, which incentivizes them to try new places—and gives businesses on Foursquare good reason to pay for the promotion.
25. OpenTable
Category: Restaurants and Bars
Domain authority: 86
Monthly traffic: 21.5 million
Although OpenTable is best known as a reservation site for users, it also acts as an online directory of restaurants, bars, and other eateries. Your restaurant likely already has a listing on OpenTable, but if you need to edit information, you can do so by emailing customer support. To set up your profile and start accepting reservations or takeout orders, you’ll have to sign up for a plan that ranges from $29 to $449 per month.
26. DoorDash
Category: Restaurants and Bars
Domain authority: 70
Monthly traffic: 46.1 million
DoorDash is more of a delivery service for customers. It also serves as an online restaurant directory, but it isn’t a free one. When you sign up to add your restaurant to DoorDash, a sales rep contacts you to work out the percentage you’ll pay on deliveries. There are multiple plans, so you can choose one that suits your business. The more you pay, the more visibility you’ll have in the app, and the less customers have to pay for delivery fees.
27. GrubHub
Category: Restaurants and Bars
Domain authority: 72
Monthly traffic: 41 million
GrubHub is another hybrid delivery service and business directory for restaurants. To get a listing, you’ll have to sign up for one of three paid plans. Like DoorDash, GrubHub charges percentage-based fees for marketing, delivery, and fraud monitoring. If you want to respond to ratings and reviews, you’ll have to opt for the highest-priced plan.
28. Houzz
Category: Real Estate and Home Services
Domain authority: 89
Monthly traffic: 16.9 million
Houzz is an online business directory for home service professionals, such as interior designers, contractors, and remodelers. It’s free to get started on Houzz and create your professional profile. However, you’ll get more visibility if you sign up for paid services. Paid plans include lots of marketing and management tools, and pricing starts at $55 per month.
29. Zillow
Category: Real Estate and Home Services
Domain authority: 89
Monthly traffic: 64.4 million
Zillow is one of the biggest real estate directories available online. Although users are looking at properties more than agents or agencies, being listed on Zillow is a way to connect with potential clients. Zillow qualifies leads before you get in touch with them, so you have better leads. Pricing depends on the ZIP code you represent, and not all ZIP codes are available.
Take the next step and learn how to claim a listing on Zillow.
30. Trulia
Category: Real Estate and Home Services
Domain authority: 85
Monthly traffic: 25.6 million
Trulia, like Zillow, is a major player in the real estate space. It works as a directory for agents and agencies, but on the surface, it’s a search engine to find available houses to buy or rent. Trulia and Zillow are part of the same network, so getting onto the network as a real estate professional is a similar process.
31. Realtor
Category: Real Estate and Home Services
Domain authority: 89
Monthly traffic: 80.1 million
Another big real estate directory is Realtor.com. Signing up for it as an agent, team, or broker is easy—register with an email address and phone number. Then, verify MLS information. Once Realtor.com activates your account, you’ll have access to your profile. You can edit your listings on Realtor.com and manage leads from your dashboard. To promote listings, though, you’ll have to pay.
32. Redfin
Category: Real Estate and Home Services
Domain authority: 76
Monthly traffic: 4.5 million
Redfin acts as a real estate search engine and an online agent directory. Creating your profile as an agent is free. You can add photos, deals you’ve closed, and contact information. You pay nothing to be a Redfin real estate partner, but if you close a deal, you agree to pay a 30% commission to Redfin.
33. Tripadvisor
Category: Travel and Tourism
Domain authority: 93
Monthly traffic: 234.8 million
Tripadvisor is one of the biggest travel-related online business directories. Businesses can claim a listing on Tripadvisor for free. You can add details about your business, contact information, and add photos. Customers can leave reviews for your business, and you can respond to those reviews. You can also pay for advertising, feature a review, add videos, or offer deals to guests.
34. Viator
Category: Travel and Tourism
Domain authority: 84
Monthly traffic: 5.8 million
Viator is a business directory for those who offer events and expeditions for guests (for example, sailing in Key West or dance lessons in Galway, Ireland). Businesses selling experiences or tours can add them to Viator when ready. There’s a fee for product quality reviews, but that’s it. Plus, your profile on Viator is related to your profile on Tripadvisor (the two travel directories are affiliated).
35. Expedia
Category: Travel and Tourism
Domain authority: 90
Monthly traffic: 40.9 million
Expedia is part of a big online travel directory network, which includes Hotels.com, Orbitz, Travelocity, Hotwire, and HomeAway. It’s free for you to claim your listing on Expedia. When you sign up, add details including policies, location, contact information, and photos, you’ll pay a percentage for reservations made through Expedia and for any per-click advertising you sign up for.
36. Lonely Planet
Category: Travel and Tourism
Domain authority: 92
Monthly traffic: 3.2 million
Lonely Planet is an online travel directory that works a little differently than its competitors. There is no guarantee that your business gets a listing on Lonely Planet. It’s an editorial site, so there’s no cost for business listings. You can submit your business to be considered by the editorial staff, though. The other option is to get your business or experience a sponsored review.
37. The Knot
Category: Events and Wedding
Domain authority: 86
Monthly traffic: 13 million
The Knot is one of the best-known online business directories for wedding-related vendors. Businesses include event centers, photographers, caterers, and anything a wedding could need can be found on The Knot. A free profile is fairly limiting. You can list your business name, details about your offer, contact information, and website. When you pay for an account, you’ll be able to customize your profile more or even pay to be featured on the site.
38. Wedding Wire
Category: Events and Wedding
Domain authority: 72
Monthly traffic: 3 million
Wedding Wire is another wedding business directory, and it’s affiliated with The Knot. Similar to The Knot, you can claim your listing on the Wedding Wire directory for free. To get more visibility, you’ll have to pay for spotlights or featured placements.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How can I advertise my small business for free?
There are plenty of ways to advertise your small business for free, including word-of-mouth advertising, reviews on business directories like Google, and social media engagement. When you’re ready to set an advertising budget, it’s a good idea to brush up on some ad stats to help you make an informed decision.
Do local directories help SEO?
Online business directories only slightly contribute to search engine optimization (SEO). The reason to claim your business’ listing on directories is for customers to easily find and contact you. When you combine directory listings with search engine marketing (SEM), you should also see an increase in site traffic.
How much do Google ads cost?
Advertising on Google may be more affordable than you realize. The cost depends on the keywords you’re targeting for your location and industry. You can set your daily budget so you decide how much Google ads cost. Learn more about how to advertise on Google with pay-per-click advertising.
Bottom Line
Even though listings on business directories don’t affect your SEO much, it’s still valuable to keep your listings up to date on relevant online business directories. Customers will be able to find you, contact you, and visit your website. It’s important to respond to reviews and manage your business’ reputation online. If this sounds a bit too time-consuming, leave it to the experts at Hibu who can affordably help you manage your listings, reputation, and SEO.
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