In 2021, helped by the global pandemic, ecommerce sales are slated to hit 18.1 percent of worldwide retail sales. With more and more companies vying for consumer attention in the digital space, your business’s success will depend on your online marketing strategy.
Whether your business is brand new, or you’ve been in the market for a while, you can always benefit from a digital overhaul. One way to increase your online visibility is to create a business profile on a professional listing site.
Here’s a list of five sites that will list your company for free to get you started!
1. Crunchbase
Crunchbase is a good option for business owners who like to keep their finger on the pulse of the industry. Not only does this site allow you to create a reputable listing for your own company, but it also lets you bookmark your competitors and receive alerts when they post. This feature can also be used to keep in touch with potential investors or prospective collaborators. With over 500,000 + businesses listed, Crunchbase offers a quick and easy way to boost your online visibility and enhance your SEO.
2. LinkedIn
As of 2020, the professional networking platform LinkedIn boasted an impressive 740 million active users. Known as a platform for professionals to meet and collaborate, LinkedIn carries the title of the most trusted networking site. By creating a listing for your business, you can borrow some of that credibility and reassure stakeholders that your company is legitimate. With a domain authority of 98, your LinkedIn listing can also thrust you to the top of customer Google searches.
An added bonus of LinkedIn is its robust community. If you’re interested in becoming a thought leader in your field or keeping on top of industry changes, LinkedIn will help you develop and maintain the connections required to do so.
3. Google My Business
Google My Business is another free listing option that is great for boosting your exposure. By adding your geographical details, you can ensure that your business comes up when locals Google your service. A Google My Business account will also let you expand the data attached to your Google Maps listing, allowing you to specify other helpful details for customers, such as opening hours and a link to your website.
Additionally, a Google My Business account will allow you to engage publicly with stakeholders and address any (positive or negative) reviews they leave for your company. This offers you a chance to both defend your business from illegitimate reviews and potentially solve any genuine concerns that customers may have had by demonstrating quality customer service.
Credibility-wise, Google My Business is way up there, with research showing that brands who have a presence on Google are 2.7 times more likely to be considered reputable.
4. Yelp
Like Google My Business, Yelp is essentially a modern version of the Yellow Pages. By being active on this platform, you’re giving yourself access to a strong client base and plenty of sales opportunities (nearly half of all users have an income of over $100k per annum).
Users on Yelp are generally nearing the end of their purchasing journey – you don’t need to convince them that they want the product/service, just that they need to buy it from YOU. To encourage the user to pick your business over competitors, make sure you fill in all the fields on your Yelp profile. An eye-catching photograph is helpful, with research showing that customers prefer candid shots of your staff or store to stock images or corporate logos, as they generate a more genuine, personable feel. Like Google My Business, you can (and should) also respond to customer reviews via this platform.
5. Facebook
Facebook is not strictly a business listing site but does offer some of the same functions. With a user base of over 11 million, you’ll be hard-pressed to find someone who isn’t a member. In fact, Facebook influence is so pervasive that failing to maintain or operate a Facebook page for your brand may actually leave potential customers doubting its legitimacy.
Like many listing sites, the platform allows you to list your contact and geographical details. However, another cool feature is the ability to make posts. By curating thoughtful, informative and/or humorous content that relates to your brand, you have a unique opportunity to generate engagement from your audience. The platform’s ‘comment’ feature also encourages customers (current and prospective) to reach out to you with feedback you can use to improve your brand.
And there you have it — five free listing sites you can sign up to today to increase your business’s online exposure.