You’ve had your website updated. It looks great, it works well and you have invested somewhat in SEO. But you want to do more. Someone has recommended listing your business in an online B2B business directory but, for whatever reason, you have decided that is not right for you.
If that is the case, we strongly advise you to reconsider.

A B2B business directory is simply an online listing of businesses that are categorised so that they can be easily found by those who need to see them i.e. potential customers. Categories include location and niche. They basically do the job of making it as easy as possible for people to find the service they need and be able to contact them as quickly and easily as possible.

Of course, you want potential customers to find your own site through online searches, that’s why you invested in SEO in the first place. You know that it is highly likely that the primary search would be done through Google. You also know that it is also likely that your ranking does not even rank on the first few pages of Google. But, by adding your profile to B2B listings, you can let these directories take the strain and delivery the results for you.

It is worth doing a quick test to see what does come up on the first page of Google when searching for your type of service you offer. When you look past the sponsored links at the top of the first page, it is highly likely that the results you see are predominantly for B2B business directories. In those are listings of companies who offer similar products, services & solutions as you do.

But, if your own company does not currently have a listing on those directories, then guess what? That’s right – those who are searching for the type of services you offer will never find you there. You are definitely missing a trick!!

Because business directories are very strong for SEO, they often rank very highly in Google searches. In fact, it is estimated that over 90% of internet users find a solution provider via online directories.
Whether the user is searching for a provider within a specific geographical location or within a specialist industry sector, the online business directory is a marketing force to be reckoned with.

So, by ensuring your business also has listings on B2B business directories, you can be assured of higher page rankings, greater relevancy and increased traffic through more backlink enquiries.

5 Reasons Why You Should List Your Company on a B2B Business Directory

1. They perfectly boost your SEO by creating trustworthy, indexed backlinks to your website homepage.
2. They provide your potential customers with up to date service & contact information for your business.
3. The review / testimonials sections are an excellent way to provide social proof.
4. They are one of the quickest ways for a company to find you through an online search.
5. It is a very cost-effective choice which offers a place for your company to be seen.

There are many B2B business directories you can join. And, the more you have a listing with, the better your results. The great thing is that most will have a free listings package and so long as you have the time to add your company details, we recommend you sign up for as many local and niche directories as you can, using every aspect that is provided and see how it works out for you.

Moreover, all good directories will also provide enhanced SEO benefits through a premium listing. These are even more valuable and search engines rank these higher. But, as these often have a cost, we recommend trialing a few of the most successful directories first and seeing how well they perform.
So, type your service and location into Google and see which business directories you should be part of – there are many out there.

Approved Business, for example, is the UK’s leading B2B Platform with over 120,000 businesses listed and over 2500 daily visitors driven to their site. Check out their free and premium listing options here.