Having an online presence requires more than simply designing an attractive website; it also involves keyword research and good internal and external linking. Backlinking is key in any marketing strategy and boosts your website's domain authority. Online business directories are one way to start building backlinks. This article will explore basic SEO and domain authority and ends with a list of the top 25 business directories to help get you started.
When I first started building my websites, I focused on the design and then sat back, expecting the traffic to magically arrive.
I waited.... and waited... nothing happened...
So, I began to research... and research... and researched...
I learnt that despite having a fancy-looking website, without well-written content containing keywords about my business, I would never get listed on page 1 of the search engines Google and Bing, let alone page 2!
So, I used things like Google Keyword Planner and learned about keyword competition and difficulty rating. I also learned about domain and page authority and the importance of high-authority backlinks for my website's visibility.
After writing better content and building high-quality links, I went from a page authority of 12 to 29 and ended up on page 1 of Google for my keywords, with over 2000 keywords now ranking on search engines worldwide.
So, What is SEO, and How Do Backlinks Help?
SEO, which stands for Search Engine Optimisation, involves building your website's visibility on search engines like Google and Bing. One method to boost your visibility is by obtaining inbound links; the more you gather, the better your ranking on search engines.
Backlinks, also known as inbound links, are part of off-page SEO since they occur outside your website, unlike on-page SEO, which happens within your site's content.
On-page SEO aids search engines in understanding your website's subject, while off-page SEO shows search engines that the content provides value.
High-quality inbound links to your website convey a vote of confidence to search engines, similar to how positive customer reviews signal brand trust; backlinks do the same for search engines regarding your website, helping it rank higher for target keywords in search results.
The Role of Business Website Directories in SEO
Listing your business in online directories is fundamental for two reasons. According to a consumer survey by Brightlocal, 94% of consumers use business directory websites to find a local business, and some business directories have a Domain Rating as high as 95.
Brightlocal also noted a rise in customers using Google to search for local businesses. This method is one of the quickest and easiest ways to boost your online business visibility and make it discoverable on Google Maps. You can personalise your business page with hours, photos, and services and encourage customers to leave reviews of your services to attract future clients.
So, overall, beginning with business directories seems like a pretty good idea, doesn't it?!
It's important to note that there are two categories of links: Nofollow and Dofollow. While nofollow links don't impact rankings as strongly as dofollow links, they still provide a positive signal to search engines, pass some authority, and drive new traffic. For instance, most social media posts about your business are typically no-follow.
Enhancing Domain Rating through Directories
So, what are Domain Rating (DR) and Page Authority (PA)? Domain Rating measures a domain's overall authority based on the quality and quantity of its backlinks. Page Authority is the authority of a specific page within that domain.
All of your pages will have different page authorities, and a good internal interlinking structure will pass the flow of PA from your homepage between and to other pages on your website.
Concentrate on acquiring high-quality links from other websites with strong domain authority (DA) that are relevant and drive referral traffic to your site. The higher the quality, the more your DA will improve. This includes selecting business website directories that are relevant to the business industry your website is in.
You can check any website's domain authority using the Moz free domain authority checker.
What's About Social Media for Backlinks?
Although social media backlinks are typically nofollow, they still give Google a positive indication of your website's authenticity. Additionally, these links contribute to building brand awareness and driving referral traffic. Many consumers use social media to follow and research brands and products.
Start by utilising popular networks such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Instagram. Ensure that you include as much information about your company as possible. It's also important to note that social media posts featuring images tend to have higher engagement rates.
Conclusion
So whether your website is new or old, to ensure it ranks well and has good visibility, remember to research your keywords and write well-structured content with targeted keywords to improve your search engine ranking.
Focus on building content from high-authority websites and business directories relevant to your company sector. Then, create business pages on social media platforms to drive traffic to your website and encourage customer engagement.
Get started today and watch your website climb the search engine rankings!
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List of 25 Business Website Directories
As promised, here's a list of 25 business website directories to help you on your way:
Apple Maps | https://businessconnect.apple.com/
Google Business Profile | https://www.google.com/business/
Yelp | https://www.yelp.com/
Bing Places for Business | https://www.bing.com/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/
Better Business Bureau (BBB) | https://www.bbb.org/
JustLanded | https://www.justlanded.com/
LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/
YP.com | https://www.yellowpages.com/
Yellowbook | https://www.yellowbook.com/
Foursquare | https://foursquare.com/
Ailoq | https://www.ailoq.com/
AboutUs | https://aboutus.com/
Lacartes | https://www.lacartes.com/
Brownbook | https://www.brownbook.net/
StoreBoard | https://www.storeboard.com/home.asp
Infobel | https://www.infobel.com/fr/world
Tupalo | http://tupalo.com/
Yellow.Place | https://yellow.place/
ExpressBusinessDirectory | https://www.expressbusinessdirectory.com/
Hotfrog | https://www.hotfrog.com/
YellowFrog | https://yellowfrog.com/
Scoot | https://www.scoot.co.uk
Next Door | https://www.nextdoor.co.uk
Cylex | https://www.cylex-uk.co.uk
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