| One of the oldest and most effective ways to market | | | | marketing pros all recommend getting inbound links |
| yourself online is through local small business directory | | | | from websites with high PR. A website with a PR |
| listings. Small business Internet marketing requires | | | | higher than yours will benefit you with valuable inbound |
| starting with a listing of your small business in the major | | | | links that will give you a boost in the search engines as |
| general directories then listing them in niche and | | | | well. The age of the directory makes it more valuable |
| industry-specific directories appropriate to your small | | | | because you know that if the directory has been |
| business. It is a time consuming process to list your | | | | around for more than two years then it will likely be |
| small business in the right directories, but a necessary | | | | around next year. You can get information on |
| one to ensure good rankings for your website. | | | | PageRank and the age of various directories at |
| The most essential directory for your small business to | | | | Don't waste your time trying to get listed in a directory |
| be listed in is DMOZ, also called the Open Directory | | | | that doesn't offer a category you'll fit into. Be sure to |
| Project. All the major search engines, and most of the | | | | browse the categories at any small business |
| minor ones, rely on DMOZ, located at for information | | | | directories you consider before you list your business. |
| on websites. Google gets information on every | | | | Two great sources for finding web directories for your |
| website it crawls from DMOZ. | | | | small business Internet marketing efforts are and The |
| You should also list your small business in Google Local | | | | Best Web Directories website is perhaps the most |
| and Yahoo Local. All you need to do to get listed with | | | | comprehensive website for finding business directories |
| Google is to go to Google, click on the Local link and | | | | online. If you want to find local customers through small |
| find the "add your business link." For Yahoo, go to | | | | business directories then I recommend these two |
| Yahoo, click on "Directory," then click on "Submit Your | | | | resources for finding the best places online that list |
| Site" at the bottom of the page. | | | | small business directories for your Internet marketing |
| You can find other directories online by using Google | | | | efforts. |
| or Yahoo. Type in "directory of directories" and you'll | | | | One thing you'll need to keep in mind - all directories |
| get a list of small business directories, both paid and | | | | are different. Nevertheless, you should write your |
| free, listed by state, industry, niche, and other | | | | business directory listing before you submit to any |
| categorizations. I recommend that you list in every | | | | directories. Your local small business directory listing |
| directory that applies to your business. Here is a short | | | | shouldn't be too long, but it should include all the |
| list of local small business directory opportunities to help | | | | pertinent information: Your business name, your name, |
| you attract local customers for your business: | | | | address, phone number, website address, e-mail |
| Some directories, like the Yahoo directory, charge, but | | | | address, and a short description of your business. In |
| it is well worth what you pay to be listed. Once you | | | | your business directory listing, be sure to use the best |
| are included in Yahoo's small business directory, you | | | | keyword two or three times to make your small |
| can bet your website will be indexed in the search | | | | business listing optimized for the search engines. |
| engine as well. | | | | To find industry-specific or niche directories, go to |
| There are three primary considerations for your small | | | | DMOZ or one of the other general directories and |
| business when listing in directories online: | | | | search for your industry by keyword. Then do a |
| The directory's PageRank | | | | keyword search at Google and Yahoo along with the |
| The directory's age | | | | keyword "directory." This should return a good listing of |
| Is your small business category available? | | | | directories for your industry or niche. |
| PageRank is important for SEO purposes. Internet | | | | |