Web Directories – Good or bad?
There’s a directory on the web for just about anything you can imagine.
Type a search term into Google and somewhere in the results you are bound to find some directories listed. Click onto them and you often see business entries listed, sometimes with contact information and a link to their respective websites, sometimes it’s just a long list of names.
What are the benefits for your business of being listed on a directory website? In the case of reputable companies such as the excellent ‘The Best Of Chester’ your listing is both an ad that gets seen by lots of local, well targeted visitors who are looking for services, and if you have a weblink it can be a great way to increase your page rank on Google.
But… and this is a big but. Not all directories are the same. This week we took a call from a business owner in Chester who had given £300 to be on a directory believing he would get qualified leads, extra traffic and increased ranking on Google. After the 12 month agreement ended he decided the directory wasn’t for him and didn’t renew, expecting his listing would be deleted and that would be that. But the directory listing is still there, in fact performing even better than when it was being paid for. It is doing so well now it is performing better than his own website on Google when his business name is typed in. But instead of linking potential customers to his website, the directory is now sending them to a direct competitor.
We’ve advised on options, but our best advice is to do your research before becoming involved with directories. Ask other businesses about their experiences before signing up.
We are a web design company based in Chester, but we have helped many business owners and individuals who have had problems connected with internet related business.
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