The Importance of Social & Directory pages

It's no secret that years ago there really was only one go to source for business information. The phone book was king! Everyone focused on half or full page adds and prominent placement within their local book. Some people even decided what to call their business based on the rules of the phone book. AAA roofing, AA Lawncare or A+ Contracting and so on...

Today we have social media and directory pages like Facebook, Linked in, YP.com, Foursquare, Google Business,  Bing Places, & Yelp. And these are only some of the big ones! There are dozens of these networks out there. Depending on what type of business you are in there could be others that really affect how many people can find and contact your business.

Making sure these pages are set up properly and stay up to date takes a TON of time but it's crucial if you run a brick and mortar business. Your customers need to know how to find you, what hours you are open, and what products, or services, your company has to offer. The following should help you with whats needed to tackle the big project.

Four Steps to Social & Directory Page Success:

1. Own the page. In order to make edits and update information you will need to create or claim the pages. Many of the directory and social sites will automatically create a business page for you based on the information they gather from various online sources. It's important to own the information about your business on the web. Make sure you claim the pages or start them from scratch so you know you control the information.
2. Shut down duplicate pages. Oftentimes this info is incorrect and it can result in duplicate pages of your business with mismatched info online. If this happens you will need to claim both and shut one down or merge them.
3. Verify and update information. Once you own the pages,you will need to verify the contact info, address and hours are correct. If its wrong, simply update it. Most changes are live within 24-72 hrs.
4. Update Photos & Logos. Many of the pages will allow you to do a little branding by adding some photos logos, page headers or taglines. It is best if you message is consistent across all Social & Directory sites. Make sure that you are using the same logos and page headers when possible.
5. Update your Categories. Categories exist on many of the sites they allow you to tell the search engines what type of business you are in. For example you could be a: Dealership, Tire Center, Bakery, Grocery Store, Electronics supplier etc.... This feature acts as a tag for your business. Add as many as you can think of that are actually applicable to your business.

One last tip: We regularly audit these pages because they can end up with poor information and will occasionally change your hours or phone number or address. I would recommend a monthly digital check up on how your business looks online and make sure there aren't any duplicate pages.

After dealing with thousands of social and directory pages, we have things down to a science. Correct information can help drive leads, sales and even have an affect on SEO. The steps listed above can be used on almost any social or directory page out there. No matter what industry you are in, it is imperative the information about your business is right on the web.

Per the norm, we love helping people! So, if you have questions, just ask!