Remember the Yellow Pages book era? We had to manually go through the never-ending pages until we found the business or person’s contact number.

The internet has made things a lot easier. With just a click on your mobile, you can now find the list of relevant businesses in your area. The importance of online visibility for businesses cannot be overstated.

Whether you are a small or global business, you must be present on the internet to reach the target audience. Online business directories are now the evolved Yellow Pages. Your business needs to be listed in these directories since they act as the digital hub where potential customers find information about your business.

There are millions of business directories out there, both free and paid. Here are some suggestions for you to consider if you are a business owner with a minimal budget but want an effective result.

Top Paid Local Business Directory Websites

Business owners who are just starting their hunt for the best business directories should focus on the popular and free ones. Google Business Profile is the best place to start. Make a list of the free business directories and then check the domain authority scores of these sites. List your business with the ones that have the highest scores.

After you are done with the free business directories, you can consider the paid ones. Here are some business directories for you to choose from.

1. Superpages

Superpages is the local authority resource for finding information about relevant businesses. It is one of the most popular business directories all over the world and you can claim your business listing free of charge. Since it is a high authority site, receiving a backlink to your website will also increase your site’s authority and this helps you move up in the SERPs.

The free business listing with Superpages will include features like map directions, hours of operation, customer reviews, and more. But if you want more features like the option of adding logos, photos, taglines, live chat agents, and more, you will have to choose the paid version which costs around $25 per month.

2. Better Business Bureau

Better Business Bureau is one of the most in-demand online directory sites with a high domain rating of 93. You can list or claim your business for free in Better Business Bureau. The listing would include basic details like the location of the business, contact information, customer reviews, and more.

But to get accredited by BBB, you will have to pay an amount depending on the number of employees. A BBB-accredited business gives the customers the confidence that they’re dealing with an ethical and genuine business.

Benefits of BBB accreditation:

• Greater visibility
• Enhanced credibility
• Access to exclusive business tools and resources
• Competitive advantage over non-accredited businesses
• Access to more features in your listing
• Access to webinars and newsletters offered by BBB

3. LocalBizNetwork

LocalBizNetwork is one of the Premium Google Partner directories to be listed in. Listing your business in this directory can help boost your business ranking in the SERPs. It is one of the best options for small business owners who want their business to gain online visibility and credibility.

If you are on a minimal budget and want to make the most out of it, you can choose the basic LocalBizNetwork listing which costs only $99 (one-time cost). With this listing, you get the options of a do-follow link to your website, customer reviews, a custom logo, social media links, contact information, and more.

If you want to level up your listing game, then you can choose the featured LBN business profile listing option that costs only $9.99 per month. With this listing, you can avail numerous features like adding articles and videos about your business, providing customer contact forms, managing on-page SEO, and more. The featured listing can act like a mini website for businesses that can’t afford a full-blown website. Interested to know more? Click here.

---

Also Read: Low-Cost Market Research Tips for Startups - Importance of Market Research 

---

4. Merchant Circle

Merchant Circle is a general online listing site that has an impressive domain score of 85. With the standard free listing, you can update general information like contact numbers, social media links, photos, operating hours, and more.

Premium listing that costs around $10 a month will help you rank better on the site and there won’t be any ads displayed on the listing page. Other than this, there is also an add-on to the premium listing you can choose that is more efficient but costs more.

5. Hotfrog

Hotfrog is a popular general business directory in many countries. You can add a free listing to the site with basic information about your business. There is also a paid advertising option.

Choosing this directory will increase the online exposure of your business and make it stand out from the competitors. You also get additional features like a complete list of contact details, and the ability to create coupons and promote special offers. It is also free of ads.