Frequently Asked Questions

Why is local search important?
Traditional advertising can only take you so far today. Consumers turn to the Internet to find local businesses in their area. Search sites like Google® Maps, the Google local business results, Yahoo!® Local and YellowPages.com™ are the Internet yellow pages. A listing in these directories is your ticket to being found online by potential customers.

Where will my local listing appear?
Your business listing will appear in local online directories such as YellowPages.com®, Superpages.com® and MerchantCircle, etc. when customers search for your products and services in your area. For a complete list of our local search partners, click here. Keep in mind that there are different ways to go about finding your business in these directories: by business name, by keyword (e.g., "real estate appraiser") or by navigating the business categories. In addition, your business listing will show up in local search results on the regular search engines like Google® and Yahoo!®.

Why do I need to enter all this information about my business?
When creating a business listing in local online directories, it is important to look past the basics such as business name and phone number. Like anything in online search, your business listing can be optimized to increase its chances of being discovered by potential customers. So take time to write an enticing business description, select the most appropriate line of business, provide a list of your specialties, products and/or services, brands, and populate your keywords. You can also specify your hours of operation and methods of payment to make it easier for customers to do business with you.

How soon will my listing appear in local directories?
Your business listing will be created within 24 hours in our local directory - ThinkLocal®. At the same time, your business information will be syndicated to over a hundred other local directories and search engines. Some sites may take longer to create your business listing (up to 8 or 10 weeks). Online reporting will let you see your results in Internet directories and search engines at any time, so you can track your listing's progress.

Do you guarantee that my business will be listed?
We do not guarantee that your business listing will be included in all local directories where we send your information. Furthermore, we do not guarantee top rankings for your listing in local directories and search engines like Google® Maps and the Google local business results. In fact, we caution you against any company that makes such guarantees. If you operate a legitimate business and have taken care to create a solid business profile, your chances of being listed in local directories are very high.

Can I use a P.O. box address for my business?
You can if this is your legitimate business address. To increase the chances of your business getting listed in online directories, keep your business name, address and primary phone name accurate and consistent across multiple directories.

Do I have to have an address in the USA to use the service?
Yes. Only businesses with an address in the USA will benefit from this service, because the directories where we send your business listing to are mainly focused on local US markets.