Business directories are websites (or physical directories) that list business. They can be either specific to an area or a global directory. Business directories are one of the first places that people go to find businesses from which to work with. If you are thinking about boosting your physical traffic and search engine optimization, a business directory might be one of the best ways to do it. There are two types of business directories, a general business directory and a category-based business directory.

A general business directory is a list of businesses from all kinds of industries, from hotels to restaurants. Every type of business is in there, but you can filter it down when you are looking for a specific business.

On the other hand, a category-based directory hosts only one type of business. For example, it might only host a list of restaurants.

Both types of business directories play a role in the world of online business listings. Let’s take a look at some of the main reasons to use them.

Category-Based Directories

Category-based directories are often best to list your business in when you work in a very specific industry. Chances are if you have a very set customer base, they are going to use a category-based directory to find you. There is no need for them to go to a general business directory, in fact it would only slow them down with false results.

When a directory operates based on categories, it doesn’t always mean that it is sorted by the type of business they perform. Some directories are optimized for people with disabilities, location-based, and local business oriented.

General Business Directory

A general business directory is one of the most common types of directories out there. Think Yellow Pages. People turn to this kind of directory to find everything that they are looking for. Whether it be where to eat or where to shop. If you deal in multiple industries or a more generic industry, using a general business directory is often best.

General business directories establish themselves in people’s minds as a place to turn to when looking for information on any business. A lack of a listing will hurt when someone who regularly uses the directory searches for you.

Both Are Necessary

For the most part, you will need to submit your business information to both category-based directories and general business directories. This will help to ensure that you get the most traffic possible. Your presence in directories is expected and a lack of a presence can actually hurt your business’s reputation.

Now that you know the two different types of business directories you can make a better decision when it comes to whether you want to submit your business as a listing. Making the decision can be hard, but if you want to improve your presence, it is necessary. Almost all businesses submit listings to at least a few business directories around the internet. This is how they build up a name for themselves.