Having your business listed in the local white pages online is a valuable way to reach new customers. Millions of businesses are listed in the white pages online, and you should make sure your business is one of them. After all, a white pages online listing can do more than provide customers with the name, address and phone number of your business. It can also map your store's location and drive customers to your website.

When a customer goes to search online white pages, you want to make sure he or she can quickly find information about your business. You should take the following steps:

1. List your business in the online phone book white pages.

2. Buy an advertisement in the online white pages.

3. Search for your competition in the white pages listings online.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get your business listed with online phonebook white pages

If your business isn't listed in the online white pages, customers can't find you. So it is worth it to take the time to make sure your business is in the white pages online and that the listing is accurate.

I recommend: Check out infoUSA.com, a leading provider of business information products. The company's website allows you to update your business listing in minutes. Idearc Media's switchboard.com allows businesses to place a basic listing for free. The switchboard.com website gets nearly 28 million unique users each month.

Advertise in the online white pages

When customers are searching the online white pages for business names, you want to make sure they see the name of your business. So an advertisement or priority listing in the white pages online phone book could be a good place to spend some of your marketing dollars.

I recommend: WhitePages.com boasts that it gets page views from more than 37 million unique North American visitors each month. The website has advertising plans available for small and large businesses. You can either place an ad the traditional way, through an sales executive, or you can use the website's self-service advertising system. Frontier Communications is a leader in online information. The company offers several forms of advertising to market your business in the online white pages.

Search online white pages for your competition

It is always a good idea to know what your competition is up to, and a search of the online white pages telephone book is a quick and free way to do some research. Type in your competitor's name as if you were a customer and see what types of ads and listings show up.

I recommend: AT&T Knowledge Ventures operates the AnyWho website. A quick search of the white pages section will give you listings that are provided by local phone directories. Dex operates dexknows.com, an online white pages that covers the US. A search of a business on the site brings up the business name, address and phone number, along with a map and directions.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  A white pages online reverse phone number lookup is a great way to find a complete listing when you only have a phone number. Just type in the phone number, and the reverse look up will give you the name and address that goes with that number.

White pages online directory gives you so much more than just the telephone number of your party. You can look up area codes, zip codes, international country codes and more, using the white pages phone directory. If you have a phone number but not a name try reverse lookup and find the name and address of the person.

Use white pages online directory as your first point in locating any phone number or address in the US. You can also find international directories for some countries, as well as the country code to call. Look at these features of white pages online directory when you need information:

1. Search white pages listings online for name and address of someone.

2. Use online white pages to find area and zip codes.

3. Find an international online white pages phone directory.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Choose online phone book white pages to find phone numbers

Provide the first initial, last name, city and state or zip code and the white pages will populate with all choices. Narrow the field if necessary by providing more information such as first name or entire address.

I recommend: Dex Knows allows you to search for phone numbers by providing the first initial and last name, city and state. If you have more information, provide it for results that are more accurate. Yahoo People provides regular phone number lookups. You only need the name, city and state for a basic search.

Select online phonebook white pages to locate zip and area codes

When you need the zip code or area code the online white pages provides that information. Enter the city and state and the zip and area codes populate. Choose the exact information you need from the list.

I recommend: Switchboard allows you to search for zip codes, area codes and reverse phone lookups. If you have the phone number, provide it for name and address of the party. Addresses.com provides reverse phone lookups as well as searches for area codes and zip codes.

Locate international directories with white pages online listing

When calling out of the country you must dial the country code in order for the phone call to go through. Find the country code with white pages international online assistance. You will also find international phone directories for some countries here, so check for this information if needed.

I recommend: White Pages provides country codes for any country by choosing the country name. Look up international directories on the same page by choosing the country name. A pop up box appears with any directories they have for that country. Anywho provides a list of countries for which they have directories. Click the country name for the international directory.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When you cannot locate the person using any white pages online phone resources you can perform a paid search using one of the companies who provide more information from the public records. You will see links to these companies from the online white pages.