Home » Guides » Sales and Marketing » Internet Marketing » Online Yellow Pages

Chris Maxcer

Guide to Online Yellow Pages

Web-based listings can help you land customers from around the world

By Chris Maxcer, Freelance Writer

Increasingly, anyone looking for a product or service is abandoning printed Yellow Pages directories and doing their search online. With all these searchers representing potential customers, you need a well-designed strategy to reach them. Here are the steps you should follow:
  1. Create basic online Yellow Pages listings in the major directories, which are often free.
  2. Upgrade or enhance your listings based on your type of business and local competition. Current fee models are either pay-per-click or monthly payments. Only pay for enhancements that matter to your business, like automatic mapping and driving directions, email links and premium placements.
  3. Add features such as audio ads or pop-up mini sites/microsites that deliver additional information about your business if you want to distinguish yourself from local competitors or have a business that attracts tourists or out-of-town traffic.

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


Start with the top directories

The best Yellow Pages directories have many businesses listed and get the most consumer traffic, so focus on the top directories first.
I recommend: Check out yellowpages.com, SuperPages.com, Yahoo! Local Yellow Pages, YP.Com and DexKnows Yellow Pages.

Consider Up-and-Coming Directories

There are many Yellow Page directories that are increasing their customer and user bases.
I recommend: Check out TheUSYellowPages.com, Yellow Book, MagicYellow.com, Quickseek.com, Yellow.com and the small-but-free Yellowikis.

Look for network deals

Some online directories can also direct traffic your way through affiliated content sites.
I recommend: MSN Yellow Pages are powered by Verizon's SuperPages.com, making SuperPages.com a more compelling deal for small businesses. Similarly, YellowPages.com provides the base Yellow Pages content for AnyWho.com.

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

  • Advertising in online Yellow Pages generally do not automatically put you into your local print-based Yellow Pages directories.

The official source of Online Yellow Pages is
the Online Yellow and White Pages page at Business.com

Online Yellow Pages Resource
Find Online Yellow Pages. Search listings and reviews of retailers, specialists and services in your local area now.
JustClickLocal.com
White Pages: Look Free
Find Information Now - For Any Person! Any Phone, Address, Age and More.
www.Intelius.com/WhitePageSearch

Recommended Solution Providers

Super Pages: Online Yellow Pages Service
Offers a set of advertising options and platforms designed to allow your any business to be readily located by potential customers.

Yellow Pages: Online Advertising Service
Provides access to a variety of yellow pages, including smartpages.com, realpages.com, iWon, switchboard.com, and AOL yellow pages.

Yellow Book: Yellow Page Advertising
Provides a variety of advertising options, both in our print directories and online.

Ketchum Directory Adverstising: Yellow Pages
Offers advertising in a variety of "directional media," including print yellow pages advertising, internet yellow pages advertising, and search engine marketing.

R. H. Donneley: Online Yellow Pages
Online versions of its print directories in all of its local markets. This content can be accessed from a single search box by keyword, phone number, address or business classification.

SBN: Online Yellow Pages
Online yellow pages services where you can advertise your business.

YP: Online Yellow Pages
An online yellow pages with a focus on local listings.

DEX Online: Advertise With Yellow Pages
This service places your business' advertisement online in an easily searchable engine.

Best Sites to Learn More

YPM: Yellow Pages Help
This site will help your small business learn how to make the right choices when it comes to online yellow pages advertising.

Business Town: Yellow-Page Advice
Find articles, books, links, and other resources to help your small business learn how to use yellow-pages advertising.

Advertising Help Desk: Yellow Pages Advertising
Research how to use the yellow pages to increase sales for your small business. Includes links to articles and other resources.



FEATURED LISTINGS

What WorksTM for Internet Marketing

Linda Formichelli

Getting and Using 800 Numbers

Boost response rates – and your sales – with free calls for customers
Toll-free numbers (or "800 numbers") let callers contact your business without having to pay for the call. Generally, toll-free numbers aren't expensive, although the cost rises as your volume climbs. Toll-free numbers typically begin with 800, but can also begin with 888, 877, or 866 since true 800 numbers are in such high demand that they're virtually all taken. Research shows that when faced with several options, ... Read more

Free B2B search marketing whitepaper, B2B Search Marketing Strategy Guide: Advice From the Pros.
Download

To advertise on Business.com, click here