What is a business directory? A business directory is an online list of businesses within a particular niche, location, or category. One way local businesses can get found by online searchers is through inclusion in business directories.

Today, Google is inserting itself between consumer and local business websites much more often.

You need look no further than Google My Business conversion points, AMP, and featured snippets for proof.

So it makes sense to get your local business information into the places people are already going to find businesses like yours, rather than simply hoping they'll find you in search results.

Getting your local business' NAP (Name, Address, Phone number) information listed on directories, online business listing sites, and citation sites helps to improve visibility, but backlinks from these sites can also have a benefit to SEO. Here are a few things to make sure your company listing has in it once you add it to a directory:

Consistent NAP . If you add or update your business on multiple business listing sites, make sure you're providing the same company information across each directory.

. If you add or update your business on multiple business listing sites, make sure you're providing the same company information across each directory. A link to your website . Backlinks -- also known as inbound links -- are crucial to your company website's domain authority. Consider adding a tracking link at the end of this URL as well, so you can see how much traffic your website specifically gets from the business directories that are linking to it.

. Backlinks -- also known as inbound links -- are crucial to your company website's domain authority. Consider adding a tracking link at the end of this URL as well, so you can see how much traffic your website specifically gets from the business directories that are linking to it. A company description . Make sure you have a detailed description of your business that reflects your organization's mission, culture, and values.

. Make sure you have a detailed description of your business that reflects your organization's mission, culture, and values. Multimedia. Give company searchers a visual taste of your business with a picture or video of your office, your employees, or your daily business operations.

There are plenty of location-specific directories and industry-specific business listing sites to which you can submit your data, but local businesses should start with the big guns and work their way toward the more niche directories.

Free Business Listings Facebook Apple Maps Google My Business LinkedIn Company Directory Bing Yelp MapQuest HubSpot Super Pages Yellow Book Thumbtack

With that in mind, we've put together a list of the biggest and most important business listings sites today (based on Domain Authority gathered from Moz Link Explorer in May 2018). Many of these directories are completely free.

Local Business Listings & Directories for Small Business Marketing

Making sure that you have a presence everywhere your potential customers might find you is critical to any local marketing plan. Don't wait -- add your local business to some of these business listings and directories as soon as you can.