How often when you do a Google search does Google return a web directory such as local search or similar site? You may not have noticed but the answer  is quite frequently. Google’s users (and your potential customers) are constantly searching for local businesses and Google knows this and gives a higher ranking to businesses that can indicate to Google they are both relevant and local which is where the local business directories come in.
There are a number of local SEO (Search engine optimisation) strategies to drive more targeted visitors to your website.

They are all important, but one of the biggest local search boosts comes from local Australian business directory listings.

Australian business directories are not just for driving search traffic, they can also provide referral traffic from people clicking through from your listing.

and while there are literally hundreds or thousands of business directories online below is the start of a list which I feel are the most valuable to Australian businesses (remember this post is about local SEO) I will update as time goes by and I find new useful ones.

But before you begin submitting your website to them it will be quicker and more consistent if you prepare the information below:

• 2-3 Business listing titles (Vary titles and descriptions to create unique listings.)
• Submission email address (Also try to create consistent login details so you can maintain any listings more easily) 
• Business contact email address (Use a dedicated email to separate confirmation & marketing emails from personal email.)
• Business phone number
• Social media links
• 2-3 unique business descriptions (usually 200 words max)
• Square logo image
• 5 business related images
• Business ABN

Australian Business Directories List

www.yellowpages.com.au– Getting a free listing in the yellowpage is done via their sensis site here

www.truelocal.com.au –submit a business link here

www.hotfrog.com.au  – add your business link

www.startlocal.com.au –  add your business here

www.local.com.au – free listing here

www.aussieweb.com.au – free listing here

www.womo.com.au – free listing here

www.dlook.com.au – free listing here

www.localstore.com.au – add your business here

There are alot more that you can find and add your website to. Remember many of them will expect you to confirm via email your details and will also probably give you a phone call to try to upsell you into a premium advertising package 🙂

what I haven’t listed are industry specific directories such as trip adviser or yelp so have a look at what is available in your industry and make sure you can found.

Also just on another note- submitting business listings via a Directory Submission Tool is a nice idea it doesn’t work well in practice. Different directories are built on different platforms and have unique fields and customization. Some even have hidden fields to trick these submission tools. This means the listings either fail or have missing or incorrect information!!