The internet has long been a way of finding local businesses online. But these days more and more people are using mobile devices to search, having the resources at their fingertips and relying on recommendations by fellow users in real time.

Since attracting new customers can be a major challenge for local businesses, taking advantage of some free business directories can be of great help, allowing the placement of coupons, specials, announcement, and photos directly into their listing.

Google Local, Bing, Yelp, Foursquare, and other social networks can be powerful marketing channels for small businesses. Take for instance the last time you were out in a new town looking for a place to eat. If you didn’t do your homework, and no restaurant caught your eye, chances are, your phone came to the rescue. Restaurant owners are very familiar with the value of increasing their star rating on places like Yelp. And it’s not just restaurants that profit, other kinds of businesses make up 75% of the listings, so everyone can take advantage of targeting online customers.

The top 15 listings according to HubSpot are listed below or click here for a complete list.

 
Every directory that you submit to is another chance to attract customers, so it’s important to make sure you’re listed in as many of them as possible. The businesses with the most visibility will see a boost in website visitors and hopefully attract new business as well.

Is your business taking advantage of local directories? Which ones seem to attract the most loyal customer base? Let us know in the comments section.