Local-search Services: Local.com

Local.com is a company that specializes in local search. The company maintains a central site and 700 regional sites aimed at providing users with targeted, relevant local-search results. It provides free directory listings, paid premium listings, paid advertising, product and service reviews, special offers from local businesses, and more. If you’re just starting out in your efforts to build local-search rankings, Local.com is a quick and easy starting point.

To register your business in the directory, start by visiting Local.com and searching for your business using the boxes in the red bar at the top of the page. If your business is already listed, look for the link that says, “Own this business? Sign in to update listing.” You’ll be taken through a few steps to establish an account and create your free listing. If your business doesn’t show up in the search results, click on the red header bar to return to the front page, then look for the link right below the header that says, “Own a business? Get your business listed….” This link will also take you through the process for setting up an account and creating a listing.

A few minuses (and one plus) to be aware of:

• Free directory listings don’t include your company logo. You’ll have to pay for a premium listing if you want to give your listing any graphic appeal. Several other local-search directories (most notably Google Local) allow graphics at the free-account level of service.
• Local.com makes its money from paid advertising. Soon after you post your free directory listing, you’ll get a call from one of their ad sales representatives. But so far, the clients to whom I’ve recommended Local.com report that the sales reps don’t take a high-pressure approach and will take “no” for an answer if you say that you’re not ready to spend money on advertising.
• Local.com rejects ads with post office box addresses. You’ll need to supply a physical address, but if you don’t want it published, you can look for the option below the address area of the sign-up form that says “Do not display my business address.” Your business will show up in searches as “Serving your area.”
• If you have trouble signing up, try the Live Chat feature of the web site. When my listing was rejected because I used my P.O. box address, one of Local.com’s live-chat support staffers explained the rejection, waited while I plugged in my physical address, and then reviewed and approved the listing while we were still connected. I appreciated this proactive approach to customer service.

If you’ve used Local.com, I’d appreciate hearing about your experiences in the comment area below, or send me e‑mail.