A Business Directory is a website or printed media listing of information which lists all businesses within some category. Businesses can be categorised by business, location, activity, or size. Business may be compiled either manually or through an automated online search software.

The details provided in a business directory will vary. They may include the business name, addresses, telephone numbers, location, type of service or products the business provides, number of employees, the service region and any professional associations. Some directories include a section for user reviews, comments, and feedback.

Many business directories offer complimentary listings in addition to the premium options. There are many business directories and some of these have moved over to the internet and away from printed format. Whilst not being search engines, business directories often have a search facility.

Online Business Directories can receive a bad press, and they vary in quality and content. There is a balance between professional advertising, value for money and quality of service. Business owners are looking for ROI, web traffic, exposure for their business, plus Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) benefits of backlinks.

There are multitudes of online directories, and plenty will also give free links. The major search engines such as Google and Yahoo add more value to one way links from human edited directories, as they are seen as trusted resources.

Information courtesy of wikipedia.

The Benefits mentioned above can be found on The National Pages, we pride ourselves on our website’s SEO, It’s an essential obligation for any business directory.

For example please have a look at this link. http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-GB%3Aofficial&hs=8HQ&q=bookkeeping+and+accountants+taunton&btnG=Search&meta=&aq=f&oq=It searches Google for Bookkeeping and Accountancy in Taunton. As you can see we are page one, rank one, we are always trying to improve the way we advertise companies that list with us and you can be sure that we won’t stop until we are happy.

As you can see, we have the search for Bookkeeping and Accountancy in Taunton, then the Gold profile page indented underneath.

Advertisingfor FREE couldn’t be any simpler or easier. It only takes 5 minuetes to sign up and you will usually be listed that same day. We have hundreds of categories so you can be sure we have the right one for you.

Help increase your online presence and generate leads by listing your business on The National Pages. It’s simple to signup with us and most importantly it’s FREE!

The Bronze Package includes:

• Company Name
• Full Address
• Map (can be disabled)
• Link to Profile Page
• Telephone Number
• Business Category
• Proximity from Search Reference

Sign up for FREE here

Advertising online is the ‘done thing’ for businesses in the UK. A major benefit of online advertising on the Internet is that you are not limited by geography or time. Another is that online advertising can be immediate which allows you to check and adjust the information or images to suit.

Examples of online advertising include contextual ads on search engine results pages, banner ads, Rich Media Ads, Social network advertising, online classified advertising, advertising networks and e-mail marketing, including e-mail spam.

Online Advertising in 2009 – How popular is it?

Our experience have shown us a lot of people are asking us to advertise their business this year. Half the problem is that most advertising agencies are very expensive and can seem to offer little.

Advertising spending on the internet has overtaken television expenditure in the UK for the first time, according to a report today.

A record £1.75bn – nearly a quarter of the total ad market – was spent online in the first half of this year, compared with £1.64bn for TV, the study said.

Quote taken from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/

So why not get your business advertised and receive all the benefits that come with advertising on the internet!

Sources:

• http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/digital-media/6245277/Online-advertising-overtakes-television-for-the-first-time.html – Text and images © Copyright of Telegraph Media Group Limited 2009
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_advertising – Business Directories

The National Pages business directory provides UK businesses with FREE online advertising. Users can search in their local area or nationally to find the business or service they need. Find company information, directions and maps, website links and much more!

Gold instantly gives you an impressive and competitive advantage by raising the profile of your business online.

Make your Gold Profile stand out with your own gallery and also benefit from being found in up to 6 categories. Just imagine a vibrant looking Profile that allows millions of people to see what your business has to offer.

Upgrade to Gold Membership and see what we can do for YOUR business!

The Gold Package includes:

• Company Name
• Full Address
• Map & route finder to your business location (can be disabled)
• Link to Profile Page
• No Ads
• Telephone Number
• Additional Telephone Number
• Video support
• Nearest Gold promoted to page 1
• Proximity from Search Reference
• Two links to your website helping visitors and Search Engines find your website
• Included in up to 6 searchable categories
• A self-managed (CMS) Profile with a description of your company (5-10+ paragraphs)
• Company Logo and five expandable images or videos
• A Secure dynamic form to allow visitors to Contact you online
• Monthly statistics (Impressions and Profile Click-Thru)
• Get found in Google!

From £99* ex vat pa
Go for GOLD and get your business NOTICED!

Start promoting your company on www.thenationalpages.co.uk and receive all of the benefits to market your company with a lasting impact. You will be able to increase the awareness of your product, service or business. The National Pages will help to build your brand awareness will also drive traffic directly to your website.

For those companies who have a lot of services then this listing is for you. The Silver package allows your company to be displayed in up to six searchable categories.

The Silver Package includes: –

• Company Name
• Full Address
• Map (can be disabled)
• Link to Profile Page
• No Ads
• Telephone Number
• Business Category
• Proximity from Search Reference
• Weblink (hyperlink) to your company website
• Included in up to 6 searchable categories

Adding a second category is only £10 pa, thereafter they are only £5 each.

This means your business can have a SILVER LISTING in 5 MORE CATEGORIES for only an additional £30+vat. And the price you pay is ‘Fixed-for-Life’ which means your annual renewal fee will never go up.

From £13.50* ex vat pa

Don’t just list your business, advertise it wth our Silver Package!

Today we have launched Platinum Nationwide advertising!

Introducing Platinum Nationwide advertising, a solution designed to give you more exposure and drive more traffic to your profile.  If you want your advert to be displayed for searches from ‘Aberdeen’ to ‘Aberystwyth’, then Platinum is for you!

Platinum listings are displayed for all locations in the UK within a given category. They will always appear at the top of the search page, sitting above Bronze, Silver and Gold adverts.

We are offering to create professional bespoke imagery for your listing and profile (included in price). Take a look at the examples shown right, under customised design.

Features of Platinum include:

• Advert displayed for all locations within chosen category
• Eye-catching advert designed for you
• Advert displayed at the top of the page
• FREE advertising in our e-newsletter

For example search for ‘Health & Safety Services’ in ‘Swindon’.
For more information on Platinum Membership please click here.

Platinum has only been released for less than 6 hours are we’re already getting inundated with enquires.

Interested?
Feel free to contact us for any additional information regarding pricing or how it works. We have a team here waiting to answer your questions.

When we at The National Pages started building our business directory back in 2006 many businesses told us of their frustration in being forced to accept a typical single category limit to appear in a Business Search Engine.

This seemed to stem mainly from the printed directory model where a business could only appear in a single category. In adddition the concept was reinforced by the UK Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) model which mapped against a limited company’s primary business category. Whilst the SIC model may work well for company registration purposes it is not a practical for a search tool.

From our research, many businesses told us they could operate in up to six business categories. For example, a web design company would also offer web hosting, Search Engine Optimisation and Graphic design services.

We therefore built our enhanced Profile model around six categories. Our Silver and Gold Profiles both support up to six business categories.

We felt it important that, as a business could operate in up to six categories, then the cost model should also reflect this. There should not be an extra charge to go in multiple categories for something that is a typical business description.

By upgrading to a Gold Profile, your business can go in up to six categories at no additional charge thus delivering affordable online advertising.

Another benefit of multiple categories is increased Search Engine Optimisation or SEO. Each extra category a company is connected to results in Search Engine friendly keywords to find that business.

For example, a Will Writer in Cardiff will also perform Estate Planning in Cardiff. Either term may be entered in a Search Engine and both should be capable of finding the business advert.