How to Add Your Business to Citysearch: A Step-by-Step Guide for Local Success

In the digital age, listing your business on Citysearch can be a game-changer for attracting local customers and boosting your online presence. Citysearch, a venerable directory that connects businesses with local consumers, is an essential platform for any small business looking to enhance its local SEO footprint. This step-by-step guide will walk you through adding an accessible business listing to Citysearch, leveraging insights from CityGrid and ExpressUpdate to ensure your business stands out.

Why List Your Business on Citysearch?

Before we dive into the steps, let’s explore why Citysearch is a cornerstone for local businesses aiming to thrive online:

Enhanced Visibility: Being listed increases your visibility on major search engines and within the Citysearch directory.
Customer Reviews: It provides a platform for customer reviews, enhancing your reputation and attracting more customers.
Local SEO Boost: Listings include critical business information such as your business name, phone number, and address, contributing to your local SEO efforts by ensuring consistency across online directories.

Preparing Your Business Information

To start, gather your business information, including the business name, phone number, address, and categories that best describe your services. This preparation ensures accuracy across Citysearch and other local citations, a key factor in local SEO success.

Step 1: Verify Your Business on ExpressUpdate

Citysearch’s listings are powered by CityGrid, which aggregates data from ExpressUpdate. Visit ExpressUpdate to search for your business. If it’s not already listed, you can add a new listing.

Action: Enter your business name, business phone number, or address, and click the search button.

Step 2: Enter Your Business Details

Fill out the form with your business details. Accuracy here is crucial for ensuring potential customers can easily find your business.

Details to Include: Business name, phone number, address, business categories, and any other relevant information that helps customers understand your services.

Step 3: Submit and Verify Your Listing

After entering your information, review it for accuracy, then submit your listing. You’ll be prompted to create an account or log in to verify and manage your listing.

Step 4: Verification

Click the “Yes, Call Me Now” button for phone verification. An automated call from ExpressUpdate will provide you with a 4-digit code to enter for verification.

You’ll receive an automated call from ExpressUpdate. When prompted, enter the 4 digit code they give you.

Enhancing Your Citysearch Listing

Once your listing is live (which can take 1-2 months), consider using Yext PowerListings to expedite updates and manage your business information across over 50 online directories, including Yelp, Bing, and Yellow Pages. This tool allows for quick adjustments and ensures consistency across the web, vital for local SEO and customer trust.

Beyond Citysearch: The Power of Local Directories

While Citysearch is a pivotal platform, expanding your presence across other local directories and social media can further enhance your local SEO efforts. Platforms like Google My Business and Yelp and specialized directories related to your industry can amplify your visibility and attract a broader customer base.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Citysearch Free?

Yes, adding a listing to Citysearch through ExpressUpdate is free, providing a cost-effective way to improve your online presence.

How Long Before My Listing Appears on Citysearch?

A new listing typically takes 1-2 months to go live. For quicker updates, consider using Yext PowerListings.

How Can I Update My Citysearch Listing?

Are There Better Local Directories?

While Citysearch is highly effective, diversifying your online presence across multiple directories, such as Google My Business and Yelp, is recommended for the best results.

By following this enhanced guide and utilizing Citysearch and other local directories, you position your business for greater visibility, improved local SEO, and the opportunity to attract more customers from your community.

What Are the Downsides to Citysearch?

The only downside to Citysearch is that it can take 1-2 months before your new listing goes live. If you’re not that patient, you might want to consider Yext Powerlistings. Yext can fast-track changes to Citysearch in a much shorter time frame. As a bonus, it will also add/sync your listings on over 50 other local business sites and let you manage them all from one dashboard. See how your business listings look on the major local search engines now .

Check out our other “How To Add a Listing” guides to list your business on local citation sites like Google My Business, NextDoor, and Yahoo Local.