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  • Free Toronto Business Directory Guide for Small Businesses

    May 28, 2014

    Free Toronto Business DIrectory Guide

    By Maureen McCabe

    Local search engine optimization (SEO) is a key part of many small business marketing plans. It’s important that your business be found through local searches and searches on mobile devices. So, what can you, as a small business owner, do to help your business appear at the top of local search results?

    One easy and FREE way to increase your appearance on search results pages is to submit your business to local directories. There are a number of Toronto business directory websites, both well-known and smaller sites, that can have an impact on your business’s appearance in search results and attract more customers to your business.

    The Importance of Quality & Accuracy

    It’s important that you use the same details across all directory sites you create a listing on. Use the same phone number, address and business name in each listing. You will be rewarded by the search engines, as this consistency adds authority to your local listings. If you already have a number of directory listings, make sure that all profiles are completely filled out and that your business information is exactly how it appears on the contact page of your website.

    Some business directories for Toronto allow you to add a short description of your business to your listing. While your business name, address and phone should be identical across all directory listings, you should create a unique description of your small business for each listing. In your write-up, remember to include your main keyword terms. For example, if I were to create a listing on a free business directory for McCabe Marketing, I would incorporate the keywords “small business marketing” and “Toronto marketing company.”

    Remember — you should not spam your business listing across all of the free Toronto business directories that you find online. Listing your business on really low-quality directories could actually hurt you instead of help you. Use an online tool like Open Site Explorer to determine a site’s authority and see how many other sites link to that site. This is a great indicator of its quality.

    The Free Toronto Business Directory Guide

    Below is a list of the top FREE business directories for promoting your small business in Toronto. Start by creating listings on the must-have sites, as these have the most authority and effect on your appearance in search results. Once you’ve created those listings, move on to the list of smaller, supporting directories.

    Must-Have Listings

    Other Toronto Business Directories

    • Canpages.ca
    • Weblocal.ca
    • Ourbis.ca
    • Theblurb.ca
    • Businessmention.ca
    • N49.ca (North of the 49th parallel. Plus a fantastic site for online reviews too!)
    • Toronto.net
    • Ylm.ca
    • Apnatoronto.com
    • Zipleaf.ca
    • CTIDirectory.com
    • Canadaone.com
    • ibegin.com – for Ontario businesses and beyond!

    Did We Miss a Good Online Directory Site for Small Business in Toronto?

    If yes, then please write a comment below. Thanks! Check out Part 2, Canada Business Directories.

    How do you attract more customers? With a marketing plan that works!

    Maureen, your marketing strategies and program have had a huge impact on our business. Sales leads have doubled for our design and renovation services.  Scott Miron, President, Dream Home Creations

    Learn ways you can generate more sales leads and increase your revenues. Get free marketing advice; book your marketing consultation now.

    Check out my other blogs related to marketing your small business:

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  1. Levi Seitz03:35am,

    A simple but very informative post. I would like to suggest free new Trinidad and Tobago directory for your list http://F1RST.com

  2. Jennifer Wimble07:16am,

    It’s really great information you have shared, which is informative and knowledgeable. We are using it too!

  3. Namita05:57am,

    This article emphasis on the use of Toronto business directory. It offers great visibility for your business online and also help you to find your prospective customers in no time.

  4. Madona Alphonse09:26pm,

    We have a cleaning service business and want to be a part of all online directory in all Toronto businesses. Thanks! Good luck! H

  5. Dave01:41pm,

    Thanks for sharing this. Fantastic list that just saved me a ton of time!

  6. Ephonepages11:33am,

    Thanks for sharing this list…I would love to share our free online directory to find local business in Canada as per chosen category and city which is ephonepages.ca which can also be helpful for people searching Canadian business…

  7. elham hazfi10:36am,

    my personal info has been posted in all directories by mistake. I do not know how they had access to theses info. I have contacted all of them and asked to remove my personal info, but there are still couple of them that are not answering zip leaf and rate it all. please tell me how to remove them all.

    Reply by McCabe Marketing Inc. try emailing them again, if they have social media profiles, write comments on their pages as well. Good luck!

  8. Maria Arbona10:16am,

    Exactly what I was looking for, all the information in one place. I suggest HotFrog too.

  9. Mostbe01:18pm,

    I would like to add one more free business listing website in Canada i.e. mostbe.ca, improve business visibility online.

  10. Emilio10:15am,

    Great article and tips. Thank you for compiling the list of trusted local business directories. This is one of the challenges for a small business that can’t afford to pay for costly advertising or Google AdWords to help with their online ranking and be discovered. I personally only use or heard 5 of these sites mentions. It is difficult to gauge which are worth registering with while some can be a waste of time.

  11. Cash for clothes11:37pm,

    I would like to add our business too, how do I do it? cash4clothescanada.ca/

    NOTE FROM MAUREEN MCCABE – I accept comments on the blog, and am not updating the directory.

  12. cristy jones08:36am,

    Thanks for your business listing sites.Please suggest some business listing sites for UK and Australia also.

  13. Dhaval Shah07:52am,

    First of all I really appreciates the efforts of Authors for sharing this great information, Here I would like to Introduce to your readers job-site and business directory at aileensoul.com

  14. Hamish Lawson02:04am,

    Best list of business directories. It saved a lots of time. Thanks for sharing the list with us.

  15. Joseph Donahue08:33am,

    Hey There. This is a really smartly written article.

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