People skim directory listings. They want to know what you do, where you are and how to reach you. A listing that answers those three questions in the first few lines gets read. One that buries them does not.
Start with a plain title
The title is the first thing a visitor sees on a category page. Name the service and the place you serve. A title such as “HVAC Install Greenville MI” tells a reader in four words whether the listing is relevant to them.
- Lead with the service, not a slogan.
- Add the town or area you cover.
- Leave out phone numbers and promotional lines. They belong further down.
Describe the service in two sentences
Say what you do and who you do it for. Then say what the reader should do next. Write the way you would explain your business to a neighbour.
If a sentence would still be true of any business in your trade, replace it with something only you can say.
Skip long lists of keywords. They make a description harder to read and they do not help a customer decide.
Fill in every contact field
A listing on List My Business can show your business name, address, website and phone number, with a map beside them. Each empty field is a question the visitor has to answer somewhere else.
- Use the same business name you use on your website and signage.
- Enter the full street address so the map points to the right door.
- Add the phone number that is answered during working hours.
- Link to your own website so people can check your work.
Pick one category
Choose the category a customer would look under first. A heating contractor who also does some plumbing is still best placed under Air Conditioning and Heating if that is the main trade. Browse the full category list before you decide.
Before you publish
- Read the title and description out loud. Cut anything you stumble on.
- Check the phone number and website link by using them.
- Confirm the address matches the one on your website.
- Add your logo so the listing is easy to recognise.
That is the whole job. When the details are complete and plainly written, the listing does its work without any extra effort from you.
