Some popular sites to consider for free listings

By Charlene Clark

Google Places

click on Business Solutions at the bottom

• Google is the dominant search engine in the U.S. market with approximately 65.5 percent of the market share.
• In addition to basic information, you can include photos, offers and promotions.

Yellow Pages

• Free listings include a brief description of your business.
• Yellow Pages listings allow you to place your business into relevant categories, which is useful when a consumer is searching for a specific service, like boat covers.

Super Media

• Similar to Yellow Pages.
• You can add a coupon to your listing to promote a special offer or discount.

Yahoo/AOL

• In addition to basic information, Yahoo includes a link to your website at no additional charge.

Yelp

• This is a site for consumers to search for and rate local businesses.
• Also tied into Google maps.

Hot Frog

• U.S. business directory similar to Yelp.
• Allows you to add an extensive description, provide information about products and services and select keywords that you want associated with your business for searches.

Charlene Clark is co-owner of Signature CanvasMakers in Hampton, Va.