Business Listings

[APICDA]

So,

There are no stupid questions right?

I am thinking about adding my website to a number of business directories and websites.

I have added it to several sites which do not charge a listing fee.

There are several sites out there which  charge anywhere from 10 dollars to hundreds of dollars.

My question is:

Is there a way to figure out ahead of  time the cost/benefit relationship between the price paid for several listings....... and the likely increase in page rank due to the increase of links to the website.

Or what number and quality of links I may need to aquire in order to increase my page rank?

I appreciate all the help this community has provided in the past.  While my website is not ranking the best.........  its a solid contender!

Thanks for your time and consideration in this matter.

[NoahGlaser78]

What is your goal with the business listings? To just be backlinks to your main site? Or to help boost your Google Places page with citations and possibly reviews being picked up?

Odds are your PR itself is not going to go up due to local business listings. But they can serve as some nice supplemental back links.

As for the number of links needed to increase your PR. That varies based on the quality of the links you are getting. 1 great link is better than 1000 spammy poor links. So it all depends.

[EGOL]

Is there a way to figure out ahead of  time the cost/benefit relationship between the price paid for several listings....... and the likely increase in page rank due to the increase of links to the website.

Not really.... however, the potential impact depends upon two things.... 1) how strong your site is currently and 2) the strength of the competition that you are attacking.

1. If you have a weak site and add a few directory links that is when you have the best chance of seeing some impact... but if you submit a PR7 site to a couple crappy directories that will be like spitting into the ocean.

2. Regarding the level of competition that you are attacking... if you are trying to rank for "auto repair in Bugtussle, West Virginia" a batch of directory links might push you up a couple of spots... but if you are trying to rank for "payday loans" a batch of directory links will be like attacking the United States Navy with a potato gun.

[APICDA]

Great response and funny too!

Thanks for your insight.

Seems to me like I may be in a situation where I may be driving through Bugtussle on my way to a wrestling match.  Thanks!

[APICDA]

Mostly my goal is to increase the number of links, as well as to increase the websites overall online presence.

I agree its much better to get quality over quantity.  With the niche I am working in, there are huge limits in terms of where to go for links.  So, looking at some business listings and directories for ancillary link sources.  Thanks for your help here!

[EGOL]

They have mudrasslers in Bugtussle.

[APICDA]

Good times are on the way!!!!!    Thx