The Ultimate Business Listing Directory: 100+ Sites for Contractors & Service Businesses

By Chris Green, Owner at CEO GPS | 12/02/2025

In today's digital-first world, if your business isn't easily found online, does it even exist? For most consumers, the answer is "no." This is where business listings—your profiles on directories like Google, Apple Maps, Yelp, and hundreds of others—become the non-negotiable foundation of your online presence. Think of them as your digital storefronts, open 24/7, directing traffic, building trust, and shaping first impressions.

Let's break down the ecosystem, your management options, and how to master this critical piece of the marketing puzzle.

Why Business Listings Are Non-Negotiable

• Local SEO Dominance: For "near me" searches, accurate and consistent listings are the #1 ranking factor. Name, Address, Phone Number (NAP) consistency across the web tells search engines you're legitimate and relevant.

• The Zero-Click Moment: Many searches end on a business profile. A searcher sees your hours, photos, reviews, and a "Call Now" button directly in the search results. Your listing is the conversion point.

• Trust & Credibility: A complete, updated profile with recent photos and positive reviews is the digital equivalent of a clean, well-lit physical store.

• Customer Intelligence: Listings provide invaluable data—how people found you, what actions they took, and what questions they ask.

The Two Pathways: DIY vs. Managed Syndication

You essentially have two routes to manage this critical infrastructure.

1. The DIY Route: Core Sites You Should Control Directly

These are the foundational profiles you must own and manage personally. They are free and offer the deepest control. (Google My Business, Bing Places for Business, Apple Business Connect, Facebook, LinkedIn, Yelp, TripAdvisor, Your local Chamber of Commerce)

• Pros of DIY: Free, direct control, immediate updates.

• Cons: Time-consuming, hard to scale across hundreds of sites, easy for inconsistencies to creep in.

2. The Syndication Route: Using a "Yext-Type" Platform

Companies like Yext, Moz Local, BrightLocal, and Whitespark offer a different model. You feed your core data (Name, Address, & Phone Number or NAP, hours, etc.) into their platform once, and they push it out to a network of partner sites (often 100+), including major aggregators like Acxiom, Factual, and Neustar, which in turn feed countless other apps and devices.

• Pros of Syndication: Massive scale, ensures consistency across a vast ecosystem, often includes monitoring and reporting tools, saves immense time.

• Cons: Subscription cost (can be significant), it's a "lease" of your data—if you cancel, your listings may revert or become outdated on their network.

Key Insight: Think of it as Owned vs. Syndicated Real Estate. You own your Google and Apple profiles. You are renting distribution on a Yext-type network. A best-practice strategy often uses both: tight control over core owned profiles, supplemented by a syndication network for maximum reach and consistency.

The Master Checklist: How to Set Them Up for Success

Whether DIY or using a platform, follow these rules:

• Claim & Verify Every Profile: Don't just find it—claim ownership through the verification process (usually a postcard or phone call).

• Nail the NAP Consistency: Your business Name, Address, and Phone Number must be identical on every single listing, down to the abbreviation of "Street" vs. "St."

• Choose Precise Categories: Select the primary category that most accurately describes your core business. Be thoughtful with additional categories.

• Craft a Compelling "From the Business" Description: Use keywords naturally, highlight what makes you unique, and include a clear call to action.

• Visuals Are Everything: Upload high-quality, recent photos of your exterior, interior, team, and popular products/services. Regularly add new photos. Consider a virtual tour (especially on GBP).

• Manage & Engage with Reviews: Respond professionally to all reviews—thank the positive ones and address concerns in negative ones publicly and calmly. This shows you care.

• Utilize All Features: Use posts, offers, events, Q&A, booking links, and product catalogs. These are free marketing tools!

• Keep Everything Updated: Immediate updates for holiday hours, temporary closures, or changed phone numbers.

(Note: This list is tailored for contractors, home service professionals, and general local businesses. All site names are linked for your convenience. Focus first on the core sites in Parts 1 & 2. Consistency is more important than quantity.)

PART 1: The Absolute Essentials (Claim & Own These Directly) 

1. Google Business Profile (Non-negotiable)
2. Apple Business Connect (Critical for iPhone users)
3. Bing Places for Business
4. Facebook (Business Page)
5. Instagram (Business Profile)
6. LinkedIn (Company Page)
7. YouTube (Channel)
8. Yelp for Business (Important for service reviews)
9. Better Business Bureau (Builds trust)
10. Angi (Formerly Angie's List)

PART 2: Major Industry-Agnostic & Local Search Sites

11. Yahoo! Local
12. Foursquare for Business
13. MapQuest for Business
14. YellowPages.com
15. Superpages
16. Local.com
17. DexKnows
18. Manta
19. Citysearch
20. MerchantCircle
21. Hotfrog
22. Brownbook
23. ChamberofCommerce.com
24. Your actual local Chamber of Commerce website (find locally)
25. Nextdoor for Business
26. Thumbtack
27. HomeAdvisor
28. Houzz (Essential for remodelers/landscapers)
29. Porch
30. Craigslist (Services section)

PART 3: Major Data Aggregators

(Fix your data here, and it propagates everywhere)

31. Acxiom (Knight bridge portal)
32. Factual (Data Hub)
33. Neustar Localeze (Now part of TransUnion)
34. Infogroup Express Update
35. Data Axle (formerly Info free)

PART 4: General Business Directories & Citation Sites

(Ideal for contractors & service businesses)

36. 2FindLocal
37. 411.com
38. AboutUs
39. AllPages
40. Ask.com Local
41. Bizhwy
42. Bluebook
43. Businessyab
44. Cylex US
45. eLocal
46. eZineArticles
47. Fyple
48. GetFave
49. GlobalSpec
50. GoLocal247
51. iBegin
52. InsiderPages
53. Judy's Book
54. Kompass
55. Local Database
56. MapMaker (Legacy tool, but check)
57. N49
58. Opendi
59. Place123
60. SalesSpider
61. ShowMeLocal
62. SiteJabber
63. Smarter.com
64. StartupNation
65. The Blue Book (Construction specific)
66. Tupalo
67. Where2Go
68. Yellow Assistant
69. YellowBot
70. Ziplocal
71. Zooner
72. US Business Directory
73. US City.net
74. WebWiki
75. WLocal

PART 5: Review & Audience Sites

(Build your reputation)

76. Trustpilot
77. ConsumerAffairs
78. Birdeye
79. Glassdoor (Employer branding)
80. Indeed Company Page
81. HomeGuide
82. CraftJack
83. Fixr
84. ProvenExpert
85. Contractor Talk
86. BuildZoom
87. Checkbook.org

PART 6: Regional & Supplemental Directories

88. State-specific contractor licensing boards (e.g., CSLB for California)
89. City or county business license portals (search locally)
90. Local utility company contractor referral programs (e.g., PG&E, ConEd)
91. Association of General Contractors
92. National Association of Home Builders
93. National Association of the Remodeling Industry
94. Local "Buy Local" organizations (search "[Your City] Buy Local")
95. Rotary Club member directories (search locally)
96. Local trade association websites
97. Regional business journals (e.g., BizJournals)
98. Local newspaper business directories
99. Home Builders Association Local Chapters
100. Build With Rise (Sustainable building directory)

Quick-Start Strategy for Contractors:

Week 1: Perfect your profiles on all Part 1 sites. Add 10+ high-quality project photos to each.

Week 2-3: Claim and complete Part 2 sites, especially Houzz, HomeAdvisor, and your local Chamber.

• Ongoing: Use a tool like Moz Local, BrightLocal, or Yext to manage your data with the Part 3 Aggregators and many general directories automatically.

• Monthly: Solicit reviews on Google, BBB, and your top 2-3 industry sites. Respond to every review professionally.

• Quarterly: Audit your listings using a free tool like BrightLocal's Citation Checker to find inconsistencies.

Priority Order for Contractors:

• Google Business Profile - Showcase projects with photos, post updates about services, use the booking button.

• Houzz - For visual industries (remodeling, landscaping, design-build). A robust profile here generates leads.

• HomeAdvisor/Angi - While these are lead services, having a claimed, optimized profile improves your visibility within their marketplace.

• BBB & Yelp - Crucial for establishing trust. Respond professionally to all reviews.

• The Blue Book - If you do commercial or large-scale residential work, this is mandatory.

• Aggregators (Part 3) - Clean your data here to ensure consistency across GPS systems and car navigation units (contractors on the go!).

• Industry Forums - Contractor Talk, etc. An active profile establishes expertise.

Key Optimization Tips for Contractors:

• Categories: Use specific categories like "General Contractor," "Roofing Contractor," "Bathroom Remodeler," not just "Contractor."

• Photos/Videos: Before/after shots are gold. Upload high-quality images of completed projects.

• Service Areas: Be precise in your GBP and other profiles about the cities/zip codes you serve.

• Licensing Info: Display your license number prominently on profiles where allowed (BBB, Google, etc.).

• Insurance & Bonding: Mention being "insured and bonded" in descriptions.

• Audit Quarterly: Search for your business name + "contractor" and your primary service + "your city." See who's ranking. Use a tool like BrightLocal to track your citation health across dozens of these sites automatically.

Pro Tip: When submitting manually, keep a master spreadsheet with your exact business name, address, phone (NAP), and primary category. Consistency across these 100+ sites is what builds the authority that improves your local search rankings and drives qualified leads to your business.