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    4. Do Local Listings like Yellow Pages and yelp count for backlinks??

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    Do Local Listings like Yellow Pages and yelp count for backlinks??

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    • DTOSI
      DTOSI last edited by

      I am wondering if adding your company with url on a local listing like yellowpages.com, yelp.com, merchantCircle.com, etc. actually counts as a "backlink"? I'm thinking it is not considered a link because I have never seen one listing in Open site explorer, either that, or it is considered a backlink, just not one important enough for open site explorer to show it.

      Does anyone know for sure??

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • AU-SEO
        AU-SEO @JuiceBoxOM last edited by

        Depending on how many total backlinks you have coming to your client sites, you may not see the yellow pages one if it is marked with a nofollow showing up in GWT. You may need to dig a little deeper through MajesticSEO or AHREFs to see it. I doubt whether having a free or a paid option should matter. Isn't the link the same either way? Also, have you verified that your client's yellow pages pages with the link have been recently crawled by Google to note that the link has been captured / viewed?

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • JuiceBoxOM
          JuiceBoxOM @OlegKorneitchouk last edited by

          Did you yellowpages link take long to show up in your linking root domains? I have a number of clients registered with a yellowpages free listing but none appear in linking domains. Also is yours a paid listing or the free option?

          AU-SEO 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • AU-SEO
            AU-SEO last edited by

            Even if they use a nofollow attribute - They are certainly counted as a citation and verification source for local SEO while additionally. The Nofollow vs follow theory is difficult for large directory sites as they have a double edge sword. If they followed every link - then they become spam, if they follow only paid listings then they become a paid link network, so if they no follow everyone they protect Authority and Google/Bing can utilize them as an authority reference point.  That being said your website is likely to be crawled more frequently just being on a local directory.

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
            • DTOSI
              DTOSI @DTOSI last edited by

              Okay, Thanks

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • MicahMMG
                MicahMMG @DTOSI last edited by

                I suggest installing a mod for your browser that will easily identify nofollowed links for you.  These extensions don't necessarily catch redirected links, so you'll need to hover your mouse to see exactly where that link is pointing.  If it doesn't simply say the website it's pointed at, it's probably redirected somehow.

                Tools here

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                • DTOSI
                  DTOSI @OlegKorneitchouk last edited by

                  So if you have a link from Yellow Pages and Urban spoon, do you think some are followed and some are not??

                  MicahMMG DTOSI 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • DavidLenehan
                    DavidLenehan last edited by

                    they are no follow links but still worth having for local seo. They are also free and take little time to setup. Why wouldn't you do it?

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • OlegKorneitchouk
                      OlegKorneitchouk last edited by

                      Yup, they are counted. Yelp won't show up because it uses a redirect but I see merchantcircle, urbanspoon, manta, etc in my GWT links list. OSE is reporting less but i still have a urbanspoon and yellowpages backlink.

                      DTOSI JuiceBoxOM 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 2
                      • MicahMMG
                        MicahMMG last edited by

                        Many of those listings do provide a link, but it's usually nofollowed or redirected somehow, so that it doesn't pass any juice.

                        They're still valuable listings to have for their citation value alone.  Local Search is critical for any business with a physical location.

                        I'd recommend using a Local Search product like Localeze, Axiom, ExpressUpdate, or UBL.  It's a lot less time consuming than going out there and manually updating all of your Local listings yourself.

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
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