Unlike search engines, whose results contain everything from recipes to vacation photos to business websites, local search sites and business directories are like the yellow pages and display structured information about businesses. Customers in your local area are searching online for businesses like yours, so if your business is not listed in these local search sites with up-to-date information, customers may not be able to find you. Homestead WebListings is an easy-to-use, comprehensive service that takes business information you provide and submits it to major local search sites (WebListings-Local), and/or lists it directly in the Intuit Business Directory (WebListings-Global), for publication on the Internet so that customers looking online can find you. WebListings helps keep your information up-to-date by resubmitting any updates to those sites and republishing them to the directory each week.

What is Homestead WebListings?

Homestead WebListings puts your business's profile in the Intuit Business Directory for global reach. Additionally, WebListings allows you to publish articles on various topics, and provides a link from your articles to your Directory listing and your site. If your articles are published, this can really increase your site's popularity on search engines.

How much does it cost?

WebListings-Local and WebListings-Global individually cost just $99.99 per year–less than $9 per month. If you buy them together, they cost just $149 for the year.

What is the difference between WebListings-Local and WebListings-Global?

WebListings-Local regularly submits your business information to local search sites like Google Maps or Yahoo! Local, so they can help funnel traffic to your site. WebListings-Global lists your profile in the Intuit Business Directory for a broader reach. As a bonus, WebListings-Global also publishes articles on various topics written by members, and provides a link from each article to the author's site. If your articles are published, this can really increase your site's popularity on search engines.

What is the Intuit Business Directory, and how does it work with WebListings?

The Intuit Business Directory is an easy, inexpensive way for Homestead and Intuit members to gain visibility and new business through their websites, and a convenient way for any web user to find products and services.
WebListings is a service that lists your company profile in the Intuit Business Directory. Listings are reserved exclusively for Homestead and Intuit members through WebListings, and your listing appears in as many as five business categories. That means you're much more likely to get the attention of interested prospects than you would if you were buried under thousands of competitors on search sites. Each listing links to a company profile of up to 1000 characters, including a map and a direct link to your website.

What would a listing in the Intuit Business Directory do for me?

The Directory offers Homestead and Intuit members tremendous advantages not available anywhere else: Your business will be seen by thousands of people who visit Intuit sites (including Homestead.com) every day — far more than would find it buried under thousands of your competitors on major search engines. Fewer competitive listings mean more attention and more business for you. Prospects will be people actively looking for your type of product or service.

What types of people browse the Directory?

Homestead and Intuit visitors are a diverse group, but one characteristic most have in common is that they're owners of small businesses. That means they need all the services and products used by small business, as well as those of the population at large.

How do potential customers find my business listing?

While a few customers might search for a business by name (if they know it), most search for a type of business in a particular location. For example, if you own a shoe repair shop in San Francisco, you want to be found when a customer searches for "shoe repair in San Francisco." WebListings-Local and WebListings-Global are designed to increase your chances of being found in either of those ways.

Who Qualifies

Do I have to have a Homestead or Intuit Account?

Yes, only Homestead and Intuit members with active Homestead or Intuit accounts qualify for listing in the Directory.

Do I have to have a website to sign up for WebListings?

No; businesses without websites can definitely benefit from WebListings, especially WebListings-Local. If you don't have a website, the business information you submit to WebListings-Local will still appear on local search sites, allowing customers to contact you by phone or visit your location. Though it is not required, we recommend entering a website for WebListings-Global, because both national and international customers searching for your products or services will benefit from learning more about you, and they might like to buy your products online from your website.

Are there any restrictions on the type of site that can be listed?

Sites that contain profanity, verbal attacks against competitors*, broken links, advertisements for other sites and sites under construction are not eligible for listing.
* "Verbal attacks" refers to libelous or hostile statements as determined solely at the discretion of Homestead, Inc.. A competitive comparison of services or features is standard business practice and is acceptable.

I don't have a storefront for my business. Can I use WebListings-Local?

As long as you want to be found by customers in your local area, WebListings-Local is right for your business. For example, if you run a service business from your home, you may choose to not make your street address public, but you can ask your customers to contact you by phone or through your website, if you have one.

Getting Started

How can I get my business listed?

If you're already a Homestead or Intuit member, you can get WebListings by logging in and signing up. Platinum members can already sign up for WebListings at no additional cost. If you're not yet a Homestead or Intuit member, then just sign up for a website package of your choice and create your site. You'll then be able to follow the instructions above to get your new site listed.

Creating Your Listing

What does a listing look like?

You can see typical Directory listings by visiting the Intuit Business Directory. Or take a look at this sample listing that illustrates how the listing links to the company profile and to the member's website.

What is a company profile?

A company profile is a page visitors see immediately after clicking on your listing in the Intuit Business Directory. Its purpose is to help Directory users decide if they want to visit your website, and it contains a direct link to your site. Intuit builds the page based on information you provide about your business. It can include contact information, your location–including a map–and a description telling prospects what you offer and why they should do business with you. See sample company profile.

Can I skip the profile and get a direct link to my site?

No, all business listings must include a company profile. The profile helps make the Intuit Business Directory valuable for visitors and businesses alike. It provides visitors with key information about a business in a convenient, quick–read format. In addition, it serves as an introduction from a site they know and trust, which boosts the credibility of your business. When they click the link to your site, they're already pre-qualified as interested prospects.

Who write the listings and profiles?

You do. You'll find simple instructions and tips in the sign–up process. Take as long as you need to complete your profile—you don't have to do it in one sitting.

How many listings and profiles do I get?

Each business gets one listing, which can appear in up to five categories or subcategories. If you have multiple businesses or chains, you are welcome to get additional listings.

How much space do I get for my listing and profile?

Listings can include a short description of up to 150 characters. Profiles may include up to 1000 characters (approximately 250 words).

What information should I include in my profile?

Profiles should tell prospects what you offer and why they would want to choose your business over the other options available. As you write your profile, focus on the needs and priorities of your customers and tell how you satisfy them better than anyone else. You'll find more tips in the sign-up form.

Are there any restrictions?

Profiles may not contain profanity, obscenity, or hostile or libelous attacks on competitors.

Can I keep my location and/or phone number private?

Yes, you may exclude your location, phone number and map from your profile. Be aware, however, that including this information reassures customers that they are dealing with a "legitimate" entity that has a physical presence, and that omitting the information may impact your sales.

How often can I change my listing and profile?

Just as you can change your website at any time, you can change your Intuit Business Directory listing and/or category selections as often as you like. It's as easy as logging in.

Choosing categories

How many places will my listing appear?

Your listing will appear in as many as five categories or subcategories of your choosing.

Can I add more categories for an additional cost?

Not at the present time.

Which categories should I choose?

The best way to choose categories is to look in the Intuit Business Directory and see where businesses similar to yours are listed. If you're still not sure, feel free to contact our customer support at 1-800-710-1998 for assistance.

What if I can't find an appropriate category?

Put yourself in the place of your customer and imagine where he or she would be most likely to look for a business like yours.

Can I choose a category that doesn't currently exist?

Yes, email your suggestions to directory@homestead-inc.com. In the meantime, you may want to choose the best available option. You can always change your category selection later.

Can I change my category choices? How often?

You can change your category selections as often as you like from your Account page, and the results will appear immediately. Be aware, however, that some shoppers are more likely to respond after repeated exposure to a business or brand name. If you change categories frequently, you may miss opportunities to become a "familiar face" to repeat visitors looking only in a particular category.

Getting Traffic

How does the Directory get traffic from major search engines?

Success breeds success, especially on search engines. When a search engine finds multiple sites matching a keyword search, they give higher ranking to those with the most traffic (since popularity implies satisfaction). Of course, the sites closest to the top of the list are the ones users try first...making popular sites even more popular.
So, how do you outrank your better-known competitors? By "hitching" your site to Intuit through the Directory. Since we get thousands of visitors daily, Intuit links typically appear on the first page of search results. Searches that match Intuit Business Directory categories bring prospects directly to the category page where your business is listed.

How do I get search engines to publish a direct link to my site?

No one can guarantee which sites will be listed in standard search results (the ones on the main part of the page) because they're based on a mathematical analysis of Web content that's changing constantly. The only way to be sure your site turns up on search engines is to buy an ad–the "sponsored links" you see highlighted on the results page. If you don't want to pay for an ad, listing your site in the Intuit Business Directory is an excellent strategy since Homestead links often appear near the top in search results.
However, if you do want to explore other options, Homestead has a service that can help you called Homestead Searchlight™. Homestead does the work of buying and placing those ads for you, saving you time, trouble and money. We'll write the ad for you, help you choose the most effective keywords, and use our bargaining "clout" to get you the best price. We'll even guarantee the number of visitors you'll receive! See our SearchLight page for details.

Can I enter this information myself for free at each site?

Sure, many sites like Google Local Business Center let you enter information including rich data like photo, video, and business hours for free, but WebListings makes it easy to submit your information to them all from one place. In addition, we send your information out each month to multiple local search sites so it stays up-to-date.

I already submitted my website to search engines. How is WebListings different?

While search engine submission is important and may help your website appear among relevant search results, getting listed on local search sites and being published in a directory does a lot more. WebListings-Local helps customers find you when they're looking within a specific geographic area, or for a particular type of business. WebListings-Global has a two-pronged approach: it helps you directly by driving Intuit Business Directory traffic to your site, and by publishing your articles it can boost your popularity on search engines by highlighting you as an expert in your field.

Does WebListings guarantee that my business listing will be updated on online business directories?

WebListings-Global will publish your site in the Intuit Business Directory unless we find inappropriate content. WebListings-Local works closely with local search sites to manage the frequent business information updates we send them. They do their best to integrate them, although we can't guarantee that all sites will update your information exactly as you specify, or that they'll display all information that you submit to WebListings.

Articles

Who writes the articles?

Articles in the Intuit Business Directory are written by select owners of businesses listed in the Directory. These members write about their particular area of expertise. If you are already listed in the Directory and are interested in submitting articles, please visit your website account and click on How articles work in your WebListings manager. Thank you, we'd love to hear from you.