Consumers using your local ShopCity.com marketplace directory are choosing to shop local.

 

You know yourself how frustrating it is to visit a page for information and find little or nothing to answer your questions. Make sure your prospective customers have all the information they need to choose your business, including your hours of operation or availability, methods of payment you accept, accurate contact information, and a detailed business description that gives shoppers a reason to choose you.

 

How People Will Find Your Business Profile


Google – it’s our number-one source of visitors.

  • Consumers using search engines such as Google for businesses like yours may be served our directory of your category

  • People who have been referred to you may search your business name on Google, and your ShopCity.com profile may be a top result

  • Search engine users looking for specific products or services may be served your business profile as a result when you have included those items in your business description


Local ShopCity.com Users - people choosing local by coming direct to the website

  • Shop Local enthusiasts who visit your local ShopCity.com site and use our business category directory

  • Local ShopCity.com site visitors who use our search bar asking for products, services, categories or business names

  • Followers of our Facebook or Twitter feeds will look for local businesses on our site

 

What Should You Say?

  • Who you are and why you’re great

  • What makes you special

  • What products or brands you carry, or what services you offer

  • What are your specialties – things that are hard to find or that people search for 

  • Company history - if your business has been in town for a long time, or if you have noteworthy experience or community ties, say so!

 

Important Tips

  • In the Edit Profile window, use the Your Title field for your business name first, and a few key words people might use to try to find a business like yours

  • If you live local to your business, call the toll-free number at the bottom of the Edit Profile window to verify and get a special “Locally Owned” badge on your listing

  • Be sure to add a picture of your storefront, so customers who found you on your local ShopCity.com marketplace will recognize you when they’re close (Edit Profile - Logo/Photo)

  • If you don’t have a storefront, add your logo instead

  • If you’ve upgraded your program, add links to your website and all your social media (Edit Profile – Contact Info)

  • If your hours are the same most days, edit Monday and click Apply to All at right. Now just edit the exceptional days

  • Under Categories make sure you list yourself in as many places in the directory as are applicable within the limits of your program, to make sure everyone who needs you, finds you (see also Choosing Directory Categories)

  • Adding more pictures of your business or placing a video in the profile makes the page even more attractive to search engines and more appealing for users 

  • Use the Design link in the Edit Profile tab to customize your upgraded profile

    • Upload a Profile Banner 100 pixels high by 700 pixels wide by clicking the Choose File button in the Profile Banner field and browsing for an image on your computer

    • Create a background image the full width of the banner area of your Business Profile by clicking the Choose File button in the Cover Photo field and browsing for an image on your computer. Or you can create a background pattern by clicking the Create a Background Pattern link and experimenting with colors and textures in the menus. When you’re done, click the Download Background Pattern button, and close the browser tab. Next click the Choose File button in the Cover Photo field to upload the file from the Downloads directory of your computer


Shortcut Tip: You can return to edit most sections of the Business Profile editor by clicking on the corresponding shortcut in the Getting Started menu of your Dashboard. Shortcuts to Profile elements that have been completed are marked with a solid checkmark ring, but you can re-edit by clicking on them. Shortcuts to incomplete profile elements are marked with a hollow checkmark ring, and can be edited by clicking on them.


Related Article: Using the Editing Toolbar

Related Article: Inserting a Photo on a Page

Related Article: Inserting a Video on a Page

Related Article: Choosing Directory Categories