If you serve a specific geographic area, you'll want to make sure your business is included in Yahoo! Local, which can help bring prospective customers right to your door — free!

Yahoo! Local lists only businesses that serve specific geographic locations in the United States, such as a county or town. If your business doesn't fit that bill — if you're an online-only retailer, or you serve a much larger audience, such as a tristate area — then Yahoo! Local is not for you! Try listing your business with a different kind of online directory instead.

To improve the likelihood that your listing will be accepted, be sure to carefully read Yahoo! Local's basic listing requirements and strict Yahoo! Local Listings Guidelines, and keep these tips in mind:

• If you want to include a link to your web site, be sure to publish your site before you submit your listing. If there's no web site at your address, your listing could be rejected.


• Make sure your business name and contact information are displayed clearly on every page of your site.


• If you don't have an office or storefront, be sure to indicate how potential customers can arrange an appointment with you. If you run a housecleaning business, for example, highlight the number customers can call to arrange for a cleaning, as well as the towns you serve.


• Don't submit your site more than once. Your listing may take five days to appear on Yahoo! Local. You can check the status of your listing anytime on the Yahoo! Local Listings web site. If you have a question, contact Yahoo! Local Listings Customer Care.