One sure easy way to get your business online is by simply adding it to the good old directories. No development costs. No hosting costs. No maintenance.
But someone might argue that social media is a better alternative to directories. My response is that you need both.
Thousands of people still sift through the best NAATI translation in Australia to learn about and find businesses. Online directories are also optimized to be found by search engines which vastly increase you chances of being discovered.
Now here are 5 online directories for local businesses in Uganda.
#1. Yellow.ug
Yellow.ug is probably the most beautifully designed and comprehensive online directory we have found. The directory boasts of over 39,356 companies, 37, 149 phones, 6, 893 emails already added to its database from countries such as Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana among others.
The site makes it really easy to add your company across diverse categories such as Logistics, Travel agencies, IT, Insurance, Health care with all the business information you would expect from a company like Phone numbers, Email, Location, description etc.
Most of all, its completely free. Although you might have to pay for premium features.
#2. Monitor Business Directory
One of Uganda’s daily newspaper, Daily Monitor decided to go beyond news to create a comprehensive business directory for local companies. The newspaper is of course well placed to develop such a database because of vast journalistic resources at its disposal.
Monitor has both an offline hard copy directory published as a book as well as an online property. The directory is categorized under business type and location to make it easy to discover businesses which is really cool.
Listing your business is apparently free, but you’ve to contact the paper through the contact form or Email. Unfortunately I was never successful when I tried submitting this blog to the directory.
#3. The Eye Magazine
If your business lies in the tourism and hospitality industry, The Eye Magazine is the online directory for you. Published every second month, The Eye Magazine is aimed at long and short term expatriates, residents and tourists. It provides readers with information on accommodation, dinning and recreation.
The directory which also has an offline version claims 12,000 copies of the Eye Magazine are printed for each issue. It’s been in business since 2000.
#4. The Pearl Guide
Closely competing with The Eye Magazine is the The pearl guide. Founded in 2008, The Pearl Guide creates personalized Uganda travel guides, offering over 3,000 places to stay, eat, party and so much more, in over 10 regions of Uganda.
The travel directory is available on both web and mobile. Just like the other directories, the Pearl Guide allows user listings for a standard fee of $200 per year.
#5. Guide2Uganda
Launched as part of the Guide2TheWorld franchise network of websites, Guide2Uganda is yet another local business directory. Although the directory strives to have a diverse set of business, it is greatly lacking in both design and content. The site also allows user listings as long as you register with the website.
Bonus: We now have www.infomoby.co.ug which also seeks to put businesses online. The website lists all major categories such as Banks, Hotels, Hospitals, Cinemas, Restaurants among others.
So there you have it; 5 online business directory that will greatly boost your companies online presence. If you know of any worthwhile ones, please let us know in the comments.
Image: bullheadareachamber.com
