
Consumers used to find businesses through a printed directory such as the Yellow Pages. Companies were listed alphabetically by company name and then grouped within business categories such as Automotive and Restaurants.
Today’s consumers find information much differently. When in the car they may use their navigational dashboard to find the closest gas station with the best unleaded gas price. And at work they would use their smartphone to pre-order lunch and even groceries that will be picked up at the curb. Hopefully the phone is placed on “silent” during dinner. Later, once settled in on the bleachers at their child’s sporting event they remember an anniversary or birthday and begin their search for the perfect gift – baked goods, clothing, books, flowers, sporting goods, keepsakes, movie tickets, etc.
Today’s consumers find information much differently. When in the car they may use their navigational dashboard to find the closest gas station with the best unleaded gas price. And at work they would use their smartphone to pre-order lunch and even groceries that will be picked up at the curb. Hopefully the phone is placed on “silent” during dinner. Later, once settled in on the bleachers at their child’s sporting event they remember an anniversary or birthday and begin their search for the perfect gift – baked goods, clothing, books, flowers, sporting goods, keepsakes, movie tickets, etc.
How is your business listed online?
How is your business listed online? Let’s start with your hyper local listing options.
The Canton Independent Sentinel (a weekly newspaper in Canton, PA) offers an online directory through their website, www.MyWeeklySentinel.com. On their site they have a Business and Classified Section with the following business categories: Automotive, Business to Business, Community Government and Safety, Entertainment and Travel, Faith Center, Financial and Legal, Food and Dining, Health and Wellness, Real Estate for Rent Lease Buy, Residential Services, Retail and Other.
The Canton Independent Sentinel (a weekly newspaper in Canton, PA) offers an online directory through their website, www.MyWeeklySentinel.com. On their site they have a Business and Classified Section with the following business categories: Automotive, Business to Business, Community Government and Safety, Entertainment and Travel, Faith Center, Financial and Legal, Food and Dining, Health and Wellness, Real Estate for Rent Lease Buy, Residential Services, Retail and Other.
Building Local Business Economy

The Sentinel is providing this online resource as a community service to build the local business economy. Their hyper-local directory is for businesses and organizations that offer services and products to the residents and businesses of Bradford, Tioga, Sullivan and Lycoming counties. That geographic area includes 200,000 residents and 5,000+ businesses (per 2010 and 2014 census statistics)! It is an easy (and free) process to have your business or organization added to the online directory. Registration can be found at GetListed.MyWeeklySentinel.com or call the office! 570-673-5151
The chamber organizations in the area also provide directory listings. If you are a chamber member you will be featured on their website. Here are the websites for the Troy, Canton, Towanda/Wysox and Wyalusing Chamber of Commerce organizations in Bradford County, Pennsylvania..
In Summary
These online directories are important because they help your business reach an audience bigger than your “known” audience. By registering your company to be listed on a hyper local directory, you will build your small business ranking for the big search engines – Google and Bing. Stronger ranking means your business is more likely to be featured in the search results of the consumer who needed gas, lunch, groceries and the perfect gift.