Remember when you needed a product or service, and you pulled the bulky phone book off the shelf to find it? While that may still be your first impulse, there are hundreds of different, and often better, ways to find what you're looking for. Many online business directories offer more than simple addresses and phone numbers. For free or for a subscription fee, many directories also offer detailed company information that's designed to help you grow your business.
Online business directories can do even more for small businesses. Listing your business in online directories can be an ideal way to reach other businesses that need your products or services. Use online business directories to:
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
ThomasNet.com
Specializing in the industrial sector, the ThomasNet.com directory is where buyers and engineers from major companies, the government and more go to find the products, services or suppliers they need. It's in-depth, industrial-specific content includes over 20 million CAD drawings and access to more than 650,000 distributors, manufacturers and service companies classified in over 67,000 product and service categories.
I recommend: Search for suppliers, or
list your company with
ThomasNet.com to get your company and its products or services in front of prospects.
Business.com
With more than 400,000 business listings in 65,000 industry, product and service subcategories, Business.com is the Web's leading free business directory. Through the Business.com Network, its listings are available through the search and directory functions at major business Web sites and publishers, including Forbes, Business Week, Entrepreneur, AllBusiness, Business Owner's Toolkit and many more.
I recommend: Browse
Business.com's most popular topics, products and services, or view the
entire directory to find what you're looking for. Sign up to get your company included in the
Business.com directory, or take advantage of
Pay-Per-Click featured listings that give your company a marketing edge.
Hoovers.com
With in-depth editorial coverage as its core strength, Hoovers.com lets you look up more than 16 million public, non-public and international companies and view news, press releases, financials, executive biographies and more. The free content section can be used for research or to build a list of companies or executives. Subscription options geared to small and mid-sized businesses offer sophisticated solutions such as wireless delivery, lead sources, financial comparison tools and competitive landscape.
I recommend: View
Hoover.com's free content as well as
subscription-based small and medium business solutions. Take an
online guided tour.
D&B Small Business Solutions
D&B has the world's largest business database with information on more than 100 million businesses worldwide, including 38 million in the U.S. D&B is considered the leading provider of business information for credit, marketing and purchasing decisions. Use the directory to find new customers or to view credit reports to help you determine whether or not to extend credit to a company.
I recommend: D&B Small Business Solutions offers four monthly subscription options. Reports are also available for purchase on an a la carte basis.
Apply to get listed.
infoUSA.com
InfoUSA has info on 14 million U.S. businesses and 1.2 million Canadian businesses. Small businesses can use the infoUSA database to find new customers or for credit reference purposes, customer analysis or direct telemarketing efforts.
I recommend: Simply
register to start finding sales leads and building mailing lists using
infoUSA.com's free directory.
Add your business to the infoUSA.com directory.
OneSource.com
With access to more than 18 million global companies and 20 million executives in its directory, OneSource.com can help you find the research you need to grow your business. Its Business Browser information includes company profiles, corporate financial data, executive listings, industry overviews, news articles and corporate structures.
I recommend: Take an
online tour of the
OneSource.com directory.
Subscription information is available via phone.
Selectory.com
The Selectory database features 14 million company records. The foundation of this database is D&B's DUNSRight quality assurance process, which ensures that company profiles are complete and accurate. This directory is designed to help you find new customers and increase sales by creating targeted lists. Use one of more than 30 search criteria, including ZIP code radius, industry and company size to narrow your searches. Import data directly into CRM programs.
I recommend: Sign up for a free trial at
Selectory.com to download up to 30 company profiles and use the search feature to sort and print company information and target details.
USDataCorp.net
If you're a B2B seller, try this directory. With more than 14 million business listings, the USDataCorp.net directory offers information whether you're looking for home-based businesses or for key executives at Fortune 500 firms. The Business Hotline file lists more than 70,000 new businesses each month.
I recommend: Search
USDataCorp.net's free business listings or take advantage of its free
new businesses listings.
Search engine and yellow pages business directories
If you're looking for quick links to companies within certain business categories without a lot of additional information, try search engine business directories or online yellow pages directories.
I recommend: Visit the business directories at
Google,
Yahoo,
Verizon SuperPages or the
Yellow Pages. Add your site to online search engine directories through the
DMOZ Open Directory Project.
Related Resources from Business.com
Recommended Solution Providers 
Best Sites to Learn More
Best Blogs and Forums 
Comments
Is any content on this page inappropriate? To let us know, please 
