A tailor in Siliguri gets a call: “Sir, for only ₹4,999 a year we will put your shop on 200 websites and Google page one, guaranteed.”
He nearly pays. Then his nephew sits with him for an hour and puts the shop on the six listings that matter, for nothing. By Puja, the blouse orders are coming in from people who found him on their phones.
Most of the “200 websites” are directories nobody visits. For a local business, a handful of free listings do nearly all the work, because they are where people in your town actually search: Google, WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram, and one or two Indian directories.
The one rule: same name, same number, same address
Write your business details once, in a note on your phone, and copy them exactly into every listing: the name as on your signboard, one phone number you always answer, the address with landmark and PIN code, and the same opening hours. When every listing agrees, customers trust it and search engines are more confident it is the same business. When one says “Maa Tara Electricals” and another “M.T. Electric Works”, both lose.
Where to list, in order
| Listing | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Google Business Profile | Free | Everyone. This is what shows up on Google Maps and in “near me” searches |
| WhatsApp Business | Free app | Taking orders and answering questions with a catalog and automatic replies |
| Facebook Page and Instagram professional account | Free (ads are optional) | Food, fashion, salons, photographers: anything people want to see before they buy |
| Bing Places for Business | Free | Bing and some maps and assistants that use its data. It can import your Google profile in a few clicks |
| Justdial | Free listing; paid plans for more visibility | Service businesses that get phone enquiries: repairs, movers, caterers, doctors |
| IndiaMART | Free to register as a seller; paid plans | Wholesalers, manufacturers and anyone selling to other businesses |
| My West Bengal directory | Free | Being found by district and category in West Bengal, with your own page for your menu or prices |
A realistic first week
Day 1: Google
Create or claim your Google Business Profile and start verification. It is the listing that brings the most calls, so do it first.
Day 2: WhatsApp Business
Set up the profile and the catalog, and turn on the greeting and away messages.
Day 3: Photos
Take ten good photos in daylight: the shop front, the inside, your work, your price board. You will use them everywhere.
Day 4: Facebook and Instagram
Make a Page and a professional account with the same name, photos and number. Link your WhatsApp.
Day 5: Directories
Add yourself to Bing Places (import from Google), Justdial’s free listing, and the My West Bengal directory. B2B sellers: IndiaMART too.
After that: ten minutes a week
Reply to reviews and messages, post one photo or offer, and change your hours on every listing before Puja and holidays.
Questions people ask
Do I need a website?
Not to start. A Google Business Profile, WhatsApp Business and a free directory page with your menu or prices cover what most local customers look for. A website helps later, when you want to sell online or explain a lot.
Which listing brings the most customers?
For a shop or a local service, almost always Google Business Profile, because it is what appears when people search on Google or Maps near them. For food and fashion, Instagram can match it.
I moved my shop. What do I update?
Every listing, on the same day, starting with Google. Old addresses left on directories send customers to a shuttered door.
Is the My West Bengal directory really free?
Yes. Listing is free, every listing is checked before it appears, and customers call or WhatsApp you directly; we take no commission.