Online directories are much more than just the Internet versions of printed directories. Armed with fast advancing technology, online directories have certain advantages over their offline counterparts. A comparison would help you mark the difference.
Business Directories have come a long way ? from printed yellow pages to giant online directories. In both the forms, the directories have been the source of relevant information for businesses. However, with the advent of Internet technology, they have gained an edge over their offline counterparts.
A comparison between Online and Printed directories would help understand how they differ:
Geographical Reach
Printed directory provides an alphabetical listing of businesses within a specific geographical area. It is indeed a useful tool to get information regarding local markets and businesses. However, if one wishes to get info on products and suppliers/buyers in other regions, printed directory falls short. Here is where an online business directory scores over the printed version. It breaks through the geographical barriers. For instance, a businessman in the United States could search an online business directory to find a supplier in the Philippines.
Product Catalogs
This feature creates significant qualitative difference between online and printed directories. Online directories allow companies to display their product catalogs while the printed directories are used only for listing services. Detailed information about the business products or services is not available in a printed directory.
Updated Info
Herein lies another major difference between online directories and printed directories. Printed directories are usually updated once a year. Meanwhile, if business information regarding various listed companies changes, the directory would not reflect the change. On the contrary, it is regularly updated. You are more likely to find up-to-date information on an online business directory.
Easy to Search Information
On online directories, powerful search tools make it easy for the interested users to search for the product and services. Printed directories lack such kind of options. One has to do the tedious task of searching through the directory pages. It is really tough to find the relevant information from a vast database of listings.
Easy Registration
Printed directories are published once or twice a year. If a business misses an edition, it has no option but to wait for the next one. On the other hand, one can get registered on online directories at any point of time. Most online business directories provide free registration facility to the users. The users can upgrade themselves to more popular sections of the directories anytime.
Easy Access
It is impractical to carry it everywhere. However, it can be accessed at any point of time. All you need is an Internet connection for accessing an online directory. This makes an online directory a preferred mode of seeking information.
Video Profiles
On online directories, businesses can even provide their video profiles. They can shoot a video profile of their business premises, products and facilities, and upload it on the directories. A video profile provides an onlooker a better idea about the business. As said, images are better than words and videos are better than images.
Business Marketing
For business owners, the business directories, online or printed, are platforms to promote their products or services. However, certain advantages of online directories such as round-the-clock availability, detailed product information, powerful search options and worldwide reach make them preferred over their offline counterparts.
There are some popular worldwide business directories providing information on businesses across the world. At the same time, there are some renowned regional directories as well focusing on happening places like the Philippines, India and China. A focused directory such as the Philippines business directory would provide in-detail information on the geographical region it is concentrating on.
By: R Pages
build build miss usa 2011 miss usa 2011 richard hamilton richard hamilton stevie nicks
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.