Do SMB websites matter anymore? YP says yes, introduces new ‘pro’ SEO product

In addition to being a media publisher, YP sells a range of marketing services to small businesses (SMBs) across the US. This past week, the company introduced and enhanced website product ypWebsite Pro, which includes SEO-related services.

The offering combines a range of features: an optimized, mobile-friendly website, business listings syndication and content creation (monthly blog posts). Boostability and Yext are fulfillment partners behind the scenes. The company said that during an extensive beta test with a range of customers, “over 70 percent of keywords in websites powered by ypWebsite Pro rank on the first page of Google search results in as little as five months or less.”

The new emphasis on websites and SEO runs counter to what might be called the “big platforms” school of thinking. That view holds that most consumers are never going to visit a SMB website, so instead, the business profile on a handful of major destinations is more important. An example would be finding the highest-rated plumbers or local restaurants on Google or Yelp and calling them directly without consulting their websites.

[Read the full article on Search Engine Land.]

About The Author

Greg Sterling

Greg Sterling is a Contributing Editor at Search Engine Land. He writes a personal blog, Screenwerk, about connecting the dots between digital media and real-world consumer behavior. He is also VP of Strategy and Insights for the Local Search Association. Follow him on Twitter or find him at Google+.