Canadian businesses have gotten a raw deal when it comes to online business listings. Most search engines, with the exception of Google, only accept business listings for US companies. Luckily there are ways for Canadian companies to list their information online without paying for PPC (Pay-Per-Click), or PPI (Pay-Per-Impression) advertising.

Signing-up to these directories won’t cause your phone to ring off the hook with customers eager to hand over their money but signing up to these directories will make your information available to a much wider range of users.

So enough chitchat lets begin.

Google Places

Google is a great place to start because it is the largest of the search engines, controlling roughly 60% of the total search engine market. Google is also a world leader in “local search”, an emerging technology that calculates a user’s location; returning results for businesses in close proximity to the user.

To create a business listing within Google Places you first need to create a Gmail account. Once you have created your account you will be eligible to post your listing.

• Gmail Account Sign-up
• Google’s Places Registration

Canpages

Canpages is a Vancouver-based Canadian Directory. Canpages currently controls about 10% of the Canadian directory market share, generating roughly 3.5 million unique visitors per month.

Canpages will force you to do a telephone number search prior to listing your business. The search is required to avoid duplicate numbers being added to their system.

Canpages Business Sign-up

If your number is not found (mine wasn’t), click add this number and you will be kindly escorted to a page where you can imput your info.

Craigslist

Craigslist is another company that provides free listings and a whole lot of exposure. Easier to use and search because of it’s no frills design, craigslist is an excellent way to promote, and sell business services.

One thing I should note about Craigslist, however, is that is does tend to get attacked by spammers. So posting your email address in your listing will bring an inbox full of unwanted emails. Sometimes it is a matter of taking the good with the bad.

Craigslist Business Sign-up

Kijiji

Kijiji is classifieds website where users can post free ads on everything from slightly used 17” chrome rimes, to professional services. The provided link will get you a basic listing for free, however, prices for preferred placement, or linking to your website will cost you a few dollars.

Kijiji Business Sign-up

Calgary Economic Development

Calgary Economic Development is Calgary’s business link. You can find info on your industry, news and events happening in the city, and submit your business listing to their extensive directory.

It’s difficult to determine the success rate of a directory such as this but the one golden rule stands strong, you can’t win if you don’t play.

Calgary Business Sign-up

Hot Frog

Hot Frog is a lesser-known online directory that generates about 1,500,000 page views per month. However, the online registration your free business listing is quick and easy.

Hot Frog Business Sign-up

Canada One

Canada One is an excellent resource for Canadian Business information. It also has one of the most pain-free directory sign-ups. This is one website I highly recommend you browse after adding your free listing.

Canada One Business Sign-up

Conclusion

So that’s my list! I’m sure a few of you are thinking to yourself, what about Yahoo, and Bing, I know they have business listings. The truth is that Canada is considered a foreign country even though we border the US, so much for continental brotherhood. However, in a few short years, as local search continues to grow, I’m confident that businesses will be able to register online to all of the major search engines.