If your small business doesn’t have an online presence, it doesn’t exist in the minds of millions of potential customers and clients. A study by Google found that “4 in 5 consumers use search engines to find local information.” In today’s world of business, you must have an online presence to be successful. That’s simply a fact of modern life.

There are a couple of ways you can accomplish this. You can hire an internet marketing firm or you can do it yourself. If you choose the latter option, consider free profile sites to start.

A few of these sites are discussed here, in no particular order:

1. CrunchBase

Forbes describes CrunchBase as a “minor miracle” in a 2014 article. It boasts 1.5 million unique visitors each month; no small feat. Since its founding in 2007, CrunchBase has amassed a database of over 105,000 companies and is home to over 140,000 individual profiles. Many professionals, such as Cary Kochman, have set up a free profile, listing personal details, current or past employment and recent activities of interest.

2. LinkedIn

This site’s design caters to social networking with the business community in mind. LinkedIn allows its registered members to build networks of people, usually professional peers they know and trust. Profile pages generally emphasize skills, education and employment history, and news feeds from professional networks.

3. Manta

Manta lists itself as more than just an online business directory. It is set up to capture comprehensive business information directly from the business owner. Updating and enhancing your profile means your information remains accurate and always reflects the message the business owner wishes to communicate to potential customers and clients. While Manta’s basic services are free, premium placements and extra benefits come with a price tag attached.

4. Google My Business

Everyone would probably agree that Google is the behemoth in the room when it comes to search engines. Google outperforms all the other search engines, boasting over 7 billion searches per day on average. Google’s free-of-charge service is a consistent front-runner in online searches and can boost your site’s SEO rankings to increase traffic to your sight.

5. Bing Places for Business

This free Microsoft product gets outpaced only by Google in number of visits. Listing your business here means you can add multiple business locations, and upload photos and videos to show off the amenities your business has to offer. It is a quick and easy way to connect your business with local consumers, customers and clients.

Getting your business out there

Taking advantage of services for listing your profile is simply a smart move for anyone wanting to build a successful business. An online presence is an absolute must but it doesn’t have to be an expensive undertaking. There are many free services offered – beyond the ones described here – as well as some for-fee listing sites. Look here for information on more sites for listing professional profiles.