The essential directories
Google Business Profile
Non-negotiable. The single most important directory for local dealers. Everything else is secondary.
Bing Places for Business
Smaller audience than Google but free and easy. Feeds Yahoo search and some in-car navigation.
Apple Maps
iPhone users default to this. Setup through Apple Business Connect.
Facebook Business Page
Required for trust signals and Marketplace activity.
Yelp
Reviews show up in Google results. Buyers sometimes check it even if you don't.
DealerRater
Industry-specific, strong trust signal. Reviews feed into Google search results.
Cars.com Dealer Profile
Even if you don't pay for inventory listings, the dealer profile is worth claiming.
Better Business Bureau
Matters for buyer trust. Some buyers specifically check it.
Yellow Pages (YP.com)
Smaller audience but still indexed and creates a backlink.
Local Chamber of Commerce
Often overlooked. Backlink from a trusted local source.
NC-specific directories worth considering
- North Carolina Independent Automobile Dealers Association (NCIADA)
- Your county chamber or business association
- Regional NC business directories
What to skip
- Pay-for-listing directories with no real traffic
- Sites that want you to subscribe to get a listing
- Generic "100 directories for $99" services
- Any directory that doesn't let you control your own NAP
What this looks like in North Carolina
NC has several regional dealer associations that provide strong local backlinks. NCIADA membership gives you a listing on their directory plus access to education and networking.
Local chambers in Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, Asheville, and smaller cities all offer business directory listings that link back to your site. Often included with membership you'd pay for anyway.
Where UsedNC.com fits
UsedNC.com and CarDealersNC.com both act as high-quality local directories specifically for NC independent dealers. Listings include your dealer profile, inventory, and contact details.
Adding them to your directory stack gives you two NC-focused citations plus the inventory exposure.
Learn more about listing on UsedNC