Listing Your Business In Multiple Categories

Does Your Business Specialize in More Than One Genre?

As a marketing exec, one of the more common question I am asked deals with the issue of a business offering services and products in more than one category.

We encourage you to cross categorizing your listing(s). Suppose you are a large retailer like Sears, Wal-Mart or Target; those store will obviously list under “retail shopping”, but let say that Wal-Mart has an extensive fishing & tackle department, Wal-Mart could also enter a listing in the marine/boating supplies category also.  This gives any advertiser the ability to highly target their marketing dollars. 

Many Florist find their markets in funeral, bridal, and other specialized categories.  While we have an entire category for florist, that same florist can add additional category link for say... Wedding Planners, or Gift Baskets, or Nurseries.

A automotive body shop may also specialize in automotive glass replacement, interior renewal, or exhaust work.  This same body shop can cross categorize their listings all or a few of the other categories.  Even better, let's just say that same body shop owner has to stretch limousines that he occasionally rents for special occasions.  He could list his limo service under Formal Transportation, Wedding Related, and/or General Transportation Services.

Most business today are diversified. I personally know of a HVAC contractor who recently began installing whole-house-generators. 

Take a look at the image below. Here, a fizzlers.com user has requested to see "Contractors", but they do not want all contractors, just "Electricians" because they are looking for that aforementioned whole-house generator. When they click on "Refine Your Search" they are presented with dropdown menu that list the various specific types of contractors including Electricians.

Now because this vendor list his company's services both under HVAC Contractors as well as Electricians Services category, he has twice the opportunity to get increased visibility.

Another important feature that we plan to roll out in the near future is inventory/services/products indexing.  This new service will allow a business to list many of the items offered into a mass database.  When a fizzlers customer is looking for the most obscure product or service that you offer, your listing will be returned along with others that have also entered whatever it is the customer was looking for.  Let me give you an example; you own an upholstery shop but your also, as a sideline, make custom canvas covering for boat parts.  Your listing under Furniture Upholstery will never be seen by the mariner looking for winter protection for his steering wheel.  But with our new system, your listing will be ever present thereby giving another opportunity to serve the public and make a profits too.

All in all, cross categorizing your listing is an incredible tool not available in your typical phone book. How often have you looked for something in a category in your local phone book only to see a block of text directing you to look elsewhere  Want proof? Look in your local phone book for "lawn ornaments". You will be directed to look up Concrete Blocks, Pottery & Iron Works.  Just for the sake of being accurate, I also looked up Counselors. I was directed to Clergy, Social Services and Support Groups among others.  Fizzlers does not irritate the end-user with pointless and tenuous re-direction. If you cross categorize, you listing is only a click away and your customers will appreciate you making it easier for them to find you.  They say information is power; we prove it every day by giving the power to people to find you. 

You just couldn’t target your advertising dollars any better.
Read a more detailed article on "Targeting"  here.