Listings are a big part of your online presence. They provide your business with the opportunity to be noticed by potential customers in search engines, on social media, and even on review sites like Yelp or Trip Advisor. Having an accurate listing is key to getting customers to your business, but what exactly does managing listings entail? Keep reading for answers to some common questions about online listings.

5 Reasons Why You Should Care About Your Business’s Online Listing Accuracy

1. When people search for your business, your profiles from around the web will be indexed and aggregated.

This can happen in a number of ways. Sometimes it’s by your company name, sometimes it’s by your phone number, or sometimes it’s by search terms related to your business. 

While each search engine is different, and its algorithms are always changing, search engines use a variety of similar factors to determine their rankings:

• The amount of text on each page
• The freshness of the content (the newer the better)
• How frequently pages on the site are updated
• How many other sites link to them (backlinks)

There is also an internal algorithm that determines how relevant a particular business listing is to a user’s query based on how well its content matches up with what was typed into the search bar when they clicked on the link and even user location. The more places you have accurate data, the better your chances of being visible to those searching for your products or services. 

2. Duplicate listings might be hurting more than they are helping.

I know we just spoke about how having as many listings as possible is good, however, it is possible to have too much of a good thing.

Listings on one of the major online directories—such as Yelp, Yellow Pages, or Facebook—certainly will give you a boost. But if there is more than one profile listing for your business, it could instead be hurting you.

If you have a duplicate listing with conflicting information, how does your customer know which one to trust? And what if they choose wrong or don’t even bother calling—you might be out a new customer.

On top of the quality of the listing data, Google search results are also based on a number of other factors, including user location, and if the search is conducted on mobile. So if you want your website to get noticed by users who are searching for local businesses with their smartphones or tablets, it’s important for Google to understand which listing is legitimately yours.

3. Listings are a user’s one-stop shop for research about your business.

Why? Because it’s so easy! Listing sites and directories commonly show up near the top of search results and give consumers everything they need to see with information about pricing, products, services, and reviews all on one page.  

On search engines, listings such as your Google Business Profile can highlight many great features about your business, including upcoming events, announcements, and even book reservations. We mentioned a few great listing sites already, but it is important not to overlook listings created by companies other than Google, such as Apple Maps and Bing.

Quick Tip: Make sure your website has easy-to-use navigation so users can locate contact information as quickly and stress-free as possible.

4. Quality always trumps quantity when it comes to conversion.

Listing sites are great for people who need information fast. They’re also helpful because:

• They make it easy to find the right website. With so many options out there, users can easily compare different businesses before making a decision
• Helps customers find product or service info in a snap. Saves people time from having to dig through several web pages or call multiple locations for answers.
• Validates a business’s reputation. Users can easily read reviews from past customers or watch videos about what makes each business unique. The higher your star power, the stronger your SEO authority.

Let’s say for example you are searching for a dentist downtown, you’re going to want to know what kind of services they offer, how much they charge, do they accept your insurance, and do patients love them. All this information is available online on these listing sites.

People are also more likely to click on a listing when it’s accurate and high-quality. If you want your listings to rank higher than your competition, make sure they are consistently accurate.

Quick Tip: Pay attention to the reviews that people leave about your business. Positive reviews can help you get new customers because people trust unbiased reviews on listings much more than curated testimonials on your website.

5. Directories and listing sites may not be direct referral sources, but they still are impactful.

While they may not be a direct referral source like Facebook (where a friend can post “Hey! I love this business!”), each of these indirect sources has an impact on getting your business noticed by potential customers. Having your business listed in online business directories can also help improve your search rankings.

With hundreds of listing sites on the internet today, it can feel overwhelming to keep track of them all. But don’t fret, many of these sites refer to more popular and influential listings—such as Google to keep their data distributed accurately. Essentially, the more accurate you are with your business information—including listings and citations—the more likely it will be that people will find you when they need you most.

Listings management has become a must-have for all small and medium-sized companies. Contact Infinite Web Designs, LLC for reliable listing management services that will take your business where you want to go. We have the killer combo of solutions that your business needs. Get in touch with us for our FREE Infinite Report Card and IWD Digital Starter Package to get you started.

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