Claim listings on other directories
Consistent, updated business information across the web is crucial. It may seem trivial to manage your online presence, but the benefits are significant — and the consequences of ignoring it are real.
Who needs their business information updated across the web?
New businesses, existing businesses without an online presence, and businesses that have relocated or changed contact information. In other words: every business out there.
What business information goes on the web?
Beyond the vital NAP (name, address, phone) and website, customers look for more — someone finding “Eat-Here Cafe” may want the menu or whether there’s parking. The checklist: NAP, company website, working hours, products offered, services offered, payment methods, and business specialties. Business information added to an external website becomes a citation or business listing, and it’s what surfaces when customers search.
Where do you have to update your business details?
Aim for maximum coverage on the major platforms. For starters: Google (Business Profile), Bing, Facebook, Yelp, YellowPages, Whitepages, LinkedIn, your Chamber of Commerce, and Foursquare — plus social sites like Instagram and Pinterest in your broader strategy.
How do you update your business information across the internet?
Your information may be scattered, wrong, or missing, so first correct or claim any auto-generated listings. Two routes: submit manually, going to every site and adding your information yourself; or use a citation submission service, where you update once and the service pushes it to the relevant directories with a dashboard for future changes.
Consequences of not doing it
Most local searches carry purchase intent — a meaningful share of local smartphone searches lead to a purchase within a day. Reviews are digital word-of-mouth, and businesses with more reviews rank higher; without listings you miss them entirely. Customers find your competitors instead, and auto-generated duplicate listings send people to wrong numbers and wrong addresses. Your business goes unnoticed online. Period.
Benefits of doing it
Search engines start citing your business for local searches, reviews compound into social proof and rankings, sales follow, and the presence itself is free publicity. Your business starts getting noticed online. Period.