The power of local listings cannot be overstated. The more sites that accurately display your information, the more probable it is that clients seeking companies like yours will find you.
You may have been advised to claim your company listing on the more than 70 Local Listings directories on the internet. But you may still be wondering, Why? If you already have a website and social media accounts, why is it important to be included on a multitude of additional sites?
The solution is straightforward: customers. The more sites that accurately and regularly publish your company information, the greater the likelihood that more clients will find you. Online directories are the digital analog of the phone book, with the exception that it is no longer sufficient to be listed in a single phone book. You must be listed in every phone book.
Here are 5 reasons small businesses can’t ignore the power of local listings
1. Improve Your Local Listings Search Position
The power of local listings is often underestimated by businesses, but it can greatly impact their online presence. When search engines such as Google trawl the web, they hunt for instances of your company’s name, address, and phone number (NAP). Even minor alterations, such as a shortened street address or a different phone number, indicate to search engines that your company may not be legitimate. When your NAP information is consistent throughout all citations, whether on or off your website, search engines will see your company listing as credible, raising your ranking in search results and maybe earning you a spot in highlighted results such as Google’s Local Listings Three Pack.
2. Develop Consistent Contact Data
The power of local listings is not just essential for search engines. It is also essential for consumers. What happens if a consumer discovers an out-of-date phone number for your company and the connection is disconnected? Or they attempt to visit your storefront but the door is shut since it is located at your previous location? This consumer will see you to be unprofessional and unorganized, and they will take their business elsewhere. You must guarantee that clients always locate your accurate phone number and address, regardless of the website they are using.
3. Protect Your Reputation
The power of local listings cannot be underestimated. It is not sufficient to locate and correct all Local Listings. You must also “lock” these listings to prevent future modifications. The listing information for online directories is scraped from government papers and other public data sources by aggregators. This information is often incorrect and out-of-date, but it may be used to override your listing – even after you’ve corrected it! Worse yet, an unscrupulous rival may claim your listing and change your phone number with their own. Locking your company listings is essential for preserving your reputation and maintaining the online identity of your firm.
4. Get More Web Traffic
When your web listings are accurate and consistent, search engines see your company as authentic and trustworthy. And when search engines like as Google and Bing trust your company, more people will notice it in search results, leading to a substantial increase in website views and traffic. This also applies to prominent placements such as Google’s Local Listings Three Pack, Google Maps, and mobile search results.
5. Obtain Extra Phone Calls
The power of local listings is crucial for businesses, especially since smartphones are now used for the majority of online searches. When a consumer discovers your company listing via a mobile search, they are equally likely to contact you by phone or visit your website. This is excellent news for company owners, but only if their clients can locate their phone numbers. Only by updating all of your Local Listings company listings can you ensure that clients always discover accurate information.
More than seventy maps, apps, and Local Listings directories include your company information. Claiming and amending your information on each of these sites would be a time-consuming endeavor. Manta makes it simple! We can utilize the information in your Manta profile to correct your company listing anywhere it appears, and then we’ll lock those listings to protect your firm’s identity. Ensure that consumers can always and everywhere locate the real you.:
