Is Your Business Listing Accurate on Search Engines?

It can be frustrating when we’re searching the internet for information about a business or product we’re interested in and are unable to find the correct contact information or website URL.  Inaccurate or incomplete listings will happen.  They are inevitable.  However, they also have likely cost you customers in the past.  It’s good practice to search yourself often on several different search engines to ensure your information is readily accessible and accurate.

Online business listings tend to originate with the major directories such as Google, Bing, Yelp, and Superpages.  Smaller directories will pull your contact information from these major players so if you’re incorrect there, you’re also incorrect everywhere that pull from there.

First, you want to be sure your business name is accurate.  That may seem like common sense, however if you’ve recently changed your business name, or your are registered with a DBA, you may be listed incorrectly.  Choose one name and be sure this is the business name you use throughout.

Next, check your business address.  Again, if you’ve recently moved or you registered your business under a different address your listing may be showing inaccurate information.  Without a physical business address, Google will likely deprioritize your listing causing you to lose ranking.  Business that run out of a home office sometimes prefer to keep their home address off the search engines.  Unfortunately, this is not recommended.

Check your phone number.  Including a telephone number in your listing makes it as easy as possible for potential customers to contact you.  It’s possible to include a tracked phone number so you can monitor where calls are coming from, giving you an idea of which search engines are working best for you.

If you have a website, list it.  And if you don’t have a website, get one.  Your website allows your customers to learn more about your business and see if you’re exactly what they’re looking for before they waste time with a phone call.

If the directory allows you to upload an image, it’s recommended that you do.  A good, high resolution logo or photo of your business lets your potential customers know you’re current and keeping up with the listing.  Having a face of your business helps customers identify you.

If you find any inaccuracies in your listing, the process to correct them can sometimes be long and drawn out.  Google, for example, mails you a physical postcard with a specific code to verify your current business address.

Getting your information accurate requires patience and determination.  Give our IT team a call at 800-538-0669.  Let us handle the headache for you.