Local online business listings provide essential information for your local business that help customers find your company online. Here’s what you need to know:
Accurate Data: NAP+W
This is the acronym that includes the key information that is displayed in a local business listing.
Name
Address
Phone number
+
Website
These four pieces of information are the most important. They provide the basic information potential customers to locate your business.
Want to improve results and rank higher in search? Include information like hours of operation, holiday hours, COVID policies, services offered and products in you business listings.
Will Local Online Business Listings Help My Business?
The effectiveness of a business listing depends on the information’s presence and accuracy. Listings are available through a variety of sources, including search engines, map apps, online business directory sites and social media.
When it comes to local business listings presence, quantity of listings makes a difference. Availability on as many sources as possible will create multiple avenues for consumers to find your business. But (and this is a big but), presence only pays off if the listings are accurate.
Listings are accurate if the data is consistent across all platforms. It’s very easy for this data to get corrupt. Many listing aggregators are just scanning the web and using old data. If you have ever moved, there is a good chance an old address is showing up on one of your listings. If you have changed phone numbers or used multiple numbers in the past, then these old numbers start to show up in the listings.
Why are local online business listings important?
Local online business listings play a crucial role in helping customers find businesses situated in their area. By listing their businesses on online directories, businesses can increase their visibility and accessibility to potential customers who are looking for their products or services.
Easy Way to get Exposure at a Low Cost
In today’s digital age, online directories have become a convenient and reliable source of information for consumers. With just a few clicks, customers can search for businesses that are situated in their locality, and browse through their products and services. This can be particularly beneficial for small businesses that may not have the resources to invest in extensive marketing campaigns.
Customers Learn About Your Business
In addition, local online business listings provide customers with important information such as business hours, contact details, and customer reviews. This can help customers make informed decisions about which businesses to patronize, and can also help businesses build trust and credibility with their customers.
Customer Confidence
If a business listing is incorrect or missing data, the customer will lose confidence in the brand. This leads to them to choose your competitor. The availability of accurate listings ensures customers are actually able to find brick and mortar locations while they’re open for business. This means money in the business owner’s pocket and, just as importantly, it means the business can be reviewed.
Reviews are Critical
A strong pipeline of reviews is important for establishing your online reputation. Reviews allow consumers to share their experience with potential customers. However, if people can’t find a business listed online, then this opportunity is wasted. Availability of accurate listings will help increase a business’s visibility.
Google Rankings
Local online business listings can help businesses improve their search engine rankings. With the help of search engine optimization (SEO) techniques, businesses can optimize their listings to appear at the top of search engine results pages. This can significantly increase their visibility and attract more customers to their website.
Moz did extensive research on local search rankings and found that Citation Signals and NAP accuracy are a top 5 ranking factor in BOTH organic localized search AND the local pack maps listings in Google. Local SEO is hard enough, so fixing business listing accuracy is one of the easiest ways to increase search visibility.
Local online business listings are an essential tool for businesses looking to expand their reach, attract new customers, and improve their online visibility. By leveraging the power of online directories, businesses can connect with their local community and establish a strong presence in their target market, ultimately increasing their rankings in Google, Bing and other search engines.
