{"id":11241,"date":"2019-03-05T12:11:55","date_gmt":"2019-03-05T18:11:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.advicelocal.com\/?p=11241"},"modified":"2019-03-05T12:11:55","modified_gmt":"2019-03-05T18:11:55","slug":"faqs-local-listing-management","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.advicelocal.com\/blog\/faqs-local-listing-management\/","title":{"rendered":"FAQs About Local Listing Management \u2013 The Questions on Everyone\u2019s Minds"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today, we decided to tackle one of our favorite topics \u2013\u00a0local listing management<\/a>\u2013\u00a0in a new way. We\u2019re all busy people; whether we\u2019re running our own local business or reselling others\u2019 services to potential clients, sometimes we don\u2019t have time to read a lengthy article. So, we decided to make life a little easier and spell out the importance of local listing management in good ol\u2019 question and answer form! Here are some FAQs on the topic that may offer new information \u2013 and get potential clients on board with what you, as an Advice Local partner, can do for them!<\/p>\n

\"How<\/a><\/div>\n

Why Is Local Listing Management Important?<\/h2>\n

Local listing management is more than just one thing; it\u2019s several moving parts that come together to create a stellar digital presence on the web. From a comprehensive Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) listing<\/a>\u00a0optimized for search to submitting correct data to a variety of directories, the goal of these efforts is to circulate a business\u2019 information to get them seen by potential customers. Proper local listing management also includes profiles on review sites and social media pages \u2013 which is where many people find local business information in today\u2019s on-the-go world!<\/p>\n

Why Should You Partner with a Local Listing Management Provider?<\/h2>\n

Or simply, why should a local business have their listings professionally managed by a company? Ongoing upkeep of citations is vital, because when a potential customer finds the wrong information about a brand, it typically means their business is lost. Seriously! A wrong phone number or the incorrect hours of operation is enough to deter someone from buying from a business altogether \u2013 there are no second chances.<\/p>\n

It all comes back to the NAP (name, address and phone number.) Not only do we distribute detailed business listings to the most important directories and data sources, but we monitor the listings and maintain accuracy in real time. The technology and expertise of listing management providers like us provide invaluable help to agencies, brands, franchises and SMBs. Read the comparisons of listing management services at different companies here!<\/a><\/p>\n

How Can a Reseller Help Get Local Businesses Visible Quickly?<\/h2>\n

Companies such as Advice Local have the capability to circulate local business data to directories quicker than an individual business because of their technology. Agencies and businesses can submit local business data manually to directories and data aggregators, but the process is time consuming. We can vouch for it at Advice Local! We have the ability to submit to top directories and utilize data aggregators to help spread local business\u2019 information almost instantly. Not sure what a data aggregator is? Read on!<\/p>\n

What Is a Data Aggregator and How Does It Help With Local Listing Management?<\/h2>\n

There are four major data aggregators<\/a> utilized for businesses in the nation: Neustar Localeze, Factual, Infogroup and Foursquare. These aggregators partner with directories to distribute a business\u2019 information online. Sometimes through this submission process bad data will creep out onto the web. So, what happens when bad data gets swept up in the mix? Well, bad data can hurt a business if it\u2019s not caught.<\/p>\n

To stop bad data from hurting businesses, we constantly monitor citations at Advice Local, as they are invaluable when it comes to local listing management<\/a>. Data aggregators can manufacture large amounts of data much faster, and their connections go beyond directories. They can connect the dots to GPS and mapping services and pass on information to targeted, geo-specific areas. Data aggregators are key to local listing management, and always will be. For example, Localeze is important to get a local business found in voice searches<\/a> on Amazon\u2019s digital assistant, Alexa!<\/p>\n

What If a Business Has Multiple Locations? How Does That Affect Local Listing Management?<\/h2>\n

The short answer: it doesn\u2019t at all! But it\u2019s important to partner with a company that knows what they\u2019re doing. Each location of the business is treated like an individual client, and a single location\u2019s visibility will not diminish because they\u2019re one of many. In fact, there is strength in numbers, and brands can get higher visibility in search if they do things the right way. Some sites, like Facebook for instance, will let a brand have a main Facebook page with their locations nested underneath them.<\/p>\n

Are Directories Still Important for a Business\u2019 Local Visibility?<\/h2>\n

There has been some recent discussion that directories are not as important as they once were when it comes to visibility and web placement. Well, we disagree \u2013 so much so that we write an annual post every year on the best directories<\/a>! Correct NAP data that is sent to directories that are both authoritative and have the trust of the masses helps get businesses seen by the right people. We\u2019ve seen it time and time again, and we don\u2019t think directories will lessen in importance anytime soon. In fact, the 2018 Local Search Ranking Factors Study revealed the following influences local placement:<\/p>\n