If your business is online, you need to make sure that you are the one in control of how it appears. Many directories and review websites will create listings for you automatically. That can be helpful in theory, but it does not guarantee that the information is accurate or even safe for your reputation.
Below, this listings management agency in Springfield, Illinois is going to explain the most common risks of unclaimed listings.
Wrong information drives customers away.
When basic details like your address or business hours are wrong, customers get frustrated, and they don’t forget it. One study found that 93% of consumers are annoyed by incorrect business details in online directories, and nearly 80% lose trust in a business if they see conflicting information about how to contact them.
Search engines also notice. Google and other search engines rely on consistent Name, Address, and Phone number (NAP) information to rank businesses locally. If those details are different from one site to another, search engines may push your business lower in local search results. When that happens, people are more likely to see your competitors before they see you.
Your search rankings can tank.
Google wants to recommend businesses that it can trust. When your NAP is consistent, you look trustworthy, and that can push you higher in local search results.
But if your details are wrong or inconsistent, the opposite happens. Google receives conflicting signals about your business and may decide to push you further down the list, which can make it much harder for people to find you at all.
A professional listings management agency in Springfield, Illinois will be helpful here. They can check all your listings, fix any incorrect information, and keep them accurate going forward, so you keep showing up where customers are looking.
Someone else could claim your listing.
If you don’t claim your listing, someone else can, and that includes your competitors. Google’s system allows people to suggest changes to a listing. In the past, this has been taken advantage of by people who completely hijacked business profiles. They were able to change key details like phone numbers, websites, and even the business name.
If that happens to you, the damage can be serious. Your reputation can take a hit, your reviews might be manipulated, and customers could be directed to the wrong place. When you claim your listing, you lock it down so that only you can make changes, which means you stay in full control of how your business is presented.
Missed opportunities to manage reviews.
Reviews are a big part of how customers decide who to trust. In fact, 82% of people are more likely to choose a business if they see that the owner responds to reviews.
If your listing is unclaimed, you can’t respond to reviews at all. You miss the chance to thank happy customers, explain yourself to unhappy ones, and show future customers that you take feedback seriously. That silence can come across as indifference.
Not only does this hurt relationships, but it can also hurt your visibility in search results because review engagement is one of the things search engines look for when deciding who to show first.
When you have a listings management agency in Springfield, Illinois managing your listings, they can make sure your reviews are responded to promptly and professionally.
You leave a bad first impression.
For many people, your online listing is the very first thing they see about your business. If the listing is outdated, missing important information, or filled with low-quality photos, it can instantly make you seem careless or out of touch.
On the other hand, when your listing is claimed, updated regularly, and filled with clear photos, it tells people that you are active, attentive, and ready to serve them. That small difference can be the thing that makes someone choose you over another business.
Looking for a listings management agency in Springfield, Illinois?
If you are looking for a professional listings management in Springfield, Illinois that can help you take control of how your business appears online, look no further than Digital Destination LLC. Our team of listings management experts can claim, clean up, and protect your online presence so customers always see you at your best. Contact us at (312) 933-6806 to schedule a free consultation.