You’d be surprised how many small business owners have no idea that their online listings have conflicting information. Google says one thing, Yelp says another, and some random directory still has your old phone number from 2017.
Conflicting business information can confuse your customers (who might call a disconnected number or drive to your old address) and even search engines. Google’s algorithms, clever as they are, don’t like uncertainty. When they see conflicting information about your business, they hesitate, and that hesitation can impact your local visibility.
Below, this listings management agency in Chicago, Illinois is going to explain how conflicting business listings arise, and we’ll also outline four steps you can take to fix them.
Why do my business listings say different things?
Conflicting business listings arise when your primary business information (name, address, phone number, or “NAP”) doesn’t match across different platforms. This could be because you moved offices or changed your number. It’s also possible that someone entered your business information incorrectly, and now that information is everywhere.
When Google sees mismatched information about your business, it starts second-guessing which version is accurate. And once Google is confused, your rankings and visibility can start to slide.
Now think about it from a customer’s perspective:
People trust what they see online. If your listings say you’re open at 9 AM, they believe it. If your phone number is listed, they assume it works. Imagine their frustration when they drive to your old address or call a disconnected line.
Just like that, a simple data error becomes a customer experience and reputation problem.
Step 1: Find all your business listings.
You can’t fix what you don’t know exists. So, the first thing you need is a map of where your business appears online.
Start with the major platforms like Google Business Profile, Bing Places, Yelp, Apple Maps and Facebook. Then, search your business name and phone number on Google to find the more obscure directories. Many of these may still display outdated information.
A professional listings management agency in Chicago, Illinois can run this deep audit for you.
Step 2: Find conflicting and duplicate listings.
Once you’ve found your listings, compare them side by side. Verify the business name, address, phone number, hours, website link and categories on each listing.
You should also look for duplicate listings. Google explicitly says that one business should have one listing per location. Duplicate profiles dilute your credibility and confuse search engines.
This is the step where human review is necessary. A listings management agency can manually check each listing to make sure every detail is accurate.
Step 3: Make your business information consistent everywhere.
Start by claiming every listing that belongs to your business. Most platforms require verification before you can make changes to the listing.
Once verified, make sure your NAP information matches exactly across all platforms. Even small inconsistencies (like “Street” vs. “St.”) can be confusing for both users and Google’s algorithm.
Then comes the duplicate purge. Every platform handles this differently. Some let you report duplicates directly, while others require formal removal requests.
Your local listings management agency can do all of this for you.
Step 4: Monitor your listings to maintain consistency.
Even after you’ve synced everything, your listings need ongoing monitoring. Platforms like Google and Yelp continuously pull data from third-party sources and even user edits. If you’re not watching, new inconsistencies can arise.
You should also track your engagement metrics inside Google Business Profile.
- “Directions” shows how many people asked for directions to your business.
- “Calls” shows how many people clicked to call you.
- “Website clicks” show how many people visited your website.
If you notice a sudden drop in these metrics, your listings might be sending people to the wrong place.
An experienced listings management agency in Chicago, Illinois can continuously monitor your profiles. They can find inconsistencies early and correct them before they impact your visibility.
Looking for a listings management agency in Chicago, Illinois?
Are you searching for a professional listings management agency in Chicago, Illinois that can help you keep your business information consistent across all platforms? If so, look no further than Digital Destination LLC. Our team of listings management experts can help you maintain accurate listings, so your customers always find you in the right place. Contact us at (312) 933-6806 to schedule a free consultation.