Maintaining accurate and up-to-date business listings is crucial for local SEO and building trust with potential customers. But how often should you revisit and update these listings? The simple answer is: regularly. Here's why keeping your business listings updated matters and how frequently you should make adjustments.
Why Keeping Listings Updated is Important
Your business listings serve as digital billboards across the internet. They tell potential customers where to find you, how to contact you, and what services or products you offer. If your information is outdated or inconsistent, it can harm your credibility and local search rankings. Search engines, such as Google, rely on this information to deliver accurate search results. When your business details (like your Name, Address, Phone number, or NAP) don’t match across different platforms, it can confuse search engines and customers alike.
When Should You Update Your Listings?
Generally, core business details don't change too often. It is important to make sure if anything major changes, it gets updated online. Here are the key instances when you should make sure your business listings are up to date:
1. When You Make Business Changes:
- Move to a New Location
- Change Contact Information
- Modify Business Hours
- Introduce New Products or Services
2. Quarterly for Routine Maintenance:
- Quarterly Review: It’s a good habit to review your business listings every three months to ensure accuracy and make any necessary updates. This ensures that even minor details, such as descriptions, images, or business categories, remain fresh and relevant.
- Add Details: Add any additional content where you can to all of your listings. Add coupons, services, seasonal or holiday hours, recent work performed. Actively adding content to your listings allows potential customers to see things that relate to what they are looking for.
How to Ensure Consistency Across Listings
Consistency is key when it comes to updating your business listings. Here are some tips for managing them effectively:
- Use a Listing Management Tool: Consider using tools like EZlocal, Moz Local, or Yext, which can help sync your business information across multiple platforms in one go. These tools ensure that your NAP and other business information remain consistent across dozens of directories.
- Maintain a Master File: Keep a document with your official business details (NAP, website, social media links, business hours, etc.). This way, you have one source of truth to reference when updating your listings.
- Automate Reminders: Set reminders on your calendar for quarterly and annual reviews of your business listings, or schedule updates when you know major changes will occur.
