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How Are Local Listings Beneficial for Local Businesses?

Local listings have always been essential for local businesses. Back in the day, customers would look you up in the phone book and as a business owner, you let the customers come to you. Nowadays, it is up to you as the business owner to make sure that you are everywhere that customers can be finding you and make sure that they are finding the correct information; address, phone number, and website.

The Benefits of Local Listings

An easy way to ensure that these listing sites all have the correct information is to use a listings management software like SEMRUSH. There are multiple benefits of local listings for local businesses. Not only do they increase the business’ online visibility – and the business's chances of getting found online by potential customers – but they are also a way for the business to reach a broader audience.

A Significant Online Presence Boost

A local business should have one primary goal: to reach as many potential customers as possible. Search engine optimization strategies, like listings in online directories, play a significant role in achieving it. Increased online visibility leads to higher website traffic, as well as more in-person visits to a storefront.

Another factor to consider is that when a customer asks Google for a local business via voice search, Google won’t respond with businesses that lack online listings. Considering that 40% of all mobile voice searches have local intent, it’s vital that local business owners have their information available online, including the business’ location, phone number, store hours, and services.

Better Chances of Ranking Above Competitors

As a small business, establishing a good reputation can be challenging. This is especially true if the other company is listed online on dozens of websites with positive reviews and accurate information.

Local listing services help local businesses compete with other small companies, as well as large organizations and chain stores. Mom-and-Pop stores hardly stand a chance against big corporations alone, but when it comes to local listings, the size of the business doesn’t matter – search engines determine placement in search results based on other factors such as trust.

Improved Reputation With Consumers

When it comes to researching local businesses, 64% of consumers trust online search engines more than anything else, according to the Edelman Trust Barometer. Therefore, if a business doesn’t appear in search engine results, why should consumers trust it? Unless they already know and like the business, consumers are much more likely to try a well-reviewed local business on Google.

Incorrect Information

A BrightLocal study of 1,141 US-based consumers found that, over the last 12 months, 76% of consumers said they have arrived at a business too early or too late because its opening hours were wrong online. An even greater proportion (77%) said that they found conflicting information on business information sites.

Inaccurate business information has become alarmingly common since the pandemic began, and the newly established prevalence only adds to the frustration for customers. The study also found that 63% of consumers would be deterred from using a business if their listing contained inaccurate information.
incorrect information graphic
How inaccuracies and errors in business listing inormation confused consumers in the last 12 months

Conclusion

If there is one thing we want you to learn about listings management, it is that an affordable service can help you gain tons of new customers, while one incorrect listing website can cause you to lose a customer forever. Talk to a Spotlight Web Expert today about how Local Listings Management can help your business.

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