How To Claim Your Local Search Listings

How to Claim Your Local Search Listings by LinkNow Media

Claiming any/all online listings of your business is a must. Not only does it allow you to control the information listed, but it also communicates the validity of your business to potential customers. Running a business without any real verification online? Most people will find this sketchy.

So how exactly do you go about claiming your local search listings, you might ask. Here’s a simple breakdown of what you can typically expect in this process.

The Steps

Step 1: Since the verification process varies according to each local business index, the first thing you want to do is create a spreadsheet that will help you keep track of your claiming process, especially if you’re claiming multiple listings at the same time.

Step 2: Visit one of the local business indexes. You’ll be prompted to locate your business listing with either the business name or phone number. Don’t be alarmed if your business listing already exists in the index. Unless you opened your business today, it’s very likely that your business is already listed due to existing information that’s beed aggregated from other locations on the web.

Step 3: This is probably the most important step: review the existing information on the listing. If there’s any incorrect information, make sure you correct it as soon as possible. Provide all new or pertinent information such as your business name, address, phone number(s), website, business description, etc. The goal is to include accurate and consistent information about your business across every listing. Not having this can lead to confusion with both customers and search engines.

Step 4: After you fill out your business information, you’ll be prompted to go through a verification process. Usually, the verification process can happen in one of three different ways: via regular mail, in which a postcard with a verification code is mailed to the address you provide; via phone call, in which you will be asked to verify a pin number; or via email, in which you will click on a verification link.

Keep in mind that if you choose the mail verification process, you must be on the lookout for the actual postcard. Most of the time these postcards tend to be small and plain-looking, hence making it very easy for them to get lost in the mail or even worse, tossed accidentally because they resemble junk mail.

Verification can take as little as minutes or as long as several months, depending on profile. Some platforms are able to complete the verification rather quickly, but others choose to have a lengthy manual reviewing process. The most important thing you can do here is resist the urge to change the information you have already submitted. Doing so may re-trigger the verification process, and you’ll have to do this final step all over again. Check regularly to see if your business has been fully published, but in the meantime, remain patient.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, claiming your local search listings is not as hard as you may have thought. The important thing is to get it done as soon as possible, considering the fact you really don’t have control over how long the verification process could take. And the sooner your information is published and verified, the sooner you can start seeing results reflected in your search rankings.

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