How listings management can benefit your company
By Steve Guglielmo
By now, we are all aware of just how important having a strong internet presence is for our businesses. Even if you don’t have an e-commerce platform, it is important that your company be visible online. Think about it, as a consumer, what is the very first thing you do when you need to buy virtually any new product? You search for it online. But what if you can’t find the information you need when you search? Or, worse yet, you find some information, but it’s inaccurate? Chances are, you’ll find a different company to buy that item from. You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression.
Research has proven time and time again that the best way to attract new customers today is by getting your business listed and visible wherever customers are looking for it. A good way to make sure that your company is putting its best foot forward on search is by utilizing Listings Management software.
If you think about your website as your company’s digital storefront, then directory listings are like the phonebook, or billboards, that can help drive traffic to your site. And you want to make sure that your customers and potential customers can find the directions to your “storefront” however they’re searching for it online.
A good listings management program can help customers boost their online presence, grow their local visibility, get discovered more easily, more effectively use word of mouth through their review management, increase brand awareness and business reputation, and boost your Search Engine Optimization.
Be Visible
The program allows companies to manage their online reputation all from one central dashboard location that then broadcasts any updates or new information you wish to convey to all of the online directories at once.
Has your address changed? New website? Closed for a holiday? There is no need to update each directory individually, or worse, keep the wrong information up for all to see. Simply make the changes in your dashboard and your information will update around the web. This creates a clean, streamlined, uniform and up-to-date online presence for your business. And, in turn, it helps boost your SEO across all of these platforms, as big search engines like Google favor content that is consistent. They believe that consistent information and messaging help build consumer trust.
Most directory listings allow your business to post photos, in addition to your hours of operation, phone number, website and other important data to provide potential customers with more information about your business.
Companies will also be able to include keywords or keyword topics that can help direct customers to your site. Most of the time, customers don’t search for a specific business name. They search for a service or product they need. A good digital strategy can help ensure that when a potential customer searches for a product or service that you provide, that your business shows up in that search.
And, the dashboard also provides important, relevant reporting metrics which companies can access whenever they want to. It allows your company to see how customers are finding you online, what keywords drove them to your site and how many phone calls were made from that search? All of this is valuable information for your marketing department to determine where to spend their online ad dollars.
Be Responsive
In addition to metrics that show how visible your company is online, Directory Listings Management also allows you to manager your reviews from the dashboard. If a customer has a question about your business or a product, you will be able to respond to that question in real-time. You can track your total reviews and overall SEO rankings. View an evolution of that ranking over time.
Listings Management is not a set it and forget it process. Stay engaged with your online brand to ensure that you’re being found.
Inaccurate listings lead to missed opportunities and loss of trust. Are you willing to lose business from someone who is looking for a product you offer today? Make sure you’re visible where customers are looking. Get found and make a great impression using the most up-to-date digital strategy today.
