Many companies make the mistake of setting up their business listings online and then forgetting about them. Unfortunately, these digital elements cannot thrive unless businesses regularly maintain them. Outdated information, customer service opportunities, or errors that go unchecked can hurt your business in the long run. Take a look at these four considerations to make as you maintain online business listings.
Customer Feedback
If your business is listed on customer review sites, then it is extremely important to keep track of the feedback posted to these channels. Companies often have the opportunity to address customer service concerns or discover common complaints. Your customer feedback might be difficult to look at sometimes, however it is an extremely valuable source of input. Take prompt action to resolve issues and turn detractors into promoters.
Location Based-Data
One of the coolest things about online business listings is that they can be tied to users’ GPS coordinates, displaying when they’re in the area. Or your company might show up on a mapping service, so that visitors and locals see your brand name as they search for directions. However, this won’t be possible if you do not have the right location information setup. For example, companies who want their businesses to show up on Google Maps need to verify their information with Google Places.
How To Get Your Business Back in The Groove
Increased Traffic
Once your business begins appear in search engines, review apps, and mapping services – get ready. This increased brand visibility will start bringing fresh traffic into your store. Unlike offline visibility efforts, such as signage, store windows, and paper advertisements, online listing apps can pull in prospective buyers who might otherwise be completely unaware of your company’s presence. The ability to attract brand new customers is a major win for your company. Keep an eye on your weekly sales reports once you start actively maintaining your online business listings. Consider using listing services like Amazon Local or Yelp to introduce discounts and deals. Measure the effect these efforts have on your sales, and try to replicate the success!
Overall Profile Accuracy
Carefully examine your online business listings on a regular basis to check for inaccuracies. If your store location moves, update the address immediately, so that you don’t inconvenience would-be customers. Outdated information can harm a company’s reputation. For example, when shoppers look up department store hours, they fully expect this retailer to be open during the times published. Arriving at a store that is unexpectedly closed can damage the store’s reputation. Make sure your listing data accurately represents your company.
Properly maintained digital business listings can be extremely useful for increasing store traffic. Periodically search for your brand online and make sure that your business profiles are up to date. An accurate presence online can significantly impact brand recognition and retail traffic.