Local business listings

Best Digital Advertising Software & Services

What is local listing management software?

Local listing management software — part of Vendasta’s small business software platform — provides an online dashboard where businesses with a physical address can manage all of their online listings in one place. Online directories, or listings, are made up of a network of websites all connecting consumers with businesses that provide what they’re searching for. This software makes it easy to manage and update all of a businesses listings in one place helping a business achieve and maintain consistent business information wherever customers might find them online.

A local listing management software reseller is able to white label this software rather than build their own software from scratch. This method effectively saves time, money, and helps agency clients be found online more easily and rank higher in search.

Position your brand as the trusted expert for local listings management.

White-label local listing management software was created for you to help your clients meet their online presence needs. Sell the solutions your customers need, all under your brand.

Your branded client-facing app becomes one place for your clients to access everything they need. Verify and make updates to their business profile to make sure their business information is accurate everywhere, and get access to proof-of-performance reporting. Compatible for businesses of any size, from single to multi-location.

Local listing management software options

Client-facing Local SEO

Your clients’ central dashboard for managing everything about their online presence and where they are found. See reporting, sync status, make updates to business listings, and more.

Client-facing Citation Builder

Build up your presence across the web, mobile apps, voice search and GPS navigation app by sending business information to the foundational data aggregators on the market.

Client-facing Listing Sync Pro app

Quickly update client business listings across high-traffic publishers, suppress duplicate listings, get more detailed reporting, and protect listings from 3rd-party changes.

Listing scan prospecting tool

Automatically gather listing score intelligence on your prospects to deliver a report that shows where your clients aren’t being found or have errors. Show them the solutions you can provide to help them win locally with listings.

Scalable local listing claiming

Claim high-traffic listings to ensure your clients have full control over their data and online brand. Giving direct access to Google Business Profile, Facebook, Bing, Yelp, and others helps your clients control how their brand appears online.

Local listings management services

Get access to a team of marketing professionals to work with your team and under your brand—no need to hire or train new staff.
 

What are the three big local listing services?

The three big local listing services that you need to sync your clients business information with are Data Axle, Neustar, and Foursquare. These primary data aggregators are highly trusted business information sources for all sorts of listing sites and publishers.

By syncing your clients’ business information with these three services you are ensuring that they will rank higher in search, be more visible, drive more traffic to their websites, and over give customers a positive experience with the business online. This will ensure that the business information is accurate across mobile apps, voice search, and online.

Keep business information updated, consistent, and accurate over time on a wide breadth of 300+ sources. The more consistent your client’s business is across the ecosystem, the higher Google will rank them.

Manage from one platform. Simply enter updated business information and Citation Builder does the rest. Show proof-of-performance through citation growth over time.

How do you manage a listing?

Best practices in business listing management include increasing visibility with the volume of listings a business client appears in as well as updating information across all listings quickly and accurately. Because many small businesses don’t have the time, software, or expertise to manage their own listings, this is your chance to add local business listings management to your offerings. There are three approaches to take in offering online listing management to your clients. This can range from DIY products to very hands-on services.

1. Do-it-yourself

Manual updates of every existing listing takes time and effort, yet many small businesses try to manage their online listings without help. This option only makes sense if the business is a single location and has very limited resources. However, small businesses with multiple locations, especially if they’re spread out over a large area, it’s likely they’ll have more resources for services like business listing management. Either way, DIY online listing management services are less involved and only supported by software.

2. Do-it-for-me

The next option is to provide full local local listings management services to clients willing and able to pay for it. This is a comprehensive option for clients who need to save themselves time. As an online listing management reseller, keep in mind the option to outsource services rather than hiring in-house employees. Outsourcing is a cost-effective option for tedious manual tasks like claiming, syncing, and editing business listings. White-label services give you the option to outsource services to experts who act under your branding.

3. Local listing management software

In lieu of outsourcing, another option is to resell local listing management software. This gives you the ability to take care of everything yourself without outsourcing or growing your team. Online listing management software will save time and effort by giving you the ability to manage, sync, and claim listings in one dashboard.
Provide clients with their own app featuring products that address their needs and proof-of-performance reporting under your brand—no setup or coding required. Prove to your clients the value you’re providing them by showing the increase in their listing score compared to the industry average, where they have errors, citation growth, and more.

Local listings management steps

There are a number of steps in managing a business listing. Selecting the right software and tools for your client’s needs and building product and service packages are just the beginning of how to manage your clients listings.

Create a local listings package for your clients’ specific needs

Submit to the data aggregators, directly submit and own business information with Google, Facebook, and more, submit data to local listing publishers, and get access to fully-managed listing claiming. While we offer you a comprehensive listing solution, you have the option of what you’d like to offer. Run your business and serve your clients your way.

Find new clients by showing them where they’re missing out

Find new client opportunities by scanning the listings ecosystem and show local businesses where they need your help and why. Vendasta’s listings scan tool shows where local businesses have missing or incorrect information. Win your prospect’s trust by presenting how you can get them found and deliver results.

Trust a Google partner to build your clients’ online presence

Let our marketing services experts claim and manage your clients’ local business listings, including Google Business Profile, Yelp, Facebook, Bing, and more. Let our team take out manual work and waiting time that comes from manual claiming and verification for you and your clients. Clients can own their data and protect their information on the top search engine without lifting a finger.

Have more time to grow your company while our team manually claims and manages your clients’ business listings on your behalf.

Focus on growing your client base and selling more while our team of experts handles fulfillment. We offer listing claiming services for high-traffic publishers such as Google Business Profile, Bing, and Yelp. We integrate seamlessly with your team to deliver listing claiming services under your brand, on your terms. Proven processes mean we deliver top-notch results with efficiency.

What is online listings management?

Local listings management is the process of keeping business information up to date online. It ensures that all business information such as the business name, address, and phone number are found across all relevant directories on the internet. This consistency builds trust with prospects.
Being found accurately online can be challenging for businesses, but as a local listings management software reseller, you can offer a wide array of solutions to help business owners own their listings and take control of their online brand. Empower your clients to own their data online, appear in local search, and keep their information up-to-date on key sources such as Google.

Online directories like Google, Yelp, and Bing are likely top of mind, but it’s good practice to also manage information on platforms like TripAdvisor and social media. Anything relevant to the business that displays business information affecting its ability to be found by prospects should be included in online listing management.

All businesses can benefit from online listing management. Yes, a brick and mortar storefront definitely needs to have their physical address and hours of operation present and consistent, but even fully online stores need to have their contact information and business name strategically placed in relevant directories.

The majority of today’s consumers are searching for businesses using their smartphone. People are looking for businesses or products on websites, social media, and evaluating online reviews, this is why it’s so important to stay on top of business listing management. Because so much information is at our fingertips, it’s equally important to have accurate information online and to update listings quickly when information changes.

Resell more local listings management solutions with automation.

Equip your sales team with the ultimate tool to help them win more sales. Analysis tools like Vendasta’s Snapshot report show prospects where they can improve their online presence, so you can attract more clients, close more deals, and delight your customers. Tools like this can show prospects gaps like where they aren’t appearing online or have errors on listing sites.

Engage your clients in Listing Builder, a freemium product where they can manage their business listing information on top directories – Google, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Show value and reporting through Google Business Profile Insights within the product. Show your prospects how they’re performing compared to their industry average and how they can improve.

One dashboard brings everything together to simplify online listing management for your clients.

A big part of online listing management is the software that pulls listing information into one dashboard to be easily managed. Connect to four high-traffic online publishers for free—Google, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Ditch hours of manual work and multiple logins; your clients can update business information from one place to sync to publishers in real-time.

You’ll be able to access Google Business Profile Insights from within the local listing management software to show your clients proof-of-performance on their Google listing. Your clients can see how and where their Google listing is being found and what actions are being taken. As their local listing management strategy improves, they’ll see the results through Insights.

What is the importance of local listings?

Local listings are important to online visibility and ultimately a businesses bottom line. If a business isn’t listed in as many places as possible they’re far less likely to be found by prospective buyers.

Get found in local search

Submit client business information to the four primary aggregators—the foundation of every business’s online presence strategy. The aggregators are the most trusted sources of information for publishers, even above manual updates to listings.

Ensure up-to-date client information is synced to online sites and directories, mobile apps, voice search, and GPS systems. With more accurate listings, Google will rank your clients higher in search results, meaning they’re more likely to be found over competitors.

customers updated in real time

With the right software you can instantly sync client business data to high-traffic publishers, suppress duplicate listings, and protect listings from 3rd party changes. Keep business profile information up-to-date over time and quickly sync out to publishers so your clients’ customers always have access to the most updated information.

Own your local listing information

Connect to Google Business Profile, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for free to sync and manage client data from one spot. Vendasta’s white-label marketing services team claims any additional listings manually, putting your clients in control of their data on high-traffic publishers. Protect your clients’ data from changes by owning their business information across the web.

Growing your business takes a team. That’s where we come in.

Vendasta’s marketing services team will strategize with your team in order for us to handle all customer communication with the same top-notch service you do. Listings are claimed quickly and effectively, especially with our automatic Google Business Profile verification. See your clients’ listing score improve. Easy-to-understand reporting proves what your company provides is working.

Keep your customers updated in real time with our listings publishing services.

Some software options will allow you to quickly sync new information to listings by updating the business profile, keeping your clients’ customers in the loop faster than ever. Access reporting on the syndication of each listing and know when there are errors to fix. Protect over 3rd-party changes and manage duplicate listings, all from one place.

Automatically scan the web to see where your clients need help getting found and fixing errors.

Vendasta’s Snapshot report tool can quickly provide an automated personalized report using your prospect’s actual business data. Brand the report as your own to establish yourself as the trusted local expert.

Pinpoint other areas for improvement such as reviews on listings, social media, website, advertising, and more. Then provide prospects with the perfect solution to meet their needs. Integration to Vendasta’s sales CRM delivers hot lead notifications to notify your sales team when a prospect becomes interested.

Give your clients ownership of their listing data on top sources, backed by software solutions.

Claiming gives your clients direct access and control over their listing, while managing their information all from one place to maintain consistency everywhere.
Either claim listings yourself or have our white-label marketing services experts do it for you.

What is a listings site?

An example of a local listings site would be something like Google Business Profile that holds business information to be populated on search engine results, directory sites, social media platforms, and business review sites. The information includes the business name, phone number, website, email address, physical address, and sometimes the business category depending on the listing. It could also include images, map locations, and many other things, but it’s best to fill out the business information as thoroughly as possible with each different listing.
Many listing sites allow business listings to be claimed. When listings are left unclaimed it can be easy for literally anyone to claim it and edit the information, making it very difficult for the actual business to gain control of their listings. This is just one more reason why local listings management is so important.

Prospective customers use these listings to find a product or business either online or in person. Local business listings management is a big step in the purchasing process when customers are making a buying decision. A business listed on 10 directories is far more likely to be found than one that’s only on the big three like Google, Bing, and Yelp.

Keep in mind more listings means more to manage and update ensuring information is accurate and reviews are being answered in a timely manner.

How do I list my business in SEO?

Local SEO strategy should always include local listings management. Business listing sites are an important factor that search engines crawl, which then indicates where they land in the search results. Local search engine optimization in a nutshell is about getting correct information to the right people at the best time possible in order to generate brand awareness. This drives more traffic to your clients website, ultimately increasing sales.
The big question agencies have about local listings management is understanding which business listing websites each individual client should use. The big listing sites like Yellow Pages and Google are obvious, but there are so many other sites to consider. So if it’s a numbers game, what other directories are out there? And more importantly, which ones make the most sense for your clients?

Research industry associations

Some associations have local chapters that will be helpful in building out your client’s list of relevant listing sites. Check in with your client so see if they work with any industry associations. If you serve a specific vertical this will be a great chance to dive deep and be able to recommend all the best listing sites for the industry your clients serve. Industry associations maintain business directories in order to help the profession, association members gain visibility, and the public in finding professionals to help them.

Look into local business associations

This is another place to find more listing sites relevant to your clients. These local associations might even operate online directories that support specific industries. This would include an association like the local Chamber of Commerce. This will help your business clients reach local residents.

Don’t overlook local listing sites in favour of Google, Yellow Pages, and Bing. Local sites will make your client more visible to local prospects all while adding more listing sites to the repository, which helps with SEO. All 50 states are included in listings on ChamberofCommerce.com. This is a great place to start.

Why are online listings important?

Most consumers refer to online listings before pursuing a purchase. About 92 percent of consumers will only purchase from a business that shows up on the first page of local search results (Reviewtrackers). This should tell you how important online listing management is to your business clients. Make sure their local listings are up-to-date and accurate across as many listing sites as possible.

Consumers are constantly researching before making a purchase decision or even interacting with a business which is why local listings management is so important. Business listing management is connected to online reputation management which can also give your clients a boost in the search rankings. With such a majority of consumers making purchasing decisions base on product and service reviews it’s clear that local business listings management should be a priority.

Local listings management improves online visibility, helps curate the customer experience, and drives sales.

1. Improve visibility with local listings management

Play the odds and get clients listed on as many directory sites as possible. This increases the probability of a new customer discovering your client. Experiment with this by mapping out your own search engine journey looking for something like “salons near me.”

Customers are far more likely to visit a business they found online within a day of finding it in their search results. So get clients listed, increase their local visibility, and drive up their revenue.

2. Increase traffic with online listings management

By leaning on business listing management best practices you’ll also be able to increase traffic to your client’s website. When you’re searching for a good salon in your area you’re probably going to choose the one that has more business information over the one that’s missing fields, images, or other information in their listing. This can also increase foot traffic.

Don’t forget to suppress duplicate listings, these can show up in inconvenient ways making the buyer journey unclear as the information probably won’t be accurate.

3. Manage online listings to save time

It takes a lot of time to search for, find, claim, verify, edit, and maintain an appropriate number of listing sites. Even with spreadsheets and other tracking efforts all of this information can be difficult to contain efficiently. This tedious process should be an easy sell for clients that don’t have the time to deal with all these tasks. Include local listings management products and services in your offerings to give your clients back some time for what they really need to focus on. With the right software, everything will be managed from one dashboard and reports will be accessible in real-time.

4. Is local business listing management important for SEO?

Absolutely. Local listings management is a big part of local SEO ranking factors. In order to get on the first page of the most popular search engines it’s hugely important to increase your client’s visibility online.

The higher a business appears in search, the more likely it is to convert a prospective buyer into a customer. Although there are a huge number of factors that go into search rankings, this is one that can be easily controlled and it certainly plays a role. Make sure all listings are consistent and up-to-date. Getting listed on more sites improves the chances of a business showing up at the top of the search engine results pages. Plus, accurate information helps prospects connect with a business how they choose.

5. Real-time updates

This is a big issue for local businesses. Local listing management software and service providers can make real-time updates a breeze by being able to access all listings in one place. Even if your client is DIY and don’t rely on your listing management services they will be able to make all updates in one place.

Slow updates can create a bad customer experience. Inaccurate business information across a number of different listings is confusing. Not to mention search engines will punish businesses for having inconsistent information online.