Did you know that as many as 4 out of 5 consumers look up businesses online before they make the decision to shop there? That’s true for every kind of business in every industry from online retail to Mom ‘n’ Pop restaurants. What happens when your business is hard to find online and in-person because of incorrect directory listing though?
As an avid online shopper and supporter of locally owned businesses, I’m here to tell you that unless your online listings are up to date with your business’ information, you’re missing out way more clients than you know. And the thing is, having your online presence up to date is so simple that there really is no excuse for it to not be up to date.
Here’s how incorrect listings are costing your business clients:
3 Local Listing Issues That Lose Customers
When you can’t find a business, it usually has to do with one of three reasons: their hours of operation are wrong, they didn’t update their address, or they aren’t online altogether. Either way, it’s all bad.
1. The Hours of Operation Are Wrong
Recently I had a really annoying experience trying to buy a new pair of soccer cleats. While I could have hopped online and ordered a pair from Nike or Adidas online, I really believe in shopping local and supporting small businesses. So I hopped online and found a shop that I’ve been to before and saw that they were open until 10 pm. Perfect!
So I head down there at about 8:30 pm only to find out that they were closed. Lights off and everything.
It turns out that I decided to go on a Tuesday— the only day of the week that they are closed.
How is anyone supposed to know that? Their Google My Business account was showing their incorrect hours of operation and I’m sure I’m not the first or the last customer that they missed out because
2. Google My Business Shows the Wrong Address
You know what’s worse than showing up to a brick ‘n’ mortar business when they aren’t open because they didn’t have their hours up to date online?
You guessed it: showing up to a business only to find out that Spirit Halloween has moved in and set up shop.
When Google My Business, Yelp, or any other online local directory shows the wrong address (or no address at all) for a business, it is either because they have not yet claimed their business listing or because they have not updated it yet. Either way, it’s costing you business.
3. Their Website Is Missing
The most common information that tends to be missing from online listing directories tends to be a business’ website. Despite this, it’s the most important information that needs to be listed online in order for customers to find your business online. Without an updated website that shows your address, phone number, and hours of operation in addition to your services and pricing, customers will never find your business online. When you consider that as many as 87% of consumers search online for a business before they actually spend money, that’s a lot of customers that you’re missing out on that you otherwise wouldn’t.