Business listings and citations: a plain guide for owners

Picture a customer who finds you in two places. One says Main St. The other says Main Street. One has your old phone number. That customer may not know which is right.

Google says businesses with complete and accurate info are more likely to show up in local search results. We found no official page that sets a rule on matching. Still, keeping every place the same is cheap and it helps real people. Pick one way to write your name and address, and copy it everywhere.

Start with Google Business Profile. Google says you can add or claim your business at no charge, and that a verified profile lets customers find you on Search and Maps. It comes first because that is where many local searches happen.

Next, look at Bing Places for Business from Microsoft and Apple Business Connect from Apple. Both are made by the companies whose maps and search you want to appear in. Read each one's own page for what it offers and what it costs today.

Google names three things for local results: relevance, distance and prominence. Relevance is how well your profile matches the search. Distance is how far you are from the person searching. Prominence is how well known you are.

You cannot change distance. You can help relevance by filling in every part of your profile, and you can keep it accurate. No listing can promise you a ranking, and we do not.

Keep one note with your exact name, address, phone number, website and hours. When something changes, such as a new number or new holiday hours, work down your list and fix each place the same day.

Google says you can edit a verified profile to keep your business info accurate and up to date. Check each listing now and then, and look again after a move, a new phone line or a new name.

A local directory is a website that lists businesses in one town or area. A listing there is one more place where your details are stated correctly, and a page that people in your area can find.

It is a small part of the job. Google Business Profile comes first, and your own website comes next. A directory listing will not replace them, and no directory can promise you calls or a ranking.

Local Business America is a network of local guides and business directories. It covers a small number of areas so far: South Orange County, North County San Diego, Temecula Valley and San Diego in California, North Atlanta in Georgia, and Park City and Summit County in Utah.

Every business in a guide has a free listing with opening hours, a map and a link to its website. Claiming a listing is free, and a person checks each claim. Owners can read more at /list-your-business.

Every business in one of our guides has a free listing, with opening hours, a map and a link to its website. Claiming it is free.

Essentials is $19 a month and adds a photo gallery, an enquiry form, your Google reviews. Premium is $39 a month and adds a boost to the top of your category and a do-follow link to your website. The price is the same every month, and you can cancel any time.

A listing is not a lead service. We do not sell leads, we do not promise calls, and we cover a small number of areas so far. It is a page about your business in a guide to your town.