When it comes to getting your business listed online, it can feel like you’re faced with two roads diverging in a digital forest: manual submissions or aggregator submissions. But how do you choose the right path for your business? Let’s break it down in a way that doesn’t put you to sleep faster than last night’s SEO webinar.
What Are We Even Talking About?
Alright, let’s keep it simple. Whether you’re trying to rank higher on Google or just want potential customers to actually find your business, online listings (also called citations) are where the rubber meets the road. Think of them as digital billboards plastered across search engines, directories, and GPS systems. But like anything in SEO, there’s more than one way to get the job done.
The two most common methods for building these listings are manual submissions and aggregator submissions. Both have their pros and cons, and both can impact your local SEO game big time. But which one’s right for you? Stick with me—this is where things get interesting.
Manual Submissions: The “Hands-On” Approach
Imagine you’re going door-to-door, introducing yourself to everyone in town. That’s kind of what manual submissions feel like. You (or someone you hire) go to each individual website, create a business listing, and ensure your info is correct.
The Upside? Total control. You can pick and choose which directories you get listed on, and you can make sure each listing is exactly how you want it. Plus, it’s usually free, aside from the time you’ll need to invest.
The Downside? Time. Lots of it. “It takes between 5-20 minutes to submit to one site,” according to BrightLocal, one of the big players in the citation world. If you’ve got 50 directories to hit? We’re talking a good 8 hours of your life. Not exactly a Netflix-and-chill evening.
"Manual submissions give you more control, but the time investment is no joke." — Every marketer who’s ever submitted to Yelp
So, unless you enjoy repetitive tasks or want to build some serious typing endurance, you’ll probably end up outsourcing this process.
Aggregator Submissions: The “Set It and Forget It” Method
On the flip side, we’ve got aggregator submissions. This is like hiring a town crier to spread the word for you. Local Data Aggregators (LDAs) gather your business info and distribute it to a wide network of directories, search engines, and apps.
The Upside? Speed and reach. One submission to an aggregator like Foursquare or Data Axle, and boom—your info gets blasted out to a bunch of sites you’ve probably never heard of, including GPS services and mobile apps that don’t even allow manual submissions. And it’s relatively cheap compared to the hours you’d spend doing it yourself.
The Downside? Control. Once your info’s out there, it’s out there. Aggregators push your data to their networks, but you don’t get to cherry-pick which directories display your business. Plus, updates can take time, and if there’s an error, it might propagate faster than you can say “typo.”
So Which Is Better?
Great question, glad you asked. It depends.
If you’re all about control, like being able to hand-pick which directories showcase your business, or if you have some unique SEO strategy that involves being hyper-selective, then manual submissions are your friend. But be ready to either roll up your sleeves or hire someone to do the legwork.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for speed and wide coverage without the headache of entering your info on every single directory yourself, aggregator submissions are the way to go. You lose some control, sure, but in terms of efficiency? It’s hard to beat.
"For most businesses, using an aggregator is like using a cheat code for citations." — SEO Guru with too much coffee
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, your approach depends on your specific goals. If you’re targeting a competitive market where every citation counts, manual submissions might give you the edge you need. But if you just want your business info to be out there, visible to the masses, and don’t mind losing some control, aggregator submissions are probably the smarter play.
In a digital world where visibility is everything, GMB Fox ensures your business isn’t just online—it’s the first choice customers make. Let us handle the complexities of digital marketing, so you can focus on what truly matters: growing your business.
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