Ever had your business’s listing info magically change overnight without your knowledge? You’re not alone. From a sudden swap in your business hours to an unexpected shift in your category, unauthorized changes can throw a wrench in your operations—and, let’s be honest, it’s downright frustrating. But here’s the deal: these changes aren’t just annoying; they can mess with your rankings, confuse customers, and ultimately hurt your business.
We found that a staggering 63% of consumers would stop using a business if they found incorrect information on a business listing. That’s not just a slap on the wrist—it’s a potentially massive loss of customers and revenue.
So, what’s going on? And more importantly, how do you stop these rogue edits from wreaking havoc on your business?
The Four Culprits Behind Your Listing Changes
Over the last decade, the local listing game has seen a huge shakeup. Gone are the days of a million tiny sites you needed to manage. Today, just four major players—Google, Apple, Facebook, and Bing—control 92% of consumer engagement in the local listing world. Think of these platforms as your digital storefronts. Keeping them up-to-date and accurate is crucial for your brand reputation and customer experience.
But here’s the kicker: these platforms are also the most prone to unauthorized changes. Unlike smaller listing sites, these big four often pull data from other sources—sometimes with results that leave you scratching your head.
1. Users: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
Let’s start with the obvious: users. People can suggest edits to your business listing if they think something’s off. Sometimes, these suggestions are genuinely helpful—like when a loyal customer notices your holiday hours are missing. But, let’s be real, not everyone has your best interests at heart. Competitors or even disgruntled customers can suggest changes that hurt your business.
2. Your Website: When Scraping Goes Wrong
Google and friends are constantly crawling your website, trying to understand what you do. But they’re not perfect. Sometimes, they can misinterpret your content and make assumptions that don’t quite hit the mark. For example, if you’re a plumber who blogs about general home maintenance, Google might suddenly decide you’re a jack-of-all-trades and update your services accordingly.
3. Third-Party Apps: The Hidden Hands
Here’s where things get a little sneaky. Over the years, you’ve probably connected your listings to various third-party apps—Yext, Semrush, Yelp, you name it. Some of these apps push data to your listings, often without you even realizing it. If you moved locations but forgot to update your address in Yelp, that outdated info could find its way into your Apple Maps listing, causing all sorts of confusion.
4. Other Managers or Owners: The Inside Job
This one’s on you—sort of. If you’ve got old employees or unknown users still listed as managers or owners on your accounts, they could be making changes without your knowledge. Even if it’s unintentional, these updates can create chaos for your business.
How to Stay on Top of Unauthorized Edits
Now that you know where these changes are coming from, how do you stay ahead of the game?
Manual Monitoring
Most platforms will send you an email or notification when something changes on your listing—if you’ve got notifications turned on, that is. Make it a habit to regularly check those emails and updates to catch any rogue edits before they spiral out of control.
Automated Monitoring
If you’re juggling multiple locations or just don’t have the time to constantly check in on your listings, automation is your friend. Tools like Active Sync can monitor your listings and alert you to any changes instantly, allowing you to take action before it impacts your customers.
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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