Reviews & Maps / Business listing cleanup
Business listing and citation cleanup for contractors
Short answer
Business listing and citation cleanup for contractors means making your name, address and phone match everywhere they appear online. Google says it uses information from across the web, like links, articles and directories, to judge how prominent a business is. Local SEO practitioners find that a different phone or past address on Yelp, Facebook, Bing or an old directory makes it harder for Google to be sure which details are right. We find the mismatches and fix them, so every listing says the same thing.
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What we check
- Google, Bing Places and Apple Business Connect.
- Yelp, Facebook, BBB, Angi, Nextdoor and Houzz.
- Data providers that feed hundreds of smaller directories.
- Old listings from a previous address, phone or business name.
What we fix
- Name, address and phone, written exactly the same everywhere.
- Website link, hours and categories.
- Duplicate listings, merged or removed.
- Missing listings on the major sites, created and verified.
Why it matters
Clean listings alone won’t move your ranking. What local SEO practitioners do see is mismatches and duplicates holding a profile back. It’s one of the first things we check in your free Google audit. It’s also step 4 in our Map Pack guide: match your name, address and phone everywhere.
What matters and what doesn’t
Not every mismatch is worth chasing. Here’s what local SEO practitioners generally see:
- Matters: a wrong or old phone number.
- Matters: an old address, or a listing that still shows a business name you stopped using.
- Matters: two listings for the same business, on Google or anywhere else.
- Matters: a wrong website link or category.
- Barely matters: St. vs Street, Suite vs Ste, or small spacing differences.
Check your own listings
You can spot the big problems yourself before you pay anyone.
- Write your master version: business name, address, phone and website, exactly as on your Google profile.
- Search your phone number in quotes on Google. Then search your old numbers and old addresses.
- Open your listings on Google, Bing, Apple Maps, Yelp and Facebook, and compare each with your master version.
- Note every wrong phone number, old address, different name and duplicate listing.
- Fix Google and your website first. Then fix the big directories and the data aggregators, such as Data Axle, Localeze and Foursquare, which feed smaller directories.
Or run the free Google audit. Listing consistency is one of the things it checks.
Moved, rebranded or changed numbers?
These changes leave old details behind across the web. Update in this order:
- Your Google Business Profile first. Edit the existing profile so you keep your reviews, and don’t create a new one. Google may ask you to verify again.
- Your website: footer, contact page and schema.
- The big directories and the data aggregators.
- After a few weeks, search the old phone and address again. Old details can come back from smaller sites.
Also on Takeover: website schema
We add structured data to your website that tells Google your business name, services, service area and hours in a format it reads directly, matching your listings.
Which plan includes it?
Included in Map Pack Takeover ($497/mo). Every plan starts with a free 2-week trial, no setup fee, month to month. Compare plans.
Listings by trade
The directories that matter change from trade to trade, but the rule doesn’t: same name, address and phone everywhere. See the playbook for roofers, HVAC companies, plumbers, electricians, landscapers, painters, garage door companies, pest control companies, pool service companies, concrete contractors and window and door companies. Listing cleanup is one part of our Google review and Map Pack services.
Questions about listing and citation cleanup
What is NAP consistency?
NAP stands for name, address and phone number. Consistency means every listing across the web shows exactly the same details, so customers reach the right number and address wherever they find you.
What is a citation in local SEO?
Any mention of your business name, address and phone on another site, like Yelp, Bing Places, the BBB or an industry directory.
Do listings still matter for Google Maps ranking?
Matching listings won’t lift your ranking on their own, but local SEO practitioners find that mismatches and duplicates can hold a profile back. AI assistants that recommend local businesses read the same listings.
How long does listing cleanup take?
Most fixes on the major sites go live within a few weeks. Data providers can take longer to push changes out to smaller directories.
How do I check NAP consistency?
Write down your name, address and phone exactly as they appear on your Google profile. Then search your phone number, old numbers and old addresses in quotes on Google, and compare what you find with that master version.
Why is NAP consistency important?
Customers use your listings to call you, so a wrong number on Yelp or Apple Maps sends a homeowner to a dead line. Local SEO practitioners also find that conflicting details make it harder for Google to be sure which version is right.
Does “St.” vs “Street” matter for NAP consistency?
In practice, very little. Local SEO practitioners generally find small format differences don’t cause problems. Wrong phone numbers, old addresses and duplicate listings do.
Should I use a call-tracking number on my listings?
Use your main number on directories. If you track calls from Google, local SEO practitioners commonly recommend the tracking number as the primary phone on your Business Profile and your main number as an additional phone.
What’s the difference between structured and unstructured citations?
Structured citations are listings with set fields for name, address and phone, like Yelp, Bing Places or the BBB. Unstructured citations are mentions in articles, blogs, local news or sponsor pages.
Rather have it done for you?
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More services
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