Double listings can be torn on. One day you google your business and boom – two or three versions show with different information. It can confuse with your local SEO and to trust your business more heavily.
The good news? Tidying up is easier than it sounds. In this guide, we carry out you how to discover, merge or remove double lists – without the technology overwhelmed.
Why double listings are a problem
At first glance, it doesn’t seem to be like a big deal to have a few additional lists. But Double listings Can cause some serious problems for your company – both online and offline.
Here is why you are important:
You confuse customers
Imagine you are a customer looking for your company and two different offers appear – with different phone numbers or addresses. What do you trust? The chances are good that you either choose the wrong one or give up completely. This hesitation can lead to missed calls, lost foot traffic or worse – trust.
You divide your reviews
Customer reviews are gold. But if you have distributed over several offers, your effects are watered down. Someone could see a list with five glowing reviews … and another with none. It can create doubts – even if both are about the same great service.
You violate your SEO
Search engines like Google would like to use the most accurate and most consistent information to users. If you see contradictory offers for the same business, it throws up red flags. You may not be punished directly, but your visibility can withdraw, especially in local search results or Google Maps.
You waste your time
Each list must be updated and managed. If you have duplicates that float around, it is twice (or triple) – especially if you change your hours, telephone number or services. Instead of helping your company, growing, these entries only leave your time.
Step-by-step instructions to remedy double lists
Step 1: Identify double offers
Before you can repair something, you have to find the duplicates.
Start googling your company name. Don’t stop there – check other popular directories like YelpPresent Bing placesPresent Apple cardsAnd Facebook Business Pages. Take a close look at the lists. Are there any additional entries that show the same company name, but with:
- A slightly different phone number?
- An earlier address?
- A strange variation of the business name?
All of these count as double listings – even if they see Similarly, you can confuse customers and put on with their SEO. Write down the URLs of all suspects in a table so that you can keep an overview.
Step 2: Determine which is to be kept (also known as the primary list)
After you have found the duplicates, it is time to choose your “Haupt” listing.
How to choose:
- It should have that Correct company namePresent Active websiteAnd Current address and telephone number.
- It should be verified (especially in the Google business profile).
- Ideally it already has some Reviews and photos.
This is the one you want Store and optimize go forward. All your marketing and your links should point out this version. If you haven’t done it yet, take a moment to optimize your Google business profile to ensure that it works as hard as possible for you.
TKinne like the selection of your main blog domain – you want a solid version that Google understands and trusts.
Step 3: claim or check the lists you can
For the lists that are not yet available (but your company name), you would like this claim them.
The assertion means saying the platform “Hey, that’s my business.” Most of the time you will ask for a kind of review:
- A Call To your business number
- A postcard sent to your physical address with a pin
- A e-mail To a domain adjustment address (such as (email protected))
As soon as you have checked the property, you can either repair the list or continue with merging/removing.
Don’t skip this step. If you do not claim the list, someone else – or worse, a competitor – could.
Step 4: Duplicate listings merge or remove
Here things get a little more practical.
Option A: Listings merge
If you now control two lists with mainly with the same information, merger is the cleanest solution.
- Google business profile: Contact the Google Support and request a merger or use the “Suggest a processing” Option and mark the duplicate.
- Jaulen: Send a correction request with links to both sides and explain that you are for the same business.
- Facebook: Navigate to Business Manager → Settings → Berging Pages (only works if you manage both).
The merging combines the information and consolidates reviews in some cases. It is the best step for long -term SEO.
Option B: Remove a list
Can’t you fuse? Then it’s time too Remove or suppress.
- For outdated or incorrect lists, go to the listing and select “Suggest a processing” → Then mark it as as “Does not exist” or “Closed.”
- Some directories also make it possible to report the list as a duplicate.
When you see Google “Own this business”? On the profile, this means that nobody said it – click to remove or merge.
Important: The distance is not immediately. Some platforms check the request and you may have to track.
Step 5: Monitor your entries regularly
As soon as you have tidy things up, do not start that it is over forever, the lists can reappear over time, especially if your company moves, changes information or picked up by aggregators by third-party providers.
Take a few minutes every few months to carry out a quick listing audit:
- Pull your business on Google And scan the top results. Pay attention to new or outdated offers that do not match your primary information.
- Check the napty accuracy (Name, address, phone). Even a small inconsistency can cause problems.
Make sure that all links Still point to your correct website and verify the profile.
If you juggle several locations or manage listings for customers, Tools like GHL Can help optimize this process. You can monitor everything in one place, recognize inconsistencies faster and keep your online presence up to date without manually checking the dozens of platforms.
Why do they clean double entries of importance
Tidying up double entries may feel small, but it makes a big difference. It helps your company to show clearly and consistently, to build confidence with potential customers and to work their local SEO in their favor.
Follow the steps, remain consistent and you avoid confusion, save time and create a smoother experience for everyone looking for you online.
Frequently asked questions
Double listings can result from various factors, including changes in business information such as moving to a new location, several people involved in the management of listings or data unit errors from third-party sources.
The merging of lists usually consolidates reviews, but it is important to confirm this with the guidelines of the specific platform.
The time frame varies depending on the platform. For example, Google can take a few days to process the distance inquiries.
In general, it is recommended to have a single list per location. However, if different services work under separate names and are clearly described, you can qualify for individual entries.
If you discover a double list that is unused, you can report it via the platform’s support channels or suggest processing to mark or remove it as a duplicate.
Monitor your business information regularly on all platforms, ensure consistent NAP (name, address, telephone number) and use tools for listing management to keep your information precisely.