Ever googled your business name and found listings you never created? You’re not alone. Incorrect listings, duplicate profiles, and outdated information plague thousands of businesses online. These digital ghosts can confuse customers, damage your reputation, and even cost you sales.
Here’s what you’ll learn: practical steps to identify and remove incorrect listings, claim your legitimate profiles, work with directory support teams, and prevent future duplicates. We’ll also explore legal options when standard removal requests fail.
Think of your online presence as your digital storefront. Would you leave broken windows or incorrect opening hours on your physical shop? Of course not. Yet many businesses unknowingly let incorrect listings damage their digital reputation.
Identifying Incorrect Listings
Start with a simple Google search of your business name. Add your location, phone number, and variations of your business name. You might discover listings you never knew existed. Recent discussions on Reddit reveal that many business owners freak out when they first see the extent of incorrect information about their companies online.
Look beyond the first page of search results. Incorrect listings often lurk on pages two, three, or even deeper. Check major directories like Google Business Profile, Yelp, Yellow Pages, and industry-specific platforms. Don’t forget social media platforms where unofficial pages might exist.
Did you know? A single incorrect phone number across multiple directories can result in up to 73% of potential customers being unable to reach your business, according to industry studies.
Create a spreadsheet to track what you find. Include the directory name, URL, type of error, and whether you can claim the listing. This systematic approach prevents you from missing any problematic listings and helps you monitor progress.
Pay special attention to listings with old addresses, wrong phone numbers, or incorrect business categories. These errors directly impact customer experience and local search rankings.
Common Listing Errors
Duplicate listings top the list of common problems. They occur when data aggregators create multiple entries for the same business, often with slight variations in the name or address. Google My Business Product Experts frequently encounter businesses struggling to remove duplicates they can’t even find in their dashboards.
Incorrect business information spreads like wildfire across directories. One wrong phone number on a major platform can propagate to dozens of smaller directories within weeks. Data aggregators automatically pull and distribute this information, creating a cascade of errors.
| Error Type | Impact on Business | Difficulty to Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Duplicate Listings | Confuses customers, splits reviews | Moderate to High |
| Wrong Phone Number | Lost leads and sales | Low to Moderate |
| Incorrect Address | Customers can’t find you | Moderate |
| Wrong Business Category | Poor search visibility | Low |
| Outdated Hours | Frustrated customers | Low |
| Fake Reviews | Reputation damage | High |
Merged or acquired businesses face unique challenges. The old business name might persist across directories long after rebranding. Previous owners’ information sometimes remains attached to listings, creating ownership conflicts.
False or malicious listings represent another serious issue. Competitors or disgruntled individuals might create fake profiles to damage your reputation. Airbnb hosts frequently discuss protecting their listings from false accusations, a problem that extends across all types of online directories.
Quick Reality Check: The average business has listings on over 70 online directories, but most owners only know about 5-10 of them. That leaves 60+ potential sources of incorrect information.
Claiming Business Profiles
Claiming your business profiles gives you control over your information. Start with the major platforms: Google Business Profile, Yelp, Facebook, and Apple Maps. Each platform has its own verification process, typically involving phone calls, postcards, or email verification.
Google’s verification process has become stricter. They now require video verification for certain businesses, especially those in regulated industries. Prepare documentation proving your business ownership, including business licences, utility bills, and tax documents.
For platforms you’ve never used, search for existing listings before creating new ones. Creating duplicates accidentally worsens the problem you’re trying to solve. Google’s guide on resolving duplicate profiles emphasises checking thoroughly before creating new listings.
Quick Tip: Use a dedicated business email address for all directory claims. This centralises verification emails and prevents important messages from getting lost in personal inboxes.
Some directories make claiming profiles intentionally difficult. They profit from premium services that promise easier management. Don’t fall for unnecessary upsells. Most legitimate directories allow free profile claims, though the process might require patience.
Industry-specific directories often have unique claiming procedures. Medical directories might require licence numbers. Legal directories could demand bar association verification. Restaurant platforms might need health permit information. Research each platform’s specific requirements before starting the claim process.
Removal Request Procedures
Once you’ve identified incorrect listings, removal procedures vary by platform. Start with the official removal request forms when available. Google’s legal help page provides a comprehensive troubleshooter for content removal requests under various circumstances.
Document everything. Screenshot the incorrect listing before submitting removal requests. Save confirmation emails and ticket numbers. This documentation proves very useful if you need to escalate or follow up on stuck requests.
Write clear, professional removal requests. Explain specifically what’s incorrect and provide evidence of the correct information. Avoid emotional language or threats, even when frustrated. Directory support teams respond better to factual, well-documented requests.
Myth: “Removing incorrect listings hurts SEO.
Reality: Incorrect listings actually damage SEO by creating inconsistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) data. Removing them improves your local search rankings.
For duplicate listings you control, merge them rather than deleting when possible. This preserves positive reviews and historical data. Most major platforms offer merging tools, though finding them sometimes requires digging through help documentation.
Follow up persistently but politely. Initial removal requests often get lost or ignored. Set calendar reminders to check on pending requests weekly. Escalate through different channels if the standard process fails.
Contacting Directory Support
Finding the right support channel saves hours of frustration. Major directories hide their contact information behind layers of automated help articles. Start with official help centres, but don’t stop there.
Social media often provides faster responses than traditional support channels. Twitter/X particularly works well for getting attention from larger companies. Tag the official support accounts and briefly explain your issue publicly. Companies prioritise visible complaints.
Success Story: Sarah, a bakery owner in Manchester, struggled for months to remove duplicate Google listings through standard channels. One tweet to @GoogleMyBiz with screenshots resulted in resolution within 48 hours. Sometimes public pressure accelerates private solutions.
Email templates improve your chances of success. Include your business name, the specific listing URL, clear explanation of the error, and supporting documentation. Professional tone and formatting matter more than you might think.
Phone support, when available, often resolves issues faster than email. Call during off-peak hours for shorter wait times. Prepare your documentation before calling. Have listing URLs, account information, and verification documents ready.
Some directories use community forums for support. eBay’s community forums demonstrate how other users and experts can provide solutions when official support falls short. Search these forums for others who’ve faced similar issues.
What if directory support completely ignores your requests? Document your attempts, then consider escalating through business advocacy groups, Better Business Bureau complaints, or even small claims court for directories causing marked business damage.
Legal Takedown Options
When standard removal requests fail, legal options exist. Start with cease and desist letters for malicious or defamatory listings. While not legally binding, they demonstrate seriousness and often prompt action from directory operators.
Copyright and trademark infringement provides stronger legal grounds. If someone uses your business logo, copyrighted images, or trademarked name without permission, file DMCA takedown notices. Most platforms respond quickly to properly formatted DMCA requests.
Defamation laws apply when false information damages your business reputation. Document specific damages: lost customers, decreased revenue, or reputational harm. Consult with a solicitor specialising in internet defamation before proceeding with legal action.
Privacy laws offer another avenue. GDPR in Europe and various state laws in the US grant individuals and businesses rights to control their information. Request data removal under applicable privacy regulations when other methods fail.
Legal Reality: Pursuing legal action costs time and money. Reserve it for serious cases causing measurable business damage. Often, persistent non-legal pressure achieves results without attorney fees.
Small claims court works for quantifiable damages from incorrect listings. If you can prove lost revenue directly caused by wrong information, consider this option. The threat alone sometimes motivates platforms to act.
Monitoring Your Listings
Set up Google Alerts for your business name, variations, and key employees. You’ll receive notifications when new content appears online, catching incorrect listings early.
Monthly audits prevent small errors from becoming major problems. Schedule recurring calendar reminders to check your top 20 directory listings. Look for changed information, new duplicates, or suspicious reviews.
Use listing management tools for productivity. Services like Moz Local, Yext, or BrightLocal monitor multiple directories simultaneously. While these cost money, they save considerable time for businesses with extensive online presence.
Quick Tip: Create a monitoring spreadsheet with columns for directory name, correct listing URL, last check date, and status. Update it monthly to track changes over time.
Train your team to spot incorrect listings. Employees often encounter them before owners do. Create a simple reporting process so staff can flag problems immediately.
Monitor review platforms extra carefully. Etsy sellers discuss how reviews can attach to wrong listings, creating confusion. Regular monitoring catches these issues before they impact sales.
Consider setting up a dedicated email address for directory notifications. This prevents important alerts from getting lost in general business email. Check it weekly for verification requests, change notifications, or potential issues.
Preventing Future Duplicates
Prevention beats correction every time. Start by maintaining consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) information across all platforms. Even small variations like “Street” versus “St.” can create duplicates.
Create a master information document with your official business details. Include every variation of your business name, correct address format, phone numbers, website URLs, and business descriptions. Share this with anyone who might create or update listings.
When moving or rebranding, update directories systematically. Start with major platforms, then work through smaller directories. Document each update to ensure none get missed.
Did you know? Businesses that maintain consistent listings across directories see 23% more customer engagement than those with inconsistent information, according to local SEO studies.
Be cautious with third-party listing services. Some create more problems than they solve by submitting your information to low-quality directories. Research any service thoroughly before granting access to your business information.
Register your business with primary data aggregators like Neustar Localeze, Factual, and Acxiom. These companies supply information to hundreds of smaller directories. Controlling your information at the source prevents downstream errors.
Train new employees about listing consistency. Marketing teams, customer service representatives, and even well-meaning owners sometimes create duplicate listings trying to increase visibility. Education prevents these good intentions from causing problems.
What if you discover someone intentionally creates false listings about your business? Document everything, file reports with the platforms, and consider legal action for serious cases. Malicious listing creation might constitute fraud or harassment.
Quality directories help maintain accurate information. Jasmine Web Directory and similar reputable platforms verify listings and provide tools for business owners to manage their information effectively.
Regular maintenance prevents future headaches. Set quarterly reminders to review your online presence. Update changed information immediately rather than letting errors accumulate. Think of it like maintaining your physical storefront – regular attention prevents major repairs.
Final Thought: Your online presence directly impacts your business success. Incorrect listings aren’t just annoying – they actively cost you customers and revenue. Take control today, and maintain that control through consistent monitoring and prevention strategies.
The digital world moves fast, but your business information should remain accurate and consistent. Start with the most problematic listings, work systematically through your removal list, and implement prevention strategies to avoid future issues. Your future customers will thank you for making it easy to find and contact your business.
Remember, cleaning up your online presence isn’t a one-time task. It requires ongoing attention and maintenance. But with the right approach and tools, you can maintain accurate listings that drive customers to your business rather than frustrating them with incorrect information.
