Big Mistake, Google. Big. Huge!

"My business is not closed! Do you hear me, Google Maps?!"

Yes, the title of this blog post is a Pretty Woman reference – I hope at least one person out there got it!

I just read an article about Google listing businesses that are actually open as CLOSED on Google Maps due to spam. Since users can make updates to business listings, they can incorrectly list a business as permanently closed, costing that business countless lost customers and profit. I don’t think I know anyone, (except maybe my Grandma) who doesn’t use Google Maps. Can you imagine the consequences if hundreds or thousands of people were searching for your business on a weekly basis only to have a supposedly trusted listing telling them it’s (incorrectly) closed?

This brings up a good discussion for business owners. Do you regularly ‘Google’ your business’ name? Do you check Google Maps to ensure your company’s info is accurate? Do you check review sites like Yelp to find out what people are saying about you?

Being proactive about your business can help you maintain a positive reputation for your company, help you retain customers, and help you find errors (like a closed listing on Google Maps) before they can spell disastrous results for your business.

Here's that article in full: Google Maps Spam Erroneously 'Closes' Open Businesses

What do you do to ensure your business is correctly listed on the web and how do you maintain your business’ reputation with so many review and social media sites out there?

And if you're interested in increasing your visibility amongst search engines, Voice of North America can help. Voice of North America lets you post blogs about any topic you want, getting you quality link backs from relevant content.