What to look for in a Local Presence Management provider

Navigating the digital marketing landscape is a challenging task, especially when managing multiple businesses. A Local Presence Management (LPM) provider can significantly lighten this load. However, given the constant evolution of the local ecosystem, it’s crucial to ensure your provider is staying current. In this article we will cover the key services and capabilities you should look for in a reputable LPM provider.

Why is LPM so important?

On the look-out for a new LPM provider? Let’s first revisit why these services are so vital:

Local search visibility optimization: Citations are an integral part of local search marketing, but how they are used has changed over time. Logic has shifted now to focusing on having the right citations versus the volume game of the past. Having poor quality citations is now a negative ranking factor, meaning it will do harm to your presence and how you rank.

Brand and trust building: Businesses need a robust online footprint built on accurate data to establish themselves as a trusted brand. This footprint should include a comprehensive and complete Google Business Profile (GBP), active management of reviews, and quality citations.

Customer engagement: Responding to reviews and engaging with customers are emerging, yet highly important, aspects of listing management. However, reviews aren’t the only way to engage with customers. Businesses should utilize a customer engagement strategy that uses a variety methods and touch points.

Local ecosystem building: To reach the largest audience possible, businesses need to be found on search engines, premium directories, in-dash GPS systems, and other niche platforms.

Analytics and insights: Insights into customer engagement and behavior allows businesses to make informed decisions. These analytics need to be available at the enterprise level right down to the location level, to allow a business to get the full picture and be fully informed before making any decisions to change the strategy for success.

What should your LPM provider offer?

A local presence management partner’s capabilities are a significant consideration. Explore the key offerings you should expect from an LPM provider, including our own offering at ConvergenSEE:

1. Comprehensive data distribution

Listings management should include search engines, Apple Maps, car navigation systems, data aggregators, critical directories, and industry specific citations (if applicable).

2. Real-time updates and API integration

Inconsistent business data can harm search engine visibility as platforms like Google recognize the poor user experience it can provide. Real-time updates can solve data issues across an entire network of platforms. At ConvergenSEE, we leverage APIs to manage data, along with manual submissions where necessary. This ensures that even if an API fails or goes down, we can still submit and maintain the location data.

3. Advanced GBP services

Google Business Profile (GBP) signals are the most crucial local pack ranking factor. You should look for LPM providers that do more than simple GBP submissions. At ConvergenSEE our advanced services go beyond simply managing data. We provide businesses with a full-service platform where they can optimize critical listing features such as Google Questions & Answers (Q&A), Reviews, and more. We also provide an optimization assistant that analyzes listing data and makes recommendations that allows businesses to take full advantage of their GBP listing.

4. Reputation management services

As the trend of consumers consulting reviews prior to making purchases continues to rise, reputation management services, including review monitoring, become essential components and are also part of our offerings at ConvergenSEE. Not only do we monitor and respond to reviews, ConvergenSEE also assesses overall user sentiment across key platforms. This all-encompassing approach allows us to engage with audiences, address their concerns, and enhance their overall experience. We then utilize review analytics to analyze the data gathered from these interactions, providing valuable insights that further refine our reputation management strategies.

5. Scalable services

As your audience base grows and your business expand, you need a listing management partner that provides tools to help you scale. A robust, straightforward dashboard for monitoring and managing data is essential for adapting to growth effectively. At ConvergenSEE, our platform has 1.4 million locations and 200 brands under management. So, regardless of how big you are or how big you plan on getting, our platform can handle the volume as you expand.

Finding the right business listing management provider

ConvergenSEE is a leading provider of business listing management and citation-building services. When you need a comprehensive, hassle-free approach to LPM, we’re here to help. We offer responsive solutions that keep businesses ahead in this ever-evolving ecosystem. Speak with our team today to learn more about our offerings.