Tags: SEO Local Search


cancelling yextLocal businesses need help keeping their Name, Address, and Phone number (NAP) accurate across online directories. This give a better result when searchers are looking online to find local stores. Managing all those directories by hand takes hundreds of hours. So how do local businesses deal with that burden? We use a service like Yext Powerlistings which automatically sync's your NAP to online directories.

Recently I was asked about cancelling Yext. There is a lot of confusion online that the mismatched directory information would revert back to it's original state. The company says it just unlocks their software and the directories just revert back to their normal compilation, which cause things to get out of sync.

I found a good explanation of how Powerlistings works and it is the way that I described.  There isn't any sort of reverting back to a different state although there is a lot of misinformation out there.  I'm actually surprised that Yext doesn't address this head on and fix the understanding people have.

Here's a good explanation from a very recent post from Yext itself.  https://yextresellersupport.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/207088486-What-Happens-to-My-Clients-Listings-if-They-Cancel-Service-

They have a broken link to the image in the post but I found it here.  https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/a8/6d/a2/a86da2ddde145fbe5d536b4070e5e862.jpg

So to understand, Powerlistings doesn't remove or update the NAP data once the lock is removed.  It's just that the normal compilation process takes over and starts changing the directories.  So some people think that Yext did something bad to their listings.

The argument against using Powerlistings or any such service is that it hides potential issues with other citations.  An SEO purist might say you should manage those manually so that you can see the increased benefit of keeping up with the citations.  Well, you know how much work that is so I'll let you be the judge.

So the claim that once you cancel Yext your citations revert back seems false to me.  Especially if you think in terms of how a directory updates their database and what the system actually does.  It just keeps you from doing some of the things you have been doing which could cause problems if you ever cancel.

The real answer is still a little convoluted.  What we really need to know is what is the effect of using a system of syncing your NAP to online directories? Does it fix the underlying issues while forcing the NAP via the software? Or does it just revert back because the normal compilation takes over and nothing changes?

From our experience and data, the service does a better job of getting your NAP accurate online.  There are other advantages as well including the ability to add featured information in your profiles and the ability to upload your holiday hours or manage your specials and coupons.

When it comes to managing your local business reputation you can get a free report right now. Just fill in your business name, address, and phone to receive your report right now!

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References:

https://plus.google.com/+KathyLongSEO/posts/GNBvZPU24f5

http://katandmouse.com/local-search/yext/

http://www.wtcmarketing.com/blog/3-reasons-why-yext-might-not-be-right-for-you

http://twooctobers.com/2015/11/six-must-have-citations-2016/

 

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