5 Most Common Local SEO Myths, Everyone Follows Blindly

You talk to different people engaged in SEO activities, and you will come across a number of things. Not all these things are true. Some are partially true while some are completely false.

Here is a list of some of the most common myths almost every SEO believes in.

1. You remove the listing from Google by deleting it from Google My Business

The most common approach people follow to get rid of duplicate listing on Google is to first claim it and then delete it from the Google My Business Dashboard. To your surprise, this is the not solution to get rid of duplicate listing. Deleting it from GMB is just making the listing unverified. Until you clear all the details before removing it, the listing will exist on Google Maps and get ranks.

2. If you don’t claim your business means you won’t get ranking

Have you also got call people saying that “You haven’t verified your business yet and it will be removed from Google unless you claim it?”

Actually, verification has nothing to do with rankings. The only reason, search engines, and other websites ask for verification is to encourage you to add more details to the listing. If you verify the business without making any change in the information, the ‘verified” tag won’t impact the rankings.

READ ALSO:  How Link Building Has Changed Over Last Decade?

3. Post on Google Plus to improve rankings

If you still believe that being active on Google+ can help you get better rankings, you are wrong. Posting on G+ has nothing to do with your rankings. People can see your Google+ posts only when they search your business by name.

4. You can separately work on “Maps SEO” from “Organic SEO”

There are many people who invest in organic SEO and local SEO separately. Often, they hire different search engine optimization companies to take the responsibility of local and organic SEO. But in reality, you cannot separate “Maps SEO” from organic SEO. Both of these have direct relation and minor change in the website can also affect your local ranks.

This is better to hire a digital marketing company that understands Google Maps and functionality of 3-pack. The benefit of working with such a company is that they will help you get better ranks both organically and locally.

READ ALSO: What is the Impact on Local Business Cards on Local SEO?

5. You need to mark all the old locations as closed when your business relocates

The GMB and Google MapMaker have different rules for this. Those favoring Google Map Maker will suggest you to make your business listing as “closed” when you relocate. It will show people a big red “permanently closed” label when they search for your business.

But if you have verified business through GMB, you just need to edit the address in the dashboard. Also, make sure that the unverified duplicate listing at the old address has been marked as “moved.”

Are these myths surprising for you? How many of these local SEO myths were you following? Please let us know through comments.