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You could have the best reviews and the prettiest site — but if your listings are inconsistent, Google might never show you.

Local SEO isn’t dead — it’s just more demanding.

And here’s the kicker: most small businesses are unintentionally sabotaging their own visibility.

Your business might look great on your website, but if Google finds a different phone number on Yelp… or your hours don’t match between Facebook and Apple Maps… you’re done. Out of the local pack. Off the map.

What’s Changed in Local SEO (And Why NAP Consistency Now Rules)

Back in the day, a few 5-star reviews and your website were enough to earn you local traffic.

Today? Not even close.

Google — and your customers — now expect your business info to be 100% accurate everywhere. That means your name, address, and phone number (NAP) must match across:

• Google Business Profile
• Yelp
• Facebook
• Apple Maps
• Bing
• Yellow Pages
• And dozens of other directory sites

Why does this matter?

Because Google cross-references this info behind the scenes. If it sees mismatched data, it assumes something’s off — and down you go in the rankings.

But it’s not just the algorithm. People notice, too.

Research from 

Yext’s 2024 study

 shows:

This is no longer about branding polish.

This is about basic business survival in local search.

Your Listings Are Lying

Ever Googled your business and found three different phone numbers?

Or noticed one site says you’re open until 6… but another says 5?

That’s not just annoying — it’s actively costing you traffic and trust.

Common symptoms of NAP inconsistency:

• One platform says you’re open Sundays — another says you’re closed
• Yelp lists your old office address from two years ago
• A directory still has your personal cell number (yikes)
• Your business category is listed wrong — or not at all

Each of these seems small. But together? They break your visibility.

“Google assumes incorrect = untrustworthy. Customers do too.”

Here’s what happens:

• You drop out of the local map pack
• People bounce before clicking
• You lose reviews, reputation, and leads

And the worst part? You may not even realize it’s happening.

Fix It Fast:

Use a trusted tool like Yext to correct and lock your listings across 80+ directories — from Google to Bing to industry-specific sites. It centralizes your data and keeps it synced, even if directories update their formats.

Build Local Trust with Clean Data (Your Soar Visibility Stack™)

Local SEO isn’t just about being visible — it’s about being consistently trusted.

The fastest way to win both? Clean, consistent business data across the web.

That’s why the first layer of the Soar Visibility Stack™ is called Presence — and here’s what it includes:

Presence: The Foundation of Local Visibility

Bonus Power Move:

Link your listings to fast-loading, structured pages with schema markup — this signals to Google’s AI that you’re not just active, you’re legit.

That’s how you beat competitors without outspending them.

And yes — using a centralized system like Yext or the local SEO tools inside Soar Portal can save hours of spreadsheet headaches.