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All lessons in Local SEO Lesson 6.5 of 61

Module 1: Introduction to Local Search

  1. 1.1What is local search marketing?
  2. 1.2How does Google local search work?
  3. 1.3Google Search vs. Google Maps: what's the difference?
  4. 1.4How does Google determine local rankings?
  5. 1.5What is the local search customer journey?

Module 2: Google Business Profile

  1. 2.1How to set up a Google Business Profile
  2. 2.2How to verify a Google Business Profile
  3. 2.3How to choose the right business categories
  4. 2.4How to optimize business information and services
  5. 2.5How to add photos, videos, products, and updates
  6. 2.6How to manage multiple locations in Google Business Profile
  7. 2.7Service-area businesses vs. storefronts

Module 3: Local Keyword Research and Search Intent

  1. 3.1How to find local keywords
  2. 3.2City, neighborhood, and service-based keywords
  3. 3.3Understanding near me searches
  4. 3.4Transactional vs. informational local intent
  5. 3.5How to research local competitors and keywords
  6. 3.6How to map keywords to locations and services

Module 4: Local Landing Pages and Website Optimization

  1. 4.1How to create location landing pages
  2. 4.2How to optimize local service pages
  3. 4.3How to write location-relevant titles and content
  4. 4.4How to build location and service page architecture
  5. 4.5How to avoid duplicate and thin location pages
  6. 4.6Local business schema and structured data
  7. 4.7How to keep your website and Business Profile consistent

Module 5: Reviews and Reputation Management

  1. 5.1Why do reviews matter for local businesses?
  2. 5.2How to build a customer review generation process
  3. 5.3How to respond to positive and negative reviews
  4. 5.4How to handle fake or policy-violating reviews
  5. 5.5Review policies and ethical reputation management
  6. 5.6How to monitor review trends and customer sentiment

Module 6: Local Citations and Business Listings

  1. 6.1What are local citations?
  2. 6.2Name, address, and phone number consistency
  3. 6.3How to find relevant business directories
  4. 6.4How to create and update business listings
  5. 6.5How to identify duplicate and incorrect listings
  6. 6.6Industry-specific and local directory opportunities

Module 7: Local Authority and Competitive Visibility

  1. 7.1How to analyze local search competitors
  2. 7.2How to earn local links through community partnerships
  3. 7.3Local sponsorships, organizations, and media
  4. 7.4How to build local brand recognition
  5. 7.5How to evaluate competitor reviews and business profiles
  6. 7.6How to identify local visibility gaps

Module 8: Local Search Tracking and Reporting

  1. 8.1How to track local rankings across geographic areas
  2. 8.2Understanding Google Business Profile performance
  3. 8.3How to measure calls, website visits, and direction requests
  4. 8.4How to track local leads and conversions
  5. 8.5How to use Google Search Console and Analytics for local SEO
  6. 8.6How to create local search performance reports

Module 9: Local Search Strategy by Business Type

  1. 9.1Local search for restaurants and retail stores
  2. 9.2Local search for service-area businesses
  3. 9.3Local search for professional services
  4. 9.4Local search for healthcare and other regulated industries
  5. 9.5Local search for multi-location businesses
  6. 9.6Local search for new and small businesses

Module 10: Local Search Audits and Practical Projects

  1. 10.1How to conduct a local search audit
  2. 10.2How to audit a Google Business Profile
  3. 10.3How to check local landing pages and citations
  4. 10.4How to evaluate reviews and competitor visibility
  5. 10.5How to build a prioritized local search action plan
  6. 10.6How to create a 30-day local search improvement plan

How to identify duplicate and incorrect listings

What we will go through

  • Why duplicates and wrong listings happen
  • How to find them
  • How to fix duplicates on Google
  • How to fix wrong directory data

Short answer

Duplicate and incorrect listings happen when a business is added more than once, moves, or changes details without updating old listings. Find them by searching your name, old addresses, and old phone numbers on Google Maps and directories. Report duplicates on Google Maps, fix wrong details on each platform, and record every fix in your citation tracker.

Why they happen

  • Customers or staff added the business to Maps more than once.
  • The business moved, and the old listing stayed.
  • A previous owner or agency created listings with different details.
  • A rebrand left the old name active.

How to find them

Search these on Google Maps and Google Search:

  • your business name, plus variations
  • your old address
  • your old and current phone numbers
  • your street address with no name

Also check Apple Maps, Bing, Facebook, and your top directories.

Fix duplicates on Google

If you find a duplicate listing:

  1. Open it on Google Maps.
  2. Tap Suggest an edit.
  3. Choose that the place is a duplicate, or closed, or does not exist.

If you can access the duplicate, request access and handle it from the dashboard. If the business moved, update the address on the main profile rather than keeping two.

Practitioner listings

Clinics and law firms may have practitioner listings for each doctor or lawyer. These can be allowed, but keep them accurate. If a professional left, ask Google to update or close the listing.

Fix wrong directory data

For each incorrect listing, log in and update it, or contact the directory’s support. Mark old locations permanently closed instead of deleting, where that option exists.

Log every fix in your citation tracker.

Try it

Sort each problem.

Is this a duplicate or incorrect details?

  • Two Google listings for one bakery at the same address

  • A directory with last year's phone number

  • A second Maps pin created by a customer for your shop

  • Facebook Page showing old opening hours

Quick quiz

1. Which search helps find old listings?
2. How do you report a Google Maps duplicate?
3. What should you do with an old location?

Common mistakes

  • Only searching your current name. Old details hide old listings.
  • Creating a new profile after moving. Update the address instead.
  • Not logging fixes. You will forget what was done.

Your action

Hunt for duplicates and wrong listings for your chosen business. Your progress saves on this device.

Key terms

Duplicate listing
A second listing for the same business at the same location.
Incorrect listing
A listing with wrong name, address, phone, or hours.
Suggest an edit
The Google Maps option to report wrong details or duplicates.
Permanently closed
A status for businesses that no longer operate.
Practitioner listing
A listing for an individual professional, like a doctor at a clinic.

Questions beginners ask

Can duplicates hurt my rankings?

They can split reviews and confuse Google about which listing is real.

Can I merge two Google listings?

You can report a duplicate. Google may merge or remove it. Reviews do not always transfer.

What if the duplicate is verified by someone else?

Request access to it, then mark it as a duplicate or ask support for help.

Related lessons

Want someone to handle SEO for your business while you learn? The team at Remar Digital can help.