Getting it right for Google

Like Alice, I feel like I’ve gone down a rabbit hole.

It started with an Internet search. Anyone who’s ever done an Internet search knows it can lead you right to your destination, or take you so far off track you don’t remember what you wanted in the first place.

Part of my job is digital. I set up social media for Hilltop Affiliates Inc. and keep it updated regularly. I set up Google+ pages for our facilities. I’ve optimized our listings in the obvious places. But I was floored by the number of websites out there with business information.

One leads to another -- to another. I found a list of a bunch. Then I found a list of a bunch more.

My current list stands at 45, and I know there are more. These are the easy ones.

Fortunately, we’ve not had our main phone number change. And generally, the business listings contain Hilltop in the name. But it’s my goal to get Hilltop Affiliates Inc. listed accurately in every place I can.

Most of the time, it’s just a matter of my time to claim a business and correct or add the appropriate information. There are a few that are linked to a paid-only option to correct content. I bristle at that, on principle, if nothing else.

So why bother with all of these websites when most people just Google or use the search bar in their favorite browser to search online?

Because they all are connected.

Google just doesn’t use Google to determine your placement in a Google or, apparently, even what information is shown. It also searches dozens of other sites to filter your information and determine what is most accurate about your business. If you don’t have updated information on every website, you might be confusing Google and hurting your business in the process.

Sometimes I wonder where the information came from originally. I see the same misspelling of Hilltop Ravenwood over and over. The website often is close but not quite right.

One downside to all of this is having to register with all of these websites to claim our listings. I started a spreadsheet to keep track of them. It’s easy to forget which ones I’ve worked on and which still need attention.

There are businesses that will do this for you. But they charge up to hundreds of dollars per month. I’m also hopeful that once I have them corrected, they’ll stay that way.

It does seem to be a never-ending process, though. Once I’m done with Hilltop Affiliates, I’ll start on Hilltop Home Care. And then it will be time for Hilltop Grand Village. My adventure down this particular rabbit hole will continue for the foreseeable future.