Fix inconsistent business details online

Conflicting business details create real customer problems: calls reach an old number, visitors arrive outside current hours, and staff waste time explaining which listing is correct. Fix the customer risk first; search consistency is a useful secondary benefit.

Create one canonical business record

Write the approved version of the details your team should publish. Store it somewhere staff can find before creating a profile, event or campaign.

• public business name and any necessary trading-name explanation;
• street address, service area or appointment-only status;
• primary phone, email and website;
• regular hours plus the owner of holiday-hour updates;
• booking, accessibility and arrival information customers often need.

Find the sources that matter

Search the current business name, former names, old phone numbers and previous addresses. Check your website, Google Business Profile, Find What's On profile, social accounts, booking platforms and directories that appear prominently or send real customers.

Record each result as correct, outdated, duplicate or irrelevant. Include the URL, login/support route, requested change, owner and date checked. This incorporates the useful work from the former local citation-cleanup guide without asking the team to maintain two overlapping processes.

Correct in priority order

1. Fix the website or system your team treats as the source of truth.
2. Update high-visibility profiles and booking destinations.
3. Correct directories that rank for the business name or generate enquiries.
4. Request duplicate removal through the platform's official process.
5. Recheck each priority source after the normal publishing delay.

Prevent the next mismatch

Assign one person to update the canonical record when hours, contacts or locations change. Add a quarterly check and an extra review before public holidays, relocations and major campaigns. Avoid paying for mass directory submissions until you know which sources customers use.

If you already manage a Find What's On business, compare the canonical record with your business profile settings. The checklist is still useful if you use no FWO tools.