How often do you submit to local search/citation sites?

[ScottImageWorks]

I recently received a Network Solutions spam/offer email regarding their internet marketing packages.  One of the "benefits" they cited was that they submit your information to local search/citation sites once a month, to keep it up-to-date.

I don't know about you guys, but my clients' information isn't changing on a frequent basis.  I remember when it used to be a tactic to submit regularly to the same citation sites, but that seems like overkill now.  Does anyone still do this, or is NS just trying to make their product sound good?  Do we need to update citation sites frequently, or is it enough to update when there are actual changes to make?

[AWCthreads]

We've submitted our sites to the reputable local directories and update only as needed.

Looking through our backlink profile I've found our store on ooodles of local directories I have nothing to do with and never signed up for.

I'd direct the money elsewhere.

[MiriamEllis]

Hi Jess,

Good question! You should only need to actually submit a local business listing to a directory or index once. You do not need to resubmit it. That being said, some platforms offer the ability to update your listing on a regular basis with little posts (like a fully merged G+ Local page), giving the listings a social aspect somewhat like a blog or Twitter account. Additionally, some Local SEOs are fans of 'poking' the Google+ Local listing, which basically means logging in, not changing any of the information in the dashboard and hitting submit. There has been some evidence that this can help clear up certain buggy issues.

While I have no idea what the meaning is of the Network Solutions offer you received. I'd be tempted to call them to see what it is that they are actually offering. If it's automated resubmission of all your listings, this doesn't sound very valuable to me. It's not something I would recommend.

[Marcus_Miller]

Hey

This seems like a 'feature' and as it goes I would not want to submit my details in a highly automated fashion like this as duplicate listings on major citation sites can cause problems (duplicate automated Google+ listings) etc.

Audit the listings every so often but there is no need to update the basic Name, Address and Phone number if nothing has changed.

Hope that helps
Marcus

[EGOL]

One of the "benefits" they cited was that they submit your information to local search/citation sites once a month, to keep it up-to-date.

I was on the phone with them recently and they started offering this... and I am thinking... "OMG... Please!  NOOO!    Then they told me the price and I was relieved that they were not going to do it for my site.

Does anyone still do this, or is NS just trying to make their product sound good?

Now I wonder how much they know about domain registration and hosting. 

[MiriamEllis]

Hi Again, Jess,

Do you feel you've received a helpful answer here, or do you have other questions about this? I want to be sure you've been helped!

[ScottImageWorks]

Definitely helpful answers!

Everyone pretty much confirmed my suspicions.  We get a plethora of Network Solutions "offers," and my boss likes to investigate them to see if they're really offering anything valuable.  More often than not, they aren't. 

[MiriamEllis]

Good to know, Jess! I'll mark your question as 'answered'. Thanks to everyone on this thread for contributing such helpful answers.