Listings

Related docs: Reviews | Presence Analytics

Quick Start Checklist

Get your listings live in 5 essential steps:

1. Add your basic information - Business name, address, phone number, and website
2. Set your operating hours - When customers can visit or contact you
3. Choose your categories - Help customers find you in search results
4. Connect Google and Facebook - Link your primary directory accounts
5. Upload your logo - Add your branding to make listings recognizable

Once these are complete, your information automatically syncs to 50+ directories. You can then enhance your listings with photos, services, attributes, and more.

What are Online Listings?

Online listings are your business profiles on search engines and social media platforms. They display:

• Business name and contact information
• Address and operating hours
• Photos and branding
• Customer reviews and ratings
• Services and features you offer

When customers search for businesses like yours, these listings help them find and contact you.

Why Online Listings Matter

Strong online listings help you:

• Get discovered - Appear in local search results
• Build trust - Show accurate, complete information
• Drive traffic - Help customers find your location
• Increase engagement - Enable calls, directions, and website visits
• Manage presence - Monitor and respond to reviews

Connecting Your Directories

Paydough integrates with 50+ online directories to manage your listings. These include:

• Major Search & Maps: Google, Apple Maps, Bing, Waze
• Voice Search: Google Assistant, Siri, Alexa, Cortana
• Navigation Apps: Google Maps, Waze, TomTom, Uber, and more
• Social Media: Facebook, Foursquare, Nextdoor
• General Directories: MapQuest, Yelp, Hotfrog, Manta, and many more
• Automotive: Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Ford, Toyota, and other in-car systems

How it works: Google and Facebook require you to connect your accounts directly. Once connected, Paydough automatically syncs your information to these and 50+ other directories—no additional setup needed.

Connecting Google

1. Navigate to your location settings
2. Click "Connect Google"
3. Sign in to your Google account
4. Select your Google Business Profile
5. Grant Paydough access
6. Your listing syncs automatically

Connecting Facebook

1. Navigate to your location settings
2. Click "Connect Facebook"
3. Sign in to your Facebook account
4. Select your Facebook Business Page
5. Grant Paydough access
6. Your listing syncs automatically

Once connected, Paydough automatically syncs your information to these directories.

Listing Information

Manage all your listing details in one place:

Basic Information

Core details that appear on your listings:

• Business Name: How customers find you
• Address: Your physical location (with option to show/hide on listings)
• Phone Number: Primary contact number for customer calls
• Mobile/Cellphone: Secondary mobile contact number
• Website: Link to your site
• Email: For customer inquiries
• Logo: Your business logo (uploaded once, synced everywhere)
• Description: Short description (up to 200 characters) and long description (up to 1,000 characters)

Update these once in Paydough, and changes sync to all connected directories.

Operating Hours

Show customers when you're open:

• Set hours for each day of the week
• Support for split hours (e.g., close for lunch: 9am-12pm, 2pm-6pm)
• Mark days as closed
• Update for holidays or special events

Accurate hours prevent customer frustration and missed opportunities.

Categories

Help customers understand your business:

• Search and browse from a comprehensive category database
• Primary category (e.g., "Restaurant", "Hair Salon", "Auto Repair")
• Add multiple categories for more visibility
• Categories determine which attributes and services are available
• Search results show relevant businesses based on categories

Choose categories that accurately describe your business. The available attributes and services you can configure will vary based on your selected categories and country.

Attributes

Highlight features customers care about. Available attributes depend on your business category and may include:

• Accessibility - Wheelchair accessible entrance, parking, and restrooms
• Amenities - Wi-Fi, restrooms, outdoor seating
• Service Options - Takeout, delivery, dine-in, reservations
• Payment Methods - Credit cards, cash, contactless payments
• Special Features - LGBTQ-friendly, women-led, veteran-owned

Attributes help customers filter search results to find businesses that meet their needs. Select all attributes that apply to your business to improve visibility and attract the right customers.

Services

List specific services you offer:

• Service name and description
• Syncs with Google Business Profile services
• Helps customers understand what you provide
• Improves search visibility for specific services
• Available services vary by business category and country

Example: A hair salon might list "Haircuts", "Color Services", "Styling", "Extensions"

Photos

Visual content makes listings more engaging:

• Logo: Your brand identity (standard format)
• Squared Logo: Alternative square format for certain platforms
• Google Cover Photo: Featured landscape image for Google Business Profile
• Facebook Cover Photo: Featured landscape image for Facebook Business Page

Upload photos once, and they automatically sync to the appropriate directories. High-quality photos increase customer engagement and trust.

Keywords

Improve search visibility:

• Relevant terms customers might search for
• Describe your business, services, or specialties
• Help search engines understand your offerings

Choose specific, descriptive keywords over generic terms.

Social Media Profiles

Connect your social media presence:

• Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter
• YouTube, Pinterest, Foursquare, Xing
• Links appear on your directory listings
• Helps customers connect with you on their preferred platforms

Listing Status

Track the health of your listings:

Status Types

Each directory shows a status:

• Synced: Information is live and up-to-date
• Submitted: Changes submitted, awaiting directory approval
• Updating: Sync in progress
• Action Required: Issues need your attention
• Linked: Connected but not yet fully synced

Action Required

When listings need attention, you'll see specific actions:

• Connect: Link your account to the directory
• Verify: Confirm you own the business
• Claim: Claim an existing listing
• Add Mandatory Fields: Complete required information
• Access: Grant necessary permissions

Complete these actions to activate your listings.

Mandatory Fields

Each directory requires certain information:

• Missing fields prevent listing activation
• Paydough shows which fields are required
• Complete all mandatory fields to go live

Listing Management

Updating Information

Make changes in one place:

1. Update location information in Paydough
2. Changes automatically sync to connected directories
3. Monitor sync status to confirm updates are live
4. No need to log into multiple platforms

This saves time and ensures consistency across all 50+ directories.

Adding Photos

Upload and manage visual content:

1. Navigate to location images
2. Choose image type:
   • Logo (square for best results)
   • Cover photo for Google
   • Cover photo for Facebook
3. Upload high-quality images
4. Images sync to appropriate directories

Configuring Services

Showcase what you offer:

1. Navigate to listing settings
2. Add services with descriptions
3. Services appear on directory listings
4. Update as your offerings change

Setting Attributes

Highlight business features:

1. View available attributes for your category
2. Select attributes that apply (yes/no, single choice, or multiple choice)
3. Attributes appear on listings
4. Customers can filter search by attributes

Available attributes are specific to your business category and country.

Listing Analytics

Monitor listing performance:

Listing Overview

Track status across all directories:

• Total listings (typically around 50+ directories)
• Synced listings (active and accurate)
• Submitted listings (awaiting approval)
• Listings updating
• Listings requiring action

Your dashboard shows the status of each individual directory, organized by category (Search, Navigation, Voice Search, Social, Automotive, etc.). Quickly identify which listings need attention.

Visibility Metrics

Understand customer engagement:

• Visibility Index: Overall listing quality score (0-100%)
• Impressions: How often your listing appears in search (desktop and mobile)
• Views: How many people view your profile
• Clicks: Website clicks, phone calls, direction requests
• Photos Viewed: Engagement with your images

Best Practices

Keep Information Current: Update listings when things change (hours, contact info, services).

Complete Your Profile: Fill out all available fields - complete profiles rank better in search.

Use Quality Photos: Use professional, high-resolution images that showcase your location and services.

Choose Accurate Categories: Select the most specific categories to reach the right customers.

Monitor Health: Check sync status weekly and address action items promptly.

Multi-Location Listings

Managing multiple locations:

Separate Listings

Each location has its own listings:

• Individual Google Business Profiles
• Separate Facebook Pages
• Location-specific information and photos

Consistent Branding

Maintain consistency across locations:

• Use similar photos and branding
• Standardize service descriptions
• Keep category selections aligned
• Coordinate updates across locations

Centralized Management

Manage all location listings from Paydough:

• View all listings in one dashboard
• Update multiple locations efficiently
• Track status across your network
• Identify which locations need attention

Listing Completeness

Complete profiles rank better in search results and attract more customers. Paydough shows you exactly what information is missing and tracks your progress with a Visibility Index score.

Required Information

Must-have fields to activate your listings:

• Business address
• Phone number
• Categories

Recommended Information

Additional fields that improve your visibility and search ranking:

• Google and Facebook connections
• Short business description (up to 200 characters)
• Operating hours
• Logo and photos
• Services and attributes

Track your progress: Your Visibility Index (0-100%) shows how complete your listing is. The more information you provide, the easier it is for customers to find and choose your business. See Presence Analytics for detailed scoring and recommendations.

Ongoing Management

Regular Maintenance: Review and update your listings monthly to keep information current.

Monitor Performance: Track listing metrics in Presence Analytics.

Respond to Customers: Engage with reviews and questions (see Reviews).