Semrush Listing Management Tool: The Complete, No-Fluff Guide for Local Businesses

Accurate, consistent business listings can be the difference between a customer showing up at your door or ending up at your competitor’s. Semrush Listing Management Tool promises to keep your name, address, phone number (NAP), and other vital details in sync across dozens of directories. In this guide, we’ll explore exactly how the tool works, where it shines, where it falls short, and—most importantly—how you can put it to work for your own local SEO.

“Your online listings aren’t just digital business cards—they’re the GPS your customers rely on to find you.”

Why Local Listings Still Matter in 2024

Over the past decade, Google’s local algorithm has grown up. Yet one thing hasn’t changed: it still checks trusted directories to confirm your business information. Inconsistent data can confuse not only search engines but also customers—and confusion rarely converts.

What the Data Says

• A 2023 BrightLocal survey found that 68% of consumers would stop considering a business if they discovered inaccurate contact details.
• Moz’s Local Search Ranking Factors study continues to list “Consistency of citations” in the top five local pack ranking signals.

Real-World Example

When I ran a small coworking space in Austin, I once forgot to update our holiday hours on Yelp. Three frustrated freelancers showed up on July 4th to a locked door. One negative review later, I learned my lesson: scattered listings create real-world friction.

A Quick Tour of Semrush’s Listing Management Tool

Semrush partnered with Yext to offer citation management inside the familiar Semrush interface. The tool:

• Scans 70+ directories (Google Business Profile, Apple Maps, Yelp, Bing Places, Facebook, Foursquare, Waze, and industry-specific sites).
• Allows one-click bulk updates of NAP, hours, and categories.
• Tracks “Listing Health” (percentage of directories that display complete, consistent data).
• Monitors local rankings for up to five target keywords within a chosen city or ZIP code.
• Pulls in reviews from Google and Facebook so you can respond directly.

Note: Exact directory count varies by country. Semrush publicly lists 70+ for the U.S., fewer for EU markets. Check their directory list here: https://www.semrush.com/local-listings/

Setting Things Up: Step-by-Step Walk-Through

The initial configuration takes about 10 minutes. The longest part is gathering your correct NAP information and high-resolution logo.

1. Start the Listing Scan

1. Inside Semrush, navigate to Local SEO → Listing Management.
2. Enter your business name and address. Semrush will try to match your Google Business Profile (GBP) automatically.

2. Review Scan Results

• You’ll see a color-coded table:
  • Green: accurate listings
  • Orange: missing information
  • Red: conflicting data

3. Choose a Plan

• Basic ($20/Mo per location) – pushes data to directories, includes Health score.
• Premium ($40/Mo per location) – adds review management, local heatmap, and AI-powered suggestions.

4. Submit Core Data

Fill out:

• Legal business name (exactly as registered)
• Full street address (avoid PO Boxes)
• Primary phone number (local number preferred)
• Business categories (main + secondary)
• Hours (including holidays)
• Website URL and social profiles

5. Upload Rich Media

• Logo (square)
• Cover photo (horizontal)
• Additional photos or menu PDFs (if restaurant)

6. Hit “Distribute”

Semrush / Yext pushes data out. Some sites update within minutes; others (e.g., YellowPages) can take 2–3 weeks.

Pro tip: Bookmark a reminder to re-scan after 30 days to verify updates stuck. Directories sometimes overwrite data during bulk migrations.

Digging Into the Dashboard: Key Metrics & What They Mean

Listing Health Score

A weighted percentage reflecting:

• Presence (are you listed?)
• Accuracy (do NAP fields match?)
• Completeness (photos, hours, categories)

Aim for 85% or higher. Anything below 70% often signals NAP conflicts.

Distribution Status

• Published
• Processing
• Not Synced (usually due to directory requiring manual verification)

Local Rankings

Semrush plots your position in Google’s Local Pack and organic results for up to five keywords. Handy for spotting quick wins—like adding a service area or secondary category—without paying for a separate rank-tracking tool.

Review Feed

If you’re on the Premium tier, incoming Google and Facebook reviews appear here. You can sort by rating, date, or keywords (“parking,” “wait time,” etc.) and respond without leaving Semrush.

Advanced Features You Might Overlook

Voice Search Readiness

Semrush tags directories used by Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant. Ensuring those stay accurate prevents the dreaded “Sorry, I can’t find that business” response.

Duplicate Suppression

The tool identifies duplicate citations and, where possible, suppresses or merges them. For stubborn duplicates, Semrush provides a pre-formatted email template you can send to directory support.

Local Heatmap (Premium)

Visualizes ranking positions across a grid of geo-coordinates around your location. Great for multi-location chains assessing neighborhood-level visibility.

Suggested Edits

AI analyzes competitor listings and suggests:

• Additional categories you should consider
• Missing attributes (e.g., “wheelchair accessible,” “pet friendly”)

Tips for Getting the Most Value

1. Keep Your GBP as the Single Source of TruthGoogle feeds data to many secondary platforms. Update GBP first, then hit “Sync” in Semrush the following day to avoid overwrite conflicts.
2. Schedule Seasonal Hour Updates EarlySome directories cache data. Upload holiday hours at least two weeks before major dates.
3. Use UTM Parameters in the Website URL FieldExample: https://example.com/?utm_source=directory&utm_medium=listing&utm_campaign=local This lets you track actual traffic from listings inside Google Analytics.
4. Monitor Suggested Reviews KeywordsRepeating phrases in 3-star reviews often highlight operational issues (e.g., “slow checkout”). Fixing these can boost offline satisfaction and future review scores.
5. Export Quarterly Reports for StakeholdersI email a PDF of the Listing Health Score and ranking trends to our store managers. Visuals help non-SEO folks grasp why consistent data matters.

Pricing, Plans, and Potential Limitations

Potential limitations:

• International coverage: Directory count drops outside the U.S./Canada.
• Industries with strict regulations (e.g., cannabis) may not be accepted by all directories.
• No integration with TripAdvisor reviews, so hospitality brands might need a second tool.

How Semrush Compares to Other Listing Solutions

If you already pay for SEMrush’s SEO toolkit, the Listing Management add-on offers a unified dashboard. If listings are your only local need, Moz Local might be more economical.

Conclusion & Next Steps

Consistent local listings remain a foundational—but often neglected—pillar of local SEO. SEMrush’s Listing Management Tool brings citation building, review monitoring, and local rank tracking under one roof, which saves time and reduces human error.

Ready to try it?

1. Run the free scan to spot mismatches.
2. Gather your correct NAP, hours, photos, and categories.
3. Decide between Basic and Premium based on your review volume and budget.