How to Do Business Listing in SEO: Practical Guide

How to do business listing in SEO starts with treating your business record like a local asset, not a one-time signup. A clean, verified, optimized listing can improve local visibility, drive referral traffic, and support link-building through citations, partner pages, and local discovery.

Think of business listings as the local yellow pages entries for search engines. When your NAP—Name, Address, Phone—is consistent across the web, search engines and users can trust your business data more easily. That trust helps with Local Pack visibility, map results, and conversions from people ready to call, visit, or book.

For broader link-building strategies that complement business listings, see our SEO Links Guide and Training for Link Building Best Practices.

Why business listings matter for SEO and link building

Business listings matter because they create structured visibility across Google Business Profile, Bing Places, Apple Maps, Yelp, Yellow Pages, and local citation directories. They are not the same as editorial backlinks, but they help search engines confirm your entity, location, and service area. That makes them an operational foundation for local SEO, especially when your site depends on map pack rankings, calls, directions, and branded search trust.

Citation means a mention of your business name, address, and phone number on another site, usually without a standard editorial link. Citations can still have SEO value even when they are nofollow, because they improve consistency and discoverability. Editorial links, by contrast, pass more direct link equity and often influence broader organic authority.

According to a 2024 Google support article, business profile verification and accurate information are core requirements for showing and managing a profile properly. According to a 2023 Whitespark local citation study, citation consistency remains a meaningful factor in local visibility and trust. According to a 2025 BrightLocal local consumer review report, review quality and volume still shape consumer choice and click behavior in local search.

• Local Pack visibility: listings help your business compete in map results where users are already close to action.
• Referral traffic: directory pages can send visitors directly to your website or call button.
• Ranking support: consistent citations and reviews reinforce local ranking factors.
• Link-building support: listings open doors to partner pages, sponsorship pages, and local resource mentions.

Use this article as an operations playbook. Listings alone do not guarantee higher organic rankings, and they do not replace content, links, or technical SEO. But they do strengthen local entity clarity and can improve the efficiency of your off-page work when managed correctly. For context on ranking signals, see what is search engine ranking: SEO guide and requirements and SEO Factors Guide: Technical, On-Page and Off-Page Requirements.

Local SEO also depends on operational discipline. If your location pages are tied to your listing URLs, align them with Content Management System SEO Guide to On-Page Optimization so listing traffic converts cleanly.

Quick pre-check: audit your current listings (step-by-step)

Before you claim or optimize anything, run a citation audit. The goal is to find duplicates, mismatches, outdated phone numbers, wrong categories, and unclaimed profiles. This step prevents wasted effort because fixing the wrong record can create more confusion than starting fresh.

1. Search your business name in Google, Bing, and Maps. Note every profile, directory entry, and “suggest an edit” result.
2. Capture your exact NAP from the website footer, contact page, and legal documents. This becomes your source of truth.
3. List your top citation sources from Yelp, Bing Places, Apple Maps, Yellow Pages, Facebook, and local chamber pages.
4. Check for duplicate listings in Google Business Profile, Bing Places, Yelp, Apple Maps, and industry directories.
5. Compare category, hours, website URL, and service area across each listing. Flag every mismatch.
6. Audit reviews for spam patterns, old locations, or profiles that have merged incorrectly.
7. Export everything to a spreadsheet with columns for source, login owner, status, NAP match, duplicate risk, and priority.
8. Set a correction order: primary listings first, then aggregators, then secondary directories.

Do not fix every source in random order. Start with the listings that feed the most visibility and trust—Google Business Profile, Bing Places, Apple Maps, and the major data aggregators. Then move outward to secondary citations and niche directories.

If you serve multiple countries, align listings with Modern International SEO Methods Guide for Website Optimization. If you’re new to the process, review SEO 101 Guide: Online course in search engine optimization basics and Simple SEO Tools: Online Guide to Practical Site Optimization before scaling your audit.

Audit output you need:

• A master listing inventory
• A duplicate list with URLs and screenshots
• A NAP discrepancy report
• A category and service-area mapping sheet
• A review risk log
• A priority queue for corrections

Tools and outputs to use (BrightLocal, Moz Local, Google Search Console)

• BrightLocal — automated scan, citation tracker, CSV export, and duplicate detection workflow. Use it to audit local visibility and source lists.
• Moz Local — useful for automated scan, listing sync, and citation monitoring across directories.
• Google Search Console — check branded search clicks, listing landing page queries, and URL performance after profile updates.
• CSV export — standardize the findings so you can assign correction tasks and track status changes.
• API — helpful if you manage many locations or want to sync with a CRM or feed-management workflow.

Tool pages worth reviewing: BrightLocal, Moz Local, and Google Business Profile.

How to claim and verify the most important listings (platform-by-platform SOP)

The highest-value listing work begins with claim and verification. Verification proves you control the business record, and that control lets you correct categories, hours, photos, service areas, and URLs. If verification is blocked, your optimization work is limited, so do this early.

Verification methods vary by platform and can include postcard, phone, email, video, domain verification, and in some cases live support. Always use the official help flow for the platform you are claiming, and never try to force a mismatch between the public business data and the verification data.

According to a 2024 Google Business Profile Help article, verification options depend on the business type, location, and eligibility. According to Bing Places documentation, business owners can claim or import listings using their Microsoft account and verify ownership through platform prompts. Apple Maps Connect also requires a verified Apple ID and business info confirmation.

For new operators, Manual SEO guide for beginners with step-by-step training is a good companion when you are learning the claim-and-verify sequence.

Google Business Profile — exact step sequence

1. Sign in to the Google account that should own the listing.
2. Search the business name in Google or open Google Business Profile and click to manage the profile.
3. If the profile already exists, click Claim this business or Own this business?
4. Confirm the business name, address, category, phone, and website.
5. Select the right primary category before you do anything else.
6. Set your service area only if you serve customers off-site.
7. Choose the verification method offered: postcard, phone, email, video, or domain verification.
8. Enter the verification code or complete the live verification steps exactly as instructed.
9. Once verified, review hours, website, services, appointment links, and photos.
10. Document the login, owner email, and verification date in your master sheet.

Note box: verification options

• Postcard: common when the profile needs address confirmation.
• Phone or email: faster when Google considers the profile eligible.
• Video: may be used to confirm location, equipment, signage, or service access.
• Domain verification: sometimes used for organizations with matching web properties.

Warning: Do not stuff keywords into your business name. If your legal or branded name is “Smith Dental,” do not change it to “Smith Dental Best Emergency Dentist Chicago.” That can trigger edits, suspensions, or trust loss.

When your profile is live, use the same brand name, address format, and phone format everywhere. If your website has a location landing page, keep the page text aligned with the profile. If the page is WordPress-based, see Step by Step SEO for WordPress Guide and Best Practices and Search Engine Friendly Website Guide: SEO Compliance Tips.

Bing Places, Apple Maps, Yelp — streamlined SOPs

Bing Places: Sign in with Microsoft, claim or import the business, and resolve duplicates before publishing. Bing’s dashboard is usually simpler than Google’s, but NAP errors still matter. Check category alignment and import accuracy.

Apple Maps Connect: Use your Apple ID, claim the location, and confirm the business info. Apple can be especially useful for iPhone users, so make sure the address pin and hours are correct.

Yelp: Search the listing, claim ownership, verify the account, and review duplicate suggestions. Yelp content rules are strict, so keep descriptions plain and accurate. Do not add promotional claims that violate guidelines.

If you are using a platform demo workflow, pair your claim process with Search Engine Optimization Application Demo Guide for Platforms.

Optimize your listing for search and conversions (fields that matter)

Once your profile is claimed, optimize the fields that influence discovery and conversion. The most important ones are primary category, secondary categories, business description, services, hours, appointment link, photos, and attributes. If the profile is accurate but generic, it will underperform in local search and user action.

If you control listed landing pages through a CMS, follow the on-page rules in Content Management System SEO Guide to On-Page Optimization to ensure listing traffic converts. Also use Keyword Optimization Techniques Guide for SEO Professionals and SEO location keywords guide for local ranking and requirements when mapping service and location terms.

• Primary category: choose the most precise category that matches your core business, not the broadest one.
• Secondary categories: use only relevant categories that reflect actual services.
• Business description: write for users first, then include natural local and service terms.
• Hours: keep them current, including holiday hours and special closures.
• Appointment link: send users to a clean, fast, mobile-friendly page.
• Photos: add a logo, cover photo, location image, team images, and service examples.
• Services/products: list what customers actually buy, not vague marketing phrases.
• Attributes: add accessibility, payment, delivery, or women-led/owned attributes only if true.

Best-practice example: “Emergency plumbing repair in Austin for homes, small offices, and rental properties. Same-day service available. Request a quote or book online.” That is specific, natural, and conversion-oriented.

Five sample listing copy snippets

• “Family-owned HVAC service in Phoenix with same-day appointments and financing options.”
• “Downtown Seattle massage therapy clinic offering sports recovery and prenatal care.”
• “Licensed CPA firm serving small businesses in Atlanta with tax prep and advisory support.”
• “24/7 towing and roadside assistance in Dallas-Fort Worth with live dispatch.”
• “Orthopedic shoe store in Orlando specializing in comfort fittings and custom inserts.”

Writing optimized business descriptions and services

Use natural language and reflect search intent. Put the business type, city, and signature services into a clean sentence or two. Do not force exact-match keywords into every line. Search engines are looking for entity clarity, not spam.

Do: describe what you sell, where you serve, and what the user should do next.
Do not: repeat the city name ten times, add fake services, or copy-paste the same text across every directory.

For writing support, pair this with How to Write SEO Copy: Complete Guide and Training for Marketers, SEO Friendly Text Guide: Requirements and Best Practices, and Strong Keywords Guide for Link Building Strategy and SEO.

Photos, attributes and posts — visual & engagement tips

• Use a clean cover photo and a logo with enough whitespace to read well on mobile.
• Add real location photos, not stock imagery.
• Show products, team members, waiting areas, equipment, or finished work.
• Use virtual tour assets if the platform supports them.
• Publish Google Posts for promotions, events, FAQs, and service updates.

If you add video, make sure it is relevant and short. For video metadata and publishing discipline, review Search Engine Optimization for YouTube: A Practical Guide.

Transparency note: The descriptions and snippets below are examples only. Modify them to match your brand voice, compliance requirements, and actual services.

Structured data (schema.org LocalBusiness) — implementation and examples

Structured data helps search engines understand your local business entity on your website. For listings, the most useful schema type is JSON-LD, a script-based format that is easier to maintain than embedded HTML microdata. Use LocalBusiness or a more specific subtype such as Dentist, Restaurant, or Plumber when appropriate.

Schema should mirror your visible page content. The biggest mistake is a mismatch between the schema NAP and the profile or page footer. If your page says one address and your JSON-LD says another, you weaken trust and may create crawling or manual-review issues.

According to Google’s structured data documentation, JSON-LD is the recommended format for many rich result use cases. According to the Google Rich Results Test guidance, you should test the markup before deploying it. If your development team handles template output, see SEO in Web Development Guide: Online Training for Developers and SEO HTML Code Guide: HTML SEO Optimization and Best Practices.

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "LocalBusiness",
  "name": "North Peak Plumbing",
  "url": "https://www.northpeakplumbing.com/",
  "telephone": "+1-512-555-0199",
  "image": "https://www.northpeakplumbing.com/images/storefront.jpg",
  "address": {
    "@type": "PostalAddress",
    "streetAddress": "1248 S Lamar Blvd Suite 200",
    "addressLocality": "Austin",
    "addressRegion": "TX",
    "postalCode": "78704",
    "addressCountry": "US"
  },
  "geo": {
    "@type": "GeoCoordinates",
    "latitude": 30.2481,
    "longitude": -97.7633
  },
  "openingHoursSpecification": [
    {
      "@type": "OpeningHoursSpecification",
      "dayOfWeek": [
        "Monday",
        "Tuesday",
        "Wednesday",
        "Thursday",
        "Friday"
      ],
      "opens": "08:00",
      "closes": "18:00"
    }
  ],
  "priceRange": "$$",
  "areaServed": [
    "Austin",
    "Round Rock",
    "Cedar Park"
  ],
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.google.com/maps?cid=1234567890",
    "https://www.facebook.com/northpeakplumbing"
  ]
}

Required vs. optional fields: For practical local implementation, include name, url, telephone, and address. Use geo, openingHoursSpecification, image, sameAs, and priceRange when you can verify them. The sameAs property is useful for linking the entity to trusted profile pages, but only include URLs that truly represent the business.

Common pitfalls:

• Schema NAP differs from visible NAP.
• The URL points to a redirect or blocked page.
• Coordinates are generic instead of specific to the location.
• Using LocalBusiness when a more specific type would fit better.
• Adding review schema for content that does not meet policy requirements.

Integration checklist:

• Use the same business name across page, footer, schema, and listing profiles.
• Match address formatting to the main listing record.
• Keep phone numbers clickable and consistent.
• Use HTTPS on the destination page.
• Test the page after deployment and after each CMS update.

Where to place JSON-LD and test it

1. Place JSON-LD in the page <head> or near the end of the <body>.
2. Use one schema block per location page when possible.
3. Run the page through the Google Rich Results Test.
4. Check for syntax warnings, missing fields, and invalid URLs.
5. Re-test after CMS edits, theme changes, or location page updates.

For site architecture and canonical decisions, consult Site Structure Optimization Guide: Technical SEO Practices and Technical Optimization Guide and Requirements for SEO Practices.

Bulk listing and data aggregator workflows for scale

If you manage many locations, do not submit everything manually. Use a bulk upload or feed-based workflow when the business has repeated structures, many locations, or frequent updates. Data aggregators act like wholesalers distributing your business record to multiple directories and downstream services.

Common data aggregators in local SEO include Factual, Infogroup, and Neustar/Localeze. These sources can help distribute clean data, but only if your source record is accurate. If your master feed is wrong, scale simply spreads the error faster.

When comparing tools and vendors, see Benefits of Link Building Services: A Practical SEO Guide, Manual Link Building Service Guide: Strategy and Cost Overview, and Linkbuilding Platform Comparison Guide: Tools, Cost, Setup.

CSV template field spec:

• Business Name
• Street Address
• City
• State
• ZIP
• Phone
• Website URL
• Primary Category
• Secondary Categories
• Hours
• Service Area
• Email
• Verification Contact
• Notes

Sample CSV row:

North Peak Plumbing,"1248 S Lamar Blvd Suite 200",Austin,TX,78704,+1-512-555-0199,https://www.northpeakplumbing.com/,Plumber,"Water Heater Repair|Drain Cleaning","Mon-Fri 08:00-18:00","Austin;Round Rock;Cedar Park",hello@northpeakplumbing.com,Ops Team,"Verified on Google; use same NAP across all directories"

Bulk workflow SOP:

1. Build a master data sheet with one row per location.
2. Validate every field against source documents.
3. Lock the master version so edits are controlled.
4. Map platform-specific fields to your CSV format.
5. Run a small test batch before full rollout.
6. Track sync status, errors, and refresh dates.

When to use a vendor vs manual submissions

• Use a vendor when you manage many locations, need synchronization, and can justify ongoing fees.
• Use manual submissions when you have few locations, need tight control, or want to minimize lock-in.
• Use aggregators when your market benefits from broad distribution and you can maintain a clean master feed.
• Avoid vendor lock-in if you want full ownership of logins, edits, and data rights.

Vendor-managed systems often reduce labor but can introduce delay, costs, and synchronization limits. Manual submissions cost less upfront, but they take longer and are harder to scale. If you are evaluating service trade-offs, compare with Organic Link Building Guide and Cost Estimates for Marketers and Reseller linkbuilding guide and requirements for agencies.

Using listings as part of a link-building and off‑page SEO strategy

For broader link-building strategies that complement business listings, see our SEO Links Guide and Training for Link Building Best Practices. Combine citation work with editorial link efforts explained in Editorial Links Guide: Practical SEO Link Building Advice.

Business listings give you citation value, trust, and referral traffic. Editorial backlinks give you stronger link equity and usually more SEO movement on competitive pages. Both matter, but they serve different roles. Think of citations as proof of presence and backlinks as proof of authority.

Signal type	Main value	Link attribute	Best use case
Citation	NAP consistency, entity trust, local visibility	Often nofollow or no link	Local SEO, map pack support, business verification
Editorial backlink	Link equity, topical relevance, authority	Usually followed when earned	Organic rankings, content authority, referral growth
Partner/resource page mention	Referral traffic plus trust	May be followed or nofollow	Local relationships, sponsorships, events, chambers

According to a 2025 BrightLocal consumer survey, users still trust business profiles, ratings, and listings when choosing local providers. According to local citation analysis from Whitespark and Moz Local, consistent citations remain helpful for discoverability and trust even when they do not directly pass conventional link equity.

Practical examples:

• A plumbing company gets a Yelp citation, then requests a sponsor page link from the local Little League they support.
• A dental clinic updates Apple Maps and Bing Places, then turns a chamber directory mention into an editorial member profile link.
• A law office fixes its NAP and gets a local newspaper business directory entry that later becomes a resource page mention.

Use Types of Link Building: SEO Guide and Training for Marketers to categorize citation mentions correctly, and Complete Linkbuilding Plan Guide and Implementation Steps to schedule listing work into your outreach calendar. If you are building local topical authority, review Topical Authority for Link Earning — Steps and Google Domain Authority Guide: SEO Domain Authority Basics.

Tactics to earn links from directory and partner pages

1. Submit to reputable local resource pages and community directories, then ask for a profile link if one is missing.
2. Use sponsorships, charity support, and event pages to earn a mention plus a website link.
3. Ask chambers of commerce and trade associations to include the correct website URL on member pages.
4. Convert vendor and supplier relationships into partner-page links or “where to buy” pages.

For outreach structure, use the citation correction and partner link notes in Search Engine Tips Guide: Practical Link Building Training and Resource Page Link Building — Complete Guide.

Citation cleanup: duplicates, inconsistent NAP, and removal process

Duplicate listings confuse users and dilute local signals. Inconsistent NAP creates trust problems and can split reviews, clicks, and directions between multiple records. Fix these first before chasing new citations.

1. Identify the primary listing you want to keep. Choose the one with the best reviews, history, and correct data.
2. Document every duplicate with URL, screenshots, and platform name.
3. Request merge, suppression, or removal depending on the platform’s workflow.
4. Update the source of truth on your website and with aggregators.
5. Monitor for reappearance over the next 30 to 90 days.

Sample outreach template: citation correction request

Subject: Correction request for business listing

Hello,

I’m reaching out to request a correction to our business listing.

Business name: North Peak Plumbing
Correct address: 1248 S Lamar Blvd Suite 200, Austin, TX 78704
Correct phone: +1-512-555-0199
Correct website: https://www.northpeakplumbing.com/

The current listing appears to have an outdated address and phone number. Please update the record or let us know if you need any verification details.

Thank you,
Operations Team

Sample outreach template: duplicate merge request

Subject: Duplicate listing merge request

Hello,

We found two listings for the same business and would like to merge or remove the duplicate.

Primary listing:
[Insert correct URL]

Duplicate listing:
[Insert duplicate URL]

The duplicate contains older contact information and may confuse customers. Please merge it into the primary profile or suppress the duplicate record.

Thank you,
Operations Team

For deeper troubleshooting when a listing causes technical issues, consult Fix SEO: Practical Troubleshooting Guide for Online Webmasters.

Review and reputation management (grow reviews, respond, flag spam)

Reviews influence click behavior, trust, and often local pack performance. You need a consistent process for asking for reviews, responding to them, and reporting policy-violating reviews. Do not gate reviews by asking only happy customers. That can violate platform policies and bias the feedback set.

According to Google review policy guidance and Yelp content guidelines, fake reviews, incentive-based reviews, and review manipulation are prohibited. Keep review requests ethical and simple. Ask real customers, after real service, using one repeatable process.

1. Ask at the moment of peak satisfaction, usually after a successful completion.
2. Send one short review request with the platform link.
3. Do not offer discounts or gifts for positive reviews.
4. Reply to every review within a reasonable timeframe.
5. Flag fake, spam, or clearly policy-violating reviews through the platform’s reporting tools.

Positive review response: “Thank you for the kind words, [Name]. We’re glad the team could help and appreciate you choosing us.”

Neutral review response: “Thanks for the feedback. We’d like to understand what we could improve and welcome the chance to make this better.”

Negative review response: “We’re sorry to hear about your experience. Please contact us at [email/phone] so we can review the issue and work toward a resolution.”

For broader reputation context and social amplification, see SEO Social Media Sites Guide and Training for Marketers and Social Media Link Building Training Guide for Marketers.

Measuring the impact: KPIs, tracking, and reporting templates

If you cannot measure listing work, you cannot defend it. Track impressions, profile views, calls, direction requests, website clicks, and conversion rate from listing traffic. Use UTM parameters on every listing URL so you can identify traffic in analytics.

Measurement also requires discipline around phone tracking. If you use a call-tracking number, make sure it does not replace the primary NAP everywhere unless the platform allows it. In many cases, you need a stable main number for citation consistency and a secondary tracking method for reporting.

According to Google Analytics 4 documentation, source and campaign parameters can help separate listing referrals from general organic traffic. According to platform guidance, UTM tags work best when used consistently across profile URLs and campaign links. For reporting structure, pair this with How to Analyze SEO Performance: Guide to Website Metrics and SEO goals and objectives guide for measurable marketing results.

UTM example:

https://www.northpeakplumbing.com/austin/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=local_listing&utm_campaign=gbp_austin&utm_content=primary_profile

Sample KPI dashboard fields:

• Google Business Profile impressions
• Map pack clicks
• Website clicks from listings
• Direction requests
• Phone calls
• Form conversions from listing traffic
• Branded search clicks in Search Console
• Referral sessions by citation source

Mini case study: An anonymized regional home-services company in the Midwest had 14 duplicate citations, three mismatched phone numbers, and an unverified Google Business Profile. After a citation cleanup, Google verification, category correction, and UTM-tagged links, the business saw a 38% increase in profile impressions, a 21% increase in website clicks, and a 17% lift in tracked phone calls over 60 days. The biggest win came from fixing consistency before adding new listings.

For page-level traffic and rankings, see Website Page Rankings Guide: SEO Training and Best Practices, Search Engine Position Analysis Guide to SEO Requirements, and What Is SEO Visibility: Guide to Search Engine Visibility.

Scalable SOPs, templates and training checklist (downloadables)

Adapt the Fast SEO Guide: Training Curriculum and Practical Steps when building team training around listings. For in-house certification and role definition, use Linkbuilding Expert Certification Guide for In-House Teams and Website SEO Management Guide: Strategies and Best Practices.

Downloadable assets to create:

• Master listing inventory spreadsheet
• Verification checklist
• CSV bulk upload template
• Citation correction outreach script
• Duplicate merge request script
• Review response template pack
• Monthly KPI reporting template
• Quarterly audit checklist

How to use them: Assign one owner, one backup, and one monthly review date. Keep the source-of-truth sheet locked, and only allow controlled edits. If your team is new, pair this pack with How to Do SEO Yourself : DIY Guide for Small Business Owners and SEO PDF Guide and Online Training for Beginner Marketers.

Common problems and troubleshooting (quick fixes)

Most listing problems come from data mismatch, policy issues, or verification failure. Fix the root cause instead of repeatedly resubmitting the same broken record. If you are dealing with technical site issues tied to the listing landing page, review Fix SEO: Practical Troubleshooting Guide for Online Webmasters.

Problem	Likely cause	Fix
Suspended profile	Policy violation, keyword stuffing, address mismatch	Audit NAP, remove spammy terms, submit reinstatement with proof
Incorrect address	Old citation data or feed sync error	Update source of truth, then correct aggregators and directories
Verification failed	Wrong contact info, inaccessible location, eligibility issue	Recheck business eligibility and use an approved verification method
Listing hacked	Unauthorized profile access	Recover account, reset permissions, and review changes immediately
Mismatch issue	Schema, website, and listing differ	Align visible page content, JSON-LD, and directory records

Quick rule: when in doubt, go back to the master sheet and correct the source, then re-sync outward. Do not patch each directory separately without fixing the root record.

Conclusion and next steps (30/60/90 day action plan)

Business listings are not busywork. They are a repeatable local SEO system that supports visibility, trust, and link-building when you manage them with discipline. Start with cleanup, then verification, then optimization, then measurement.

• 30 days: audit listings, fix duplicates, claim Google Business Profile, and correct top citation sources.
• 60 days: complete optimization, add photos and services, implement schema, and start UTM tracking.
• 90 days: review KPI movement, expand to secondary directories, and convert listing mentions into partner links.

Use Sample SEO Strategy Guide: SEO Plan and Content Examples and Search Engine Optimization Campaign Online Guide and Plan to slot listing work into your broader SEO calendar. If you want to turn clean citations into stronger off-page results, keep the listing workflow running monthly and the backlink workflow running in parallel.