Guide 38 / 50 · Organisations & response
How to Correct Outdated Company Information Online
An old address, leadership list, or company description can persist across directories and search results long after the business changes.
Create one approved record
Confirm the official name, current address, contact details, leadership, services, and website. Note which facts are public and which should stay private. Keep the record dated and assign an owner.
Update high-trust sources
Start with the company website and profiles you directly control. Then contact directories, industry bodies, partners, and event organisers using their correction processes. Record each URL and completion status.
Check what search shows
A changed source may not immediately produce an updated search title or snippet. Revisit the important searches and request a refresh where the relevant process applies. Maintain a change log so the same error does not reappear after the next rebrand or office move.
Prioritise by impact
Correct the official site and major customer-facing profiles before chasing every low-traffic directory. If an old address could send customers to the wrong location, treat it more urgently than a minor description mismatch. Recheck the most important search results after the source pages change.
Take action
A practical checklist
- Create a single approved record of address, hours, contact and legal name.
- Fix the official website and owned business profiles first.
- List the most visible directories and partner pages.
- Request third-party corrections with the exact new information.
- Check maps, snippets and customer-facing search results after updates.
Illustrative example
How this can play out
A retailer moves office but an old address survives in a directory and map result. Updating the footer is the first source change, yet customers may still travel to the old location. Prioritise the most visible listing, add a clear move notice and verify the corrected result in the relevant market.
This is a hypothetical illustration, not a client case or a claimed FAMA Bureau result.
Questions people ask
Questions and limits
Will directories copy my new website details automatically?
Some may, but timing and accuracy vary. Verify important listings rather than relying on propagation.
What should be corrected first?
Prioritise information that affects real customer decisions, such as location, opening hours and contact route.
In brief
Fix the official source first and verify the downstream copies rather than assuming they update automatically.
These guides provide general information. Publisher, platform, search-engine and legal decisions depend on the facts of each matter. Where legal advice is needed, consult a qualified independent professional.
A private next step
Discuss your situation.
Share a brief outline. Please do not send identity documents, passwords or sensitive case files through the enquiry form.