Austin Directory Build 2 - Bulk Import Directory Listings in Minutes

How to Import Business Listings to Your Directory (Bulk Import Guide)

Austin Contractors Series - Episode 2

Learn how to pull contractor data from Google Maps using Outscraper and bulk import it into your directory in minutes. This episode covers data sourcing, field mapping, and import settings.

In the previous video, we set up our Austin Contractors directory site. Now it’s time to add real business listings.

In this guide, I’ll show you how to pull contractor data from Google Business Profiles using Outscraper and import them into your directory. This is the fastest way to populate a directory with quality, verified listings.

Step 1: Get Business Data from Outscraper

Outscraper lets you pull business information from Google Maps. You can create a free account to get started - they offer about 500 listings per month on the free tier.

Setting Up the Scrape

  1. Go to Google Maps Scraper in Outscraper
  2. Enter your search term (I used "plumber")
  3. Set your location - type "Austin" and select Texas
  4. It will auto-select zip codes in that area

Recommended Filters

Under Advanced Parameters, filter for quality listings:

  • Has website - Only businesses with a website
  • Operational - Currently in business
  • Has phone number - Can be contacted
  • Verified - Google verified listing
  • Good rating - 4 stars and above

Important: Make sure output format is set to CSV. My Directory Kit imports CSV files.

Step 2: Import Listings to Your Directory

Once your Outscraper export is ready, download the CSV file.

Using the Import Tool

  1. Go to Directory Kit → Listings → Import Listings
  2. Upload your CSV file
  3. Select Outscraper Default - this pre-maps most fields automatically

Import Settings

Category: Select which category these listings belong to (I chose "Plumbing")

Duplicate Handling:

  • Skip duplicates - Won't import if listing exists
  • Update existing - Updates listing with new data (recommended)
  • Import all - Creates duplicates

I use "Update existing" so future scrapes will refresh the data.

Field Mapping

The Outscraper default maps these fields automatically: business name, phone number, website, full address, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and services/subtypes as tags.

Step 3: Review and Publish Listings

Listings import as drafts by default. To publish them:

  1. Go to Listings → All Listings
  2. Change "Items per page" to see more than 20 at once
  3. Select all listings
  4. Bulk Edit → Status: Published → Update

What Gets Imported

Each listing now includes:

  • Business name and logo (pulled from Google)
  • Phone, website, address
  • Google Maps location
  • Up to 5 recent Google reviews
  • Services/tags from Google categories
  • Social media links (if available)

Note on images: The logo pulls directly from Google Business Profile - it's not hosted on your server. This avoids copyright issues but be aware Google could change this.

Step 4: Verify Your Data

Always review imported listings:

Check Categories

All listings should be assigned to the correct category (Plumbing in my case).

Check Locations

The importer creates location terms from addresses. Most of my listings correctly show "Austin" with a few nearby cities like "West Lake Hills".

Check Tags

Tags pull from Google's business subtypes. You'll get tags like "Plumber", "Water heater installation", "Drain cleaning", etc. Some may not be perfectly relevant - clean these up as needed.

Is it legal to scrape Google Maps data?
Outscraper handles the scraping and provides the data. The data itself (business names, addresses, phone numbers) is publicly available information. Many directory sites use this approach, but consult a lawyer if you have concerns about your specific use case.
Outscraper has a free tier with about 500 listings per month. Paid plans start around $30/month for higher volumes. The email/contact enrichment costs extra per listing.
Yes. The import tool accepts any CSV file. You can manually map fields from any data source - just make sure you have the required fields (business name, address at minimum).
Depends on your niche. Quarterly re-imports keep data fresh - businesses change phone numbers, addresses, and close down. The "Update existing" setting makes this easy.
Not if you use "Skip duplicates" or "Update existing". The importer matches on GMB Place ID to identify existing listings.
Honor removal requests. You can delete individual listings from the WordPress admin. Consider adding a "Claim or Remove Listing" link on each listing page.
Share the Post:

Related Posts