Local citations are mentions of your business online that include some or all of the following information: name, address, and phone number (also known as NAP). They help search engines understand where you exist and can have an impact on where you show up in searches.
There are two main types of citations: structured and unstructured. Structured citations are usually found on directory or data aggregator websites that group together key information about your business. Examples of structured citations include Yellow Pages, Yelp, and Google Maps.
Getting your business listed on these directories is an essential step in building a foundation for local SEO. It helps search engines better understand your location and can also boost your site’s authority and trustworthiness.
These citations also act as backlinks, which are a huge ranking factor for local search results. However, the value of these citations can vary dramatically depending on their quality and whether they are being managed properly.
The first step in building a strong local citation is to verify your NAP and create a complete profile on the major review sites like Google My Business, Facebook, and Yelp! It’s free, and it takes just a few minutes.
Another way to increase your what are local citations is to use social media to build a community around your brand. The most popular platforms, like Facebook and Twitter, allow businesses to open a free account and list their NAP.
This allows you to reach new customers, share content, and even compete with other brands. You can also create a page on each platform that lists your NAP and other important business details.
When you get your business information onto these platforms, it’s a good idea to add photos of your products and services and other content that will engage customers. It’s also a good idea to make sure your business’s address, hours of operation, and contact information are all up to date and accurate.
Finally, be sure to cite your website and your Facebook page on all of these directories. This will help ensure you have consistent business info across the web and keep your NAP consistent between all citations.
You can manually submit your business information to these citations, or you can use an automated solution. Companies like Yext make it easy to submit and manage your citations from one place.
There are a few different ways to build citations, including by creating your business profile on the big directories and then manually submitting the same information to other directories that are relevant to your industry. This can be time-consuming, but it’s an important step for any business.
If you’re looking for a faster and easier way to build citations, try using a citation management tool that will automatically update your NAP information and other business details on the major directories. These tools are often a lot cheaper than doing the work by hand, and they’ll save you a ton of time in the long run.