Local Citations: The Complete Guide

If you’re a local business owner, you probably know how important it is to rank well on Google for your target keywords. But did you know that there’s more to local SEO than just optimizing your website? You also need to build and manage your local citations.

What are Local Citations, you ask?

Well, they’re not the kind of citations you get from the police for speeding or parking illegally. They’re online mentions of your business’s Name, Address, and Phone number (NAP). They can be found on business directories, websites, apps, social media, and anywhere else on the web where people can learn about your business.

Why are local citations important for local SEO?

Because they help Google and other search engines verify that your business exists, that it’s trustworthy, and that it provides the service or product that people are looking for. They also help potential customers find you online, contact you, and visit your location.

But not all local citations are created equal. There are two types of citations: structured and unstructured. Structured citations are the ones that follow a standard format, such as the ones you see on Yelp or Yellow Pages. Unstructured citations are the ones that don’t follow a specific format, such as the ones you see on blogs, news articles, or social media posts.

Both types of citations are valuable for local SEO, but they require different strategies to create and manage them. In this blog post, we’ll show you how to do both, using our awesome service as an example. Let’s get started!

How to create local citations for your business

There are three main ways to create local citations for your business: using data aggregators, manual submissions, or tools and services.

Data aggregators are companies that collect and distribute business information to various online platforms. They can help you create hundreds of structured citations with minimal effort. All you need to do is submit your NAP information to them once, and they’ll do the rest. Some of the most popular data aggregators are Neustar Localeze, Infogroup, Factual, and Acxiom.

Manual submissions are when you create local citations yourself by visiting each platform individually and filling out their forms. This can be time-consuming and tedious, but it can also give you more control over your listings. You can choose which platforms to target, which categories to select, and which keywords to use. You can also add additional information, such as photos, reviews, hours of operation, etc.

But in general, the more, the merrier!

Tools and services are when you use a third-party provider to create and manage your local citations for you. This can save you a lot of time and hassle, as they’ll handle everything from finding the best platforms for your business to updating your listings regularly. They can also help you with unstructured citations by finding relevant opportunities for mentions on blogs, news sites, social media, etc.

Of course, we recommend using our service for this purpose, as we’re the best in the business when it comes to local citation building and management. We have access to thousands of online platforms across various industries and regions. We also have a team of experts who can craft engaging and relevant content for your unstructured citations.

How to optimize your local citations

Creating local citations is not enough. You also need to optimize them to make sure they’re accurate, consistent, and complete. Here are some tips on how to do that:

• Ensure accuracy: Make sure your NAP information is correct and up-to-date on all platforms. If you change any details about your business, such as your address or phone number, make sure to update them everywhere as soon as possible. Otherwise, you risk confusing Google and your customers.
• Ensure consistency: Make sure your NAP information is formatted the same way on all platforms. For example, if you use “Street” on one platform, don’t use “St.” on another. If you use parentheses around your area code on one platform, don’t use dashes on another. Consistency helps Google match your citations across the web and boosts your credibility.
• Ensure completeness: Make sure your NAP information is not the only thing you provide on each platform. Add as much relevant information as possible to make your listings stand out and attract more clicks. For example, add a description of your business, a link to your website, photos of your products or location, reviews from happy customers, etc.

How to manage your local citations

Creating and optimizing local citations is not a one-time thing. You need to manage them regularly to make sure they stay fresh and relevant. Here are some ways to do that:

• Use tools like Google My Business (GMB) to monitor and update your listings on major platforms like Google, Bing, Facebook, etc. These tools can help you check for errors, duplicates, or inconsistencies in your NAP information and fix them quickly. They can also help you respond to reviews, add posts, and track your performance.
• Use our service to manage your listings on other platforms that are not covered by GMB. We can help you find and fix any issues that may arise on your citations, such as outdated information, broken links, or negative feedback. We can also help you find and seize new opportunities for mentions on relevant websites, blogs, social media, etc.
• Review your citation strategy periodically to make sure it aligns with your business goals and local SEO best practices. For example, you may want to add new platforms to your citation portfolio, remove old or irrelevant ones, or update your keywords or categories. You may also want to check the latest trends and updates in local SEO and adjust your strategy accordingly.

Conclusion

Local citations are a vital part of local SEO. They can help you boost your online visibility, reputation, and traffic. But they also require a lot of work and attention to create and manage them effectively.

That’s why we’re here to help. We’re the ultimate local citation service for your business. We can help you create and manage both structured and unstructured citations on thousands of online platforms across various industries and regions. We can also help you optimize your citations to make sure they’re accurate, consistent, and complete.

So what are you waiting for? Contact us today for a free consultation and quote and let us take care of your local citation needs. You’ll be amazed by the results! 😎

Get to know more about us here!

You want to know more about Local SEO?

Here are some links to external resources that you can use:

• What Are Local Citations? – BrightLocal – This article explains what local citations are, why they are important for local SEO, and what types of citations exist.
• Top 50 General Citation Sites – BrightLocal – This list provides the top 50 general citation sites for businesses to get listed on, based on domain authority, generic inclusion, activity, and accepting new listings.
• The Ultimate List of 150+ Local SEO Citation Sources for USA (2023) – Omnicore – This list provides more than 150 local citation sources and directories for businesses in the USA, categorized by industry and region.
• 12 Local Citation Software Tools You Need for Local SEO – Loganix – This article reviews 12 local citation software tools that can help you create and manage your local citations more efficiently and effectively.

Or you can book a free meeting with us to get professional help with your SEO needs. We are a local SEO company that can help you rank higher in local search results and attract more customers in your area. We can also help you with local citations to reinforce your local presence and make you the king of your city!

Get to know us!

And don’t forget to share this post with your friends and colleagues who might benefit from it! 😉

P.S. If you want to learn how to optimize your Google Business Profile and Google Maps listing for local SEO, check out our next blog post!