A citation is an online reference to your business’s name, address, and phone number (NAP). Citations can occur on local business directories, websites, apps, and social platforms. Search engines use citations as one signal to help them determine the online authority of a business.
Creating consistent citations helps search engines match your business with relevant searches. When customers search for businesses like yours, accurate NAP information helps them find your listing first.
Why are citations essential for local SEO?
Citations are essential for local SEO because they help your business to be found by potential customers in your local area. Citations improve your website’s visibility in search engine result pages (SERPs), which can lead to more traffic and inquiries.
There are many different types of citations, but the most important for local SEO are those from high-quality websites that are relevant to your business. For example, citations from other local companies in the same industry would be valuable if you run a plumbing business.
Citations can also come from online directories, such as Google My Business and Yelp, or review sites like TripAdvisor. Creating profiles on these websites and ensuring that your NAP (name, address, phone number) details are consistent across all of them will help you build a strong citation profile, which will boost your local SEO.
Top 5 Local Citation Sources
- Google My Business
- Yelp
- Yellow Pages
- Superpages
Conclusion
Citations are one of the most critical factors in SEO. You’re boosting search engine rankings by ensuring your business is listed on high-quality directories and review sites. Citations help potential customers find your business online, and they can also improve your local SEO. If you’re not already taking advantage of citations, start today — you could see some great results for your business.
