There are two types of citations
What Are Local Citations?
Local citations are any mentions of your business’s name, address, phone number and other relevant information online. These can include listings on directories, social media platforms, blogs and news websites.
There are two types of citations: structured and unstructured. Structured citations are typically found on online business directories such as Google My Business, Yelp, and Yellow Pages. These citations follow a specified format and often include an HTML link to your website.
These citations are vital to local SEO as they help search engines understand where your business is located and what you do. They also give potential customers the ability to easily find your business online and contact you.
Creating a local presence is an important part of any marketing strategy, so ensuring your citations are accurate and consistent is critical to improving your search engine visibility. You can do this yourself by manually entering your business’s information into each site individually or you can use an automated local citation service, such as Semrush’s Listings Management tool.
How Local Citations Are Helpful for SEO
While a lot of people think about citations in terms of directory listings, it’s important to note that there are plenty of other sources where your business’s information can appear. These include blog posts, news articles, and even general review sites like Yelp!
The key to successful local citation building is to make sure that your business’s name, address, and phone number (NAP) are consistent across all these online citations. This will help search engines trust the information and display your business in their local searches with confidence.
You can find a list of all the reputable and popular citation websites that are available to you by performing a quick Google search. Once you’ve narrowed it down to a few high-quality directories, start to submit your business’s information there!
Get Your Business Listed in Industry-Specific Local Citation Directories
There are many specialized directories that cater to specific industries. Getting your business listed in these directories is a great way to improve your search visibility and boost local SEO, as they are indexed highly by Google.
These directories are not only useful for search engine visibility, but they also give you a chance to increase your brand’s reputation and build links from reputable businesses in the same industry as yours. This can lead to more traffic and sales, and ultimately a higher Google ranking.
In addition to citations, you should also focus on developing a local presence by creating profiles on all the major social media platforms. These can be free and are an excellent way to generate local exposure for your company.
HARO: Help A Reporter Out
Another excellent resource for finding and verifying what are local citations is HARO. It’s a free service that lets journalists contact you directly to ask questions or quote your business in upcoming stories.
It’s crucial to keep your NAP information accurate and consistent on all your citations, so make sure to verify them with your local citation manager and keep them updated.