Local Citations
Online mentions of a business's NAP (Name, Address, Phone number) on directories, websites, and platforms. Citations help search engines verify business legitimacy and improve local search rankings.
Why It Matters
Local citations are a top-3 local ranking factor. Consistent NAP across authoritative directories signals business legitimacy and location to search engines. Studies show businesses with 40+ quality citations rank significantly higher in local searches and Google Maps results.
How It Works
Search engines crawl the web looking for business mentions. When they find consistent NAP information across multiple trusted sources (Yelp, Yellow Pages, industry directories), it validates the business's existence and location. Inconsistent citations (different phone numbers, old addresses) confuse search engines and hurt rankings.
Use Cases
- A new restaurant builds citations on Yelp, TripAdvisor, OpenTable, and local food blogs to establish legitimacy
- A law firm ensures consistent NAP across legal directories like Avvo, FindLaw, and Justia
- A multi-location business creates location-specific citations for each branch to rank in different geographic areas
Best Practices
- Maintain consistent NAP formatting across all citations (same abbreviations, punctuation, suite numbers)
- Start with major data aggregators: Neustar Localeze, Factual, Foursquare, Infogroup
- Build citations on industry-specific directories relevant to your business type
- Regularly audit citations and fix inconsistencies that can hurt rankings
- Claim and optimize existing citations rather than just building new ones
- Track citation health with tools to monitor accuracy and identify opportunities
Frequently Asked Questions
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Related Terms
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