Local search citations are a foundational element of any SEO strategy, whether you’re new to local SEO or an expert. They help Google recognize that your business exists in a specific location, which can lead to higher search engine rankings for your website.
Citations Are a Key Local Search Ranking Factor
The most important part of a citation is that it contains accurate information about your business, including the company name, address, and phone number (known as NAP). This will help Google understand that you’re a legitimate, local business and that you are in a specific location.
There are two kinds of citations – structured and unstructured. Structured local search citations are primarily created by entering information into data fields. They are most often built from data aggregators and major directories like Yelp, but they can be created manually by filling in information about your business and other relevant details.
They are also available on niche and industry-specific sites, such as a chamber of commerce website, a regional hobby group, or a business association related to your industry. These citations are valuable for search engines because they provide consistent and accurate NAP data across the internet.
You should focus on building citations on reputable sources, such as those that are highly ranked in the search engines. They’re likely to be more influential in your overall local SEO strategy than citations on lesser-ranked sites that don’t have much relevance to your industry or location.
In a recent survey by Moz, citations were ranked the fifth most important local search ranking factor. While that may have changed since the survey was conducted in 2018, it’s still a good idea to start building up your citations.
When you’re building citations, it’s essential to be sure that they are complete and match all of your existing citations. It’s also a good idea to make sure that all of your NAP information is consistent, so you don’t send Google mixed signals.
The first thing to do when you’re getting started with citations is to set up a consistent NAP across all of your citations. This can be a difficult task, but it’s well worth it in the long run.
You’ll also want to keep your citations up-to-date with current contact and location information, as well as any other important information that can be found on your business’s website or Facebook page. Keeping your citations up-to-date will ensure that you don’t miss out on any valuable opportunities to improve your local search rankings and increase your credibility with Google.
Having a strong citation profile is the most important step in local search optimization and it’s something that beginner SEO strategists and business owners alike should master.
Local SEO is an ever-evolving field, and citations are one of the most fundamental factors to understand if you want to succeed online. With a solid foundation of local citations, you can take on the rest of the local SEO world and dominate the competition in your specific niche.