Local citations are crucial for search engine optimization (SEO). These mentions of your business’s name, address, and phone number (NAP) are published online to help Google understand the accuracy of your business information. The more accurate and consistent your NAP data is, the better your search results will be.
There are several ways to build citations for your business, and some local SEO services have built solutions that make it easier to submit this data to all the right sites. A good local citations service will work with you to find the best citation opportunities for your business, based on your industry and location.
The first step is to do some research. Use a tool like Whitespark to identify the top citation opportunities by country and industry. Next, perform a quick search for your company’s location to find out where the best citation opportunities are in your area.
Target Local Directories
There are plenty of websites that list local businesses, and some even feature customer reviews. Getting your business listed on these sites is a great way to show customers you are reputable, and can attract more traffic.
Social Networks
Every major social network gives you the opportunity to create a business account and list your NAP. It’s free and a great way to build local citations.
Facebook is the largest social media platform in the world, and it also has a feature that allows people to “check-in” at your business’s location. Having your business’s NAP information on Facebook is also a great way to get your name in front of billions of potential customers.
You should have a business bio on your website, as well. This can include information about your mission and vision, values, unique selling points (USPs), and more. It’s also a great place to showcase photos and videos that visually tell your story.
Doing so will help you build a reputation for your business and establish yourself as an authority on your niche. It also allows you to connect with other companies and people in your field.
Avoid Pay Sites
There are a lot of “hostage” local citation sites out there, many of which charge money to correct inaccurate citations or remove them altogether. Keeping an eye out for these scammy sites can be tricky, but there are steps you can take to protect your business and your reputation.
Citation management tools
There are some great citation management tools on the market, including Yext and Manta. These tools will allow you to manage all your citations from one place, making it easier to keep track of all the different places your business is listed.
Whether you need to build a new citation or simply fix the ones you have, these tools can be a lifesaver. They will ensure your NAP info is always correct on every citation site and will save you time by doing it for you.
A good local citations service will also work with you to create a comprehensive citation strategy for your business. This strategy will cover all the best citation opportunities in your area and will improve your search results by ensuring that your NAP is accurate across all directories.