Local citations are one of the main components of local SEO and are a tactic that can give your local business a major boost. The first thing you should know about citations is that they can pretty much be found anywhere online. From obvious sources such as Yelp to social media apps, building citations across numerous directories will improve the chances of the success of your local business. And the mechanism and the connection between your business and success are simple. Local citations help local SEO which makes your business more discoverable to your future customers.
Obviously, we here at AZ Citation Services understand the importance and value of building citations on local business directories. Considering the fact that citations are what we do for a living, we are fully qualified for shedding some light on this issue. Without further ado, let’s delve into the matter.
First things first – a few important facts about local citations
If this is your first time hearing about the term ‘local citations,’ it’s completely normal for you to be inquisitive. Local citations are an online mention of the name, address, or phone number of your local business. Hence, one can find local citations on social platforms, websites, apps, or online business directories. The goal of citations is to help your local business become more discoverable to Internet users – but they also have a powerful impact on local search engine rankings. With that being said, it’s quite clear that local citations are one of the best ways to promote your business this year, and many other years that are ahead.
Exactly how do local citations help local SEO?
Let’s just jump straight ahead to the topic of today’s article. By being a very important part of a successful local SEO strategy, local citations will increase the level of certainty that online engines have about your business. What that means is that Google will gather all the pieces of information they have acquired about your business. Now, it only makes sense that the more citations you have on a high-quality platform, the more trust will Google put in your business. On the other hand, if Google encounters many citations with inconsistent pieces of information, the trust in your business will plummet. That is why you need citation clean-up so you can avoid the disaster that will wreak on the ranking of your local business.
The reason why citations are crucial for search engine algorithms is that they are basically evidence that your business is credible and real. Or, at least, it serves as evidence for Google. You would be surprised to know just how many benefits a mention in an online news hub (or any other website that can’t easily be faked) would have for your business. And having lots of citations on such websites will signal to Google that your local business is active, busy, and popular. Plus, the more mentions you have online, the bigger the chances of people finding you.
Be cautious
But beware – citations can impact your business both negatively and positively. We have mentioned the clear advantages of local citations, and we even touched upon what happens when they contain inaccurate pieces of information. That’s why you need to ensure you create perfect citations that will be accurate, concise, and high-quality. It might sound like a lot of work to you now, but trust us – it will pay off before you know it.
It’s clear that local citations are an important ranking factor
If you bother to dig deeper into important ranking factors, you are bound to discover that local citations are the fourth most important factor. They are placed just behind Google My Business listings, link signals, and on-page signals. So if you ever doubted about investing in citation building, you have just uncovered all that you need to know. Considering the fact that popular citation sites usually dominate the first page in Google’s search results, most people who perform online searches will end up choosing one of the top results.
Be honest – if you perform an online search for a plumber or a handyman in your area, which results do you pay most attention to? Do you even bother to go beyond Google’s first page? If you don’t, you are definitely not alone. Most people will never go past the first page! It’s always easier to choose the first or the second option. And that’s precisely how local citations help local SEO – they make your business more discoverable.
How many citations do you need for optimal results?
A lot of business owners have the same question. Everyone would love to know what the optimal number of citations is. The truth is that the more citations you have, the better. Of course, this is true only if your citations contain all the necessary pieces of information and are written precisely. Not to mention that you need to focus on getting your citations on quality sites only.
A great number of local businesses score #1 in the Google search engine. If you really want a number, have at least 86 citations, according to research. Local businesses that rank in the first three spots in Google local search have at least 85 citations As you can imagine, this will be a huge investment time-wise. There isn’t a magic formula for building high-quality citations overnight. But there is a quicker and easier alternative – contacting us.
What type of citations exist in local SEO
There are structured citations and unstructured. They are different in many ways but the most important difference you need to know are. Citations with a structure are on sites that are primarily a business listing directory. Structured citations are most likely there. It contains your company’s information in NAP format, with “N” indicating your company name, “A” signifying your address, and “P” representing your phone number. Yelp, Facebook, MapQuest, and a few other sites provide structured citations. While unstructured citations are made on websites that aren’t specifically a company directory. On such sites, there is no such thing as a NAP format for listing a business. These are primarily on blog sites, magazines, and journals, among other things. Both are good for your business because they give you exposure.
How to build local citations that will help your SEO
Structured and unstructured citations are beneficial to most businesses. However, you don’t have to get them from every website you come across. It’s clear that quality surpasses quantity in this case. A complete list of the most significant citation sources in the United States can be found online. While at the same time list of citations for other countries are there as well. Just keep in mind this is just one company’s take on the “most relevant” citation sources. There are numerous lists available, and while there is a lot of crossovers, they are rarely identical. Post to the sites that appear to be worthwhile.
What method do you use to figure out which ones they are? If you’ve heard of them, they’re probably worth submitting. However, you can Google your business and place to see the 100 best search results. For building citations, it is best to rely on professionals that been in the business for a long time. They will help you build good citations and you will not have to waste time searching and submitting.
You need to claim your listings
Just because your company is included on a citation website doesn’t imply it’s helping you. You must claim the listing and confirm that the information provided is correct. The first reference listing you’ll want to claim and validate is Google My Business. You can give more information to some sites than others. Some examples include your work time, description, and images. It’s a good idea to include as much information as you’re allowed. The NAP, however, is the most important piece of information. It must be consistent throughout all listings. Even little changes, such as using Street rather than Avenue, can cause more harm than good.
Locating and claiming your listings can take some effort, but it’s well worth it. If you want to improve your local SEO. Search engines attempt to provide the finest experience and most helpful information to internet users. As a result, they perceive citations to be helpful to brand value. Citation building is one of the tactics you should use in your SEO plan to boost your rankings. Citations can be another way that generates results if you construct a good SEO foundation with powerful keywords and current content. Citations will help you improve your total online presence, which is just one more thing that will help you compete in today’s online business market. Anything that increases your chances of being discovered is worthwhile.
Get more citations for your local business
There are several techniques to increase the number of citations for your company. Submitting your business information to web directories is one of the most effective methods. You may submit your business to dozens of reliable directories, and most of them are free to list. It is valuable if a customer leaves feedback on major review sites such as Yelp or Google Maps. Don’t neglect social media Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn are all excellent venues to advertise your company and gain citations.
Getting the most out of your Google my business listing
GMB is a free service that allows you to submit information about your company to Google Search and Maps. Whenever anyone searches on Google for businesses like yours, your GMB listing will appear in the search results. They’ll also notice it if they’re using Google Maps. Follow these five techniques to get the most out of your GMB listing:
- Put in as much detail as possible, such as business hours, products/services offered, and current specials or deals. The more information you provide in your profile, the better.
- Include photos and videos to demonstrate what makes your company special. This allows potential consumers to understand more about you. Before coming in person or making an online purchase.
- Encourage consumers to write reviews – not only will this increase your internet presence, but it will also assist new customers in deciding whether or not to do connect with you.
- Ensure your contact information is current and accurate — nothing irritates clients more than attempting to locate a company that is no longer in business.
- Claim your Google My Business listing to guarantee that your business is listed in the right location and with the necessary information.
How to manage your local citations that will help your SEO
You can’t just Google “my citations” and get a list of all your references. There are, however, a variety of tools available to assist you in finding your citations. An SEO expert will have access to a wide range of services to assist in the search for your citations. They can also correct any mistakes in your citations list. You can do that on your own, but it becomes quite complicated and confusing. WhiteSpark, GeoRanker, and BrightLocal are three tools for finding local citations. Among others that you can use. These are useful tools that will provide you with valuable information on your local citations profile. They can also assist you in correcting any problems you discover. Remember that each citation must be original. They must all be consistent with your Google My Business listing.
We here at AZ Citation Services offer our assistance to all types of businesses. Our citation services will help you promote your business by submitting brand info to relevant websites. We have a stellar track record and a complete understanding of how local citations help local SEO. So contact us in order to build your perfect package and order your citations today! We cover all niches and businesses and have 10 years of experience. Not to mention a team of professional copywriters who have no problem delivering high-quality content. As per your request.
