Citations are mentions of your business’ name, address, phone number, and other relevant information on websites that search engines trust. These citations help Google verify your business’ location and other important information, which in turn affects local search rankings and visibility.
It is crucial to build accurate and consistent local citations, as they’re a key part of your SEO strategy. This will boost your local search ranking and make it easier for customers to find you. There are several different types of citations, and each one has its own unique value. In this article, we’ll explore how to get the most out of your citations.
Structured citations are mentions of your NAP information that are organized and included on directories or other listings, such as Yelp or Yellow Pages. They’re the most common type of local citation, and can be the easiest to obtain. You can also find structured citations on general online news and content sites, such as blogs or news articles about your business.
Unstructured citations are mentions of your business NAP information that aren’t organized or included in a directory. These citations can be found on websites or apps that aren’t designed as directories or business listings, such as online news articles or reviews. Unstructured citations can be more difficult to get than structured citations, but they’re still valuable for your local SEO. For example, if you’re mentioned in an article about a new restaurant opening up in your city, that’s an unstructured citation with high potential to drive traffic and customers to your business.
There are many different ways to get structured and unstructured citations, but the best way to start is by claiming and optimizing your Google Business profile. This is the most prominent local citation, and will appear in searches for your business on both Google and Bing. Next, you should consider claiming and optimizing your listings on other popular directories, such as Yelp or Yellow Pages.
Other sources of citations include industry-specific websites. For example, if you’re a dentist or attorney, you may want to look into getting listed on sites like HealthGrades, RateMDs, or Vitals. Finally, don’t forget about social media! You can build your citations on all the major social networks by creating a business account and including your NAP information in your profile.
It’s important to keep in mind that while it’s easy to build and add local citations, it’s not so easy to keep them up-to-date. Inconsistent and inaccurate citations can damage your local search rankings, so it’s essential to check and update them regularly. To do so, use a citation management tool to monitor your NAP consistency and accuracy across the web.