If you run a business that needs to address low local search visibility, this is important. As an SEO agency, we often see businesses that invest in websites but overlook local listings. Let us explore why these business entries affect your local SEO.
What are Local Citations?
They are mentions of your business name, address and phone number (NAP) online. Examples include Google Business Profile, Yelp, Bing Places along with directories specific to a particular industry. They function as online signals so customers and search engines can locate your business.
Why Google Finds This Important
This is the explanation: Google wants to recommend reliable businesses to its users. Creating consistent citations across multiple platforms signals to Google that your business is legitimate and trustworthy. It’s like getting multiple references for a job application – the more you have, the better you look.
The Three Pillars of Local Search Engine Optimization
As an experienced SEO agency in Los Angeles working with clients nationwide, we know that local SEO success stands on three pillars:
- On-page optimization
- Review management
- Local citations
Most businesses focus solely on the first two. When you ignore citations, it creates an imbalance; you might improve but doing so may restrict your progress.
How Citations (Listings) Affect Rankings
This is how these listings raise awareness:
- Verification of authenticity: Consistent listings demonstrate that you are a legitimate business.
- Improved local pack results: The map listings which appear above organic search results.
- Improved domain authority: Quality citations from respected sites can boost your overall SEO rankings.
- Expanded visibility: Customers can encounter your business in more places.
Quality Over Quantity (But Quantity Still Matters)
Some don’t realize that 50 high-quality listings are superior to 200 of lower quality. Start with top platforms like Google, Yelp, Facebook and directories within your industry. Then expand further; a stronger local SEO presence will happen with additional quality listings.
Consistency Is Key
I can’t stress this enough: consistency is EVERYTHING with citations. If your address is “123 Main St.” on Google but “123 Main Street, Suite A” on Yelp, you’re confusing search engines and potentially hurting your rankings. Our SEO agency will audit your existing citations and ensure absolute consistency across all platforms.
Example AI SEO Prompt For a List of Local Citations
This is the prompt I used in Claude AI:
Generate a list of local citations for a business called ‘GO-SEO’ in Los Angeles, CA
Which follows this “prompt template”:
“Generate a list of local citations for a business called [your company name] in [your city, state].”
In response, it returned 30 (!) suggestions broken into six categories, with links for all:
- Primary Citations (Most Important)
- Industry-Specific Citations (SEO Services)
- Local Los Angeles Citations
- General Business Citations
- Data Aggregators (Feed Multiple Directories)
- Additional Directories
Here are the first five results to give you an idea of how it responded:
- Google Business Profile – https://business.google.com
- Create and verify your business listing
- Add photos, business hours, services, and respond to reviews
- Bing Places for Business – https://www.bingplaces.com
- Microsoft’s business listing service
- Apple Maps – https://mapsconnect.apple.com
- Register through Apple Maps Connect
- Yelp – https://biz.yelp.com
- Claim your business listing
- Respond to reviews and add business details
- Facebook Business Page – https://www.facebook.com/business
- Create a local business page
- Add your NAP (Name, Address, Phone) information
Claude also gave me this sound advice: “Remember that quality is more important than quantity when it comes to citations. Focus on the most relevant directories for your business location and industry first.”
Outstanding!
Citation Best Practices (Important!):
- Ensure NAP (Name, Address, Phone) consistency across all listings
- Use a local phone number with area code
- Include business hours, payment methods, and parking information
- Add high-quality photos of your business
- Encourage satisfied clients to leave reviews
- Respond professionally to all reviews, both positive and negative
- Update listings if business information changes
- Include your website URL in all listings
In Conclusion
Local listings might not seem exciting, yet they create solid search outcomes. They are especially important for businesses that need to be competitive in crowded markets or geographic areas.
Businesses that dominate local search usually have two things going for them: a systematic approach for gathering reviews and a robust citation profile across relevant platforms.
So before you sink more money into fancy website features or paid ads, make sure your citations profile is solid. It’s one of the most cost-effective SEO investments you can make.
Need help getting your citations in order? GO-SEO is here to assist. Sometimes the most powerful SEO tactics aren’t the flashiest – but they’re the ones that your competitors might be too busy to handle properly.
