What It Is
A local citation is any online mention of your business name, address, and phone number. This includes listings on directories like Yelp, Yellow Pages, Angi, BBB, Facebook, and dozens of smaller industry-specific sites. Citations can be structured, meaning they live in a standard directory format, or unstructured, meaning they appear in a news article, blog post, or event listing.
Why It Matters
Google uses citations to confirm that your business exists and to verify the details you provide on your Google Business Profile. When your name, address, and phone number match across dozens of sites, Google treats your business as trustworthy and is more likely to rank you in local search results. Inconsistent or missing citations can drag down rankings, even when everything else on your profile is correct.
Common Misconception
Many owners think more citations are always better. What actually matters is consistency across the citations you have, not the raw number. Ten correct citations beat fifty mismatched ones.
FAQ
How many local citations does my business need?
Most local service businesses do well with 25 to 50 accurate citations on established directories. Prioritize the big general directories first, then the ones specific to your industry.
What happens if my citations have different phone numbers?
Google may get confused about which number is current and either show customers an old one or downrank you. The fix is to audit every directory you appear on and update any listing that does not match your current details.
Do paid citation services work?
Services like Yext or Moz Local can save time by syncing your details across many directories at once. They are worth the fee for most busy owners, but you can also build citations manually for free if you have the time.
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