Local SEO citations are an important part of a business’s overall marketing strategy. They help potential customers find your business, as well as boost your SEO rankings.
Citations are an online mention of a business’s name, address and phone number (NAP). They can be structured or unstructured, but both are helpful to local SEO.
Structured citations are often found in business directories and social sites, where the information needed is normally standardised. They can include a link to the business website, opening hours and images.
Unstructured NAP citations can be found in a variety of places, including blog posts and press releases. They aren’t usually as effective as structured citations, but they can be a useful addition to your local SEO.
Claim your Google My Business page and make sure that your NAP is correct and consistent across all citations you’re mentioned on. This will improve your search visibility and drive footfall.
Get your name, address and phone number on as many online directories as possible. This can take time, but it’s worth it.
Ensure that your NAP is the same on all of your citations, and that you use the same name and address in the description of each citation. This will make it easier for Google to verify your business data.
It’s also a good idea to submit your NAP to local search directories like Bing Local and Yelp, as they’re a great way of showing your business’s credibility.
You can either do this manually by yourself, or you can use a service to submit your information for you. Some services offer a free trial, and you can pay for each citation individually.
If you’re a small business, obtaining citations can be a bit of a pain. The process involves entering your business’s information into each directory site one by one, so it can be a lot of work to do.
While it can be a hassle to get citations, they’re an essential part of your local SEO. They’re also a great way to promote your brand and show off your business’s uniqueness.
They can be beneficial to a wide range of businesses. If you run a small coffee shop, for example, getting NAP citations can increase your chances of ranking for relevant keywords.
Another benefit of obtaining citations is that it can help you build relationships with other local businesses, and in turn, foster repeat business. People are more likely to support a company that they trust and are familiar with, so this can be an excellent way of building up your reputation and expanding your customer base.
A growing number of consumers are embracing the local movement, which has made it more important than ever for businesses to show that they’re a part of their community. This is why local SEO citations are so important, as they can help you foster lasting relationships with potential customers and show your commitment to the local community.
In fact, according to Nectafy, 88% of people who conduct a local search will visit or call your business within 24 hours. This is an incredible opportunity for you to convert window shoppers into devoted customers!