If you want your business to rank in local search results—the ones that appear when someone searches for "plumber near me" or "best dentist in Salt Lake City"—local citations are essential.

But what exactly are citations, and why do they matter so much for local SEO?

What Is a Local Citation?

A local citation is any online mention of your business that includes your Name, Address, and Phone number (NAP). Citations typically appear in:

Business directories: Yelp, Yellow Pages, Angi, BBB
Industry-specific directories: Healthgrades, Avvo, Houzz
Local directories: Chamber of Commerce, local business associations
Social media profiles: Facebook, LinkedIn company pages
Data aggregators: Factual, Neustar, Foursquare

Why Citations Matter for Local SEO

Citations serve as trust signals for search engines. When Google sees your business information consistently across many reputable sites, it gains confidence that your business is legitimate, established, and located where you say you are.

Citation Quality Factors

Accuracy: Information matches your Google Business Profile exactly
Consistency: Same NAP format everywhere it appears
Authority: Citations on respected, high-quality sites
Relevance: Industry-specific citations for your business type

The Importance of NAP Consistency

NAP consistency is critical. Even small variations can confuse search engines:

"123 Main Street" vs "123 Main St" vs "123 Main St."
"Suite 100" vs "#100" vs "Ste 100"
"(555) 123-4567" vs "555-123-4567" vs "555.123.4567"

Choose one format and use it everywhere—starting with your website and Google Business Profile.

Essential Citations for Every Local Business

Tier 1: Primary Data Aggregators

These aggregators feed data to hundreds of other directories:

Data Axle (formerly Infogroup)
Neustar Localeze
Foursquare
Factual

Tier 2: Major Directories

Yelp
Facebook
Apple Maps
Bing Places
Yellow Pages
Better Business Bureau

Tier 3: Industry-Specific Directories

These vary by industry:

Contractors: Angi, HomeAdvisor, Houzz, BuildZoom
Dental: Healthgrades, Zocdoc, Vitals
Legal: Avvo, FindLaw, Justia
Restaurants: TripAdvisor, OpenTable, Zomato

Building Citations Effectively

Step 1: Audit Existing Citations

Before building new citations, audit what already exists. Look for inaccurate information, duplicate listings, and old addresses or phone numbers.

Step 2: Fix Inconsistencies

Claim and correct any listings with wrong information. This is often more impactful than building new citations.

Step 3: Submit to Key Directories

Manually submit to the most important directories. Start with aggregators, then major directories, then industry-specific sites.

Step 4: Monitor and Maintain

Citations require ongoing maintenance. Data can drift over time as aggregators update, sites change, or your business information changes.

Common Citation Mistakes

Duplicate listings: Multiple profiles on the same directory confuse search engines
Old information: Outdated addresses or phone numbers hurt rankings
Inconsistent formatting: Variations in NAP format reduce trust
Wrong categories: Miscategorized listings limit visibility

Get Help with Citation Building

Citation building and management is a core component of our local SEO services. We help businesses across Utah, Nevada, Arizona, and beyond build strong citation profiles that support local rankings.

Local Citation Building: The Foundation of Local SEO