Citations are very important ranking factors in local SEO. When businesses and companies take hold of this, their local ranking during a local search is improved. Although If handled incorrectly, they cause a lot of havoc that will take a long time to fix. This article will get the right information about citations and what you need to do to manage them successfully.
What are Citations?
In simple terms, citations are any mention of your business or company online. Citations are any mention of your business name across the web, even if those mentions are not linked directly to your website. It could be in a business directory, blog, or another local website. Most of the common citations are listed on business directory websites such as Yell. Basic local citations consist of three important pieces of information; your business name, address, and phone number. Some business directory websites take more information, but those three are very important.
Why are Citations Important?
Citations, alongside other factors, are what Google considers when deciding whether to show your business listing to someone who has searched for your products or services. The quality and accuracy of your listing and the quality of the online directory influence how Google perceives your online presence.
Another thing Google put in mind is the proximity of your business to the location of the search showing the necessity of including your address. SEO analysts have also shown that getting citations from a site with high domain authority and high traffic can influence your ranking in local searches. Citations are another way to improve your local ranking or search engine optimization.
Another benefit of creating citations is being on online business directories that dominate page one of local search. Examples of such online business directories are Yelp and Yellowpages.
Importance of Local Business Citations
Local business citations are very important as it reveals the business to users and increases traffic to the business website or page. The following are a few benefits of local business citations;
● Increase traffic to your site
Citations increase or improve the ranking of the business and hence increase the business’s visibility on search engines. In turn, this converts to traffic on your site, giving you more customers or clients and helping to build your brand.
● Creates awareness
Local business citations create awareness for the business on search engines through online business directories, blog posts, etc. it is really helpful if the business is a new brand.
The accurate information given about the business can lead the user to your website.
● Build customer base
Listing your business in several online business directories with the help of goof local citations can help you build a bigger customer base. A very profundity way of building a large customer base is being genuine. Customers want to see how genuine your brand is and believe that they can trust it. Listing your business on local citations can prove your authenticity to your users.
Do You Need a GMB Page for Local Citation?
Yes, you need a GMB page for local citation. Google My Business (GMB) is one of the most valuable citations for your online presence. For your business to list on Google, it is expedient for business owners to create a business profile. Getting a GMB listing is straightforward, plus you don’t need to have a physical store to claim your listing as long as your service is useful for users.
How Citations Help with Local SEO
Creating and managing local citations is instrumental to a comprehensive local SEO strategy. As a business owner who isn’t currently using the power of citations, you should learn more about these simple SEO-boosting assets.
Citations are regarded as a ranking factor in local SEO. Having your company listed in reputable online directories sends signals to Google, increasing their confidence that your company exists. Although the importance has waned in recent years, citations are now regarded as a foundational tactic rather than the be-all and end-all of local SEO.
What Types of Citations Are There?
There are two types of local citations- Structured and Unstructured citations.
Structured Citations
Structured citations are the most common type of local citation. They are your company’s listings in relevant business directories and on third-party websites. These websites are massive, pre-existing business information databases that Google already trusts.
When it comes to structured citations, being listed in the most relevant directories to your industry is critical. Choosing the most appropriate category for your business on more general directories and other sites is critical. It helps Google understand your products or services and helps the right customers find you.
Unstructured Citations
Unstructured citations mention key business data on a page that is not grouped. This is likely in the example below if your company is mentioned in an online news article or blog post, such as Westgate Resorts.
As you can see, the bar’s name is mentioned throughout the text, with the address and phone number appearing at the end. Although unstructured citations aren’t as obvious to search engines as structured citations, they’re still useful for local SEO.
Three factors influence the worth of unstructured citations:
Location, Relevance of the industry, and website authority are all factors to consider.
Location
If your company is mentioned on a website with a local connection, this is more valuable than a mention on a website with no local connection. This is true for both the potential SEO value and the possibility that residents will discover your business due to this mention.
Relevance of Industry
Appearing on websites related to your industry or niche can help your SEO efforts. This also helps to get your message in front of interested people. For example, if you own a clothing brand and a nearby boutique mentions your products on its website, this may be more valuable than being mentioned on the website of a textile company.
Website Authority
When determining the value of unstructured citations, consider website authority (or domain authority). Suppose the citation appears on a website with high domain authority. In that case, this citation is likely to be more valuable to you than one from a website with low domain authority because domain authority is a recognized indicator of a website’s rankability in Google’s eyes.
How to Check Your Local Citations
Local listing management is constantly checking and updating the information required for a Google listing, such as the business location, website, address, and any other information required. This process is critical for your business because it allows you to update any information required on the websites of online business directories. It also helps to confirm the accuracy of your company’s information to avoid being overlooked during daily searches.
Local Citation Building Services
Citation building is the act of sending out consistent, accurate, and relevant information about your business to listing directories so that search engines and consumers know when, how, and where to find your local business. Some companies offer these services to make it very easy and stress-free for you, and they are called local citation building services. Different companies are offering these services, and here’s a list of the ones that have 5-star ratings:
1. Brightlocal local citations building and Cleanup services.
2. Revlocal Citations Building services.
3. Citation Buildup Pro.
4. Local Search Gurus.
5. SirLinksAlot.
Conclusion
Although the effect of citations on Local SEO is watered down, it is still an effective advertising strategy for businesses and companies. When building your local citation, ensure that you use online listings that are widely known and used, such as GMB, Yelp, and others. Do your research well and also hire a local citation building services.