When someone begins discussing local citation building, many people wonder, what is a local citation and how will it benefit their SEO? These are good questions. A local citation is any mention of a business’s name, it’s the address or phone number. Some SEOs believe these are a key ranking factor when it comes to local SEO.
A citation can appear in a variety of locations. They can be found on social networks, in business directories, or anywhere else where someone may be searching for information about a specific local business. Keep reading to learn more about local citations and their importance.
The Importance of Local Citations
There are two main things that citations are useful. First of all, they help achieve higher rankings for the local search queries, in some cases. They also help searchers discover a business online.
Citations Effect on Local SEO
Citations are believed to assist search engines to verify the existence, trustworthiness, and legitimacy of a business. If the very same details are seen across several trusted and relevant websites, then there is a higher chance that Google will be convinced that the business really exists, is operational, and what they say is true. In fact, according to one survey, citations are considered the fifth most important ranking factor for the local queries.
With that in mind, there are a few things to understand. Not all SEOs believe that a citation is still important. In fact, there are some who do not believe that citations are very important; however, they are worth investing in and make enough of a difference to make them worthwhile.
How Citations Help People Discover a Business
Not everyone is going to use Google to find local businesses. Sometimes, they go to sites like Yellow Pages, Yelp, or even specialist directories. This is one of the best results to be listed here. The other reason is that business directories will often dominate the search results when it comes to local queries. If someone were to search a term like “plumber Atlanta” the top results are not plumber’s websites. Instead, they are business directories that list many different plumbers. Since Google offers up these results to searchers, it is essential that all businesses are cited here. This is the only way that searchers are going to be able to find the business.
Tips for Building Business Citations
When it comes to building business citations, the process is actually easier than it may seem. A person can visit the site where they want their business listed and submit their information. Sites like Google, for example, will send a postcard to the address with a code. Once the code is put into the browser, the citation is approved.
Each site is unique, but this is a basic way that it works. Being informed is the best way to ensure that the quality citations a busines needs for success are achieved. Keep this in mind to help ensure that the citations needed for success are achieved.
