Local Citations: The Foundation of Local SEO
Citations are mentions of your business name, address, and phone (NAP) across the web. Consistent citations build local search authority.
The big 5 directories
Google Business Profile, Yelp, Apple Maps, Bing Places, Facebook. Get listed and verified on all five before anything else.
Top 25 secondary directories
Yellow Pages, Foursquare, Better Business Bureau, Manta, Chamber of Commerce, plus industry-specific directories.
NAP consistency
Exact same name, address, and phone across every directory. Even small variations hurt rankings.
Citation audits
Use Moz Local, BrightLocal, or Whitespark to audit citations annually. Fix inconsistencies before they hurt rankings.
Niche citations
Industry-specific directories (TripAdvisor, Healthgrades, Avvo, etc.) often matter more than generic ones for niche businesses.
Tools to help
Social Perks integrates with citation management tools to ensure your data stays consistent everywhere.
Related topics
See also: Google Business Profile optimization, Local SEO fundamentals, Google Map Pack ranking, Local link building, Neighborhood marketing.
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