Local citations consist of a business’s name, address, and phone number (NAP) on websites, directories, apps, and social platforms and are a foundational element of local SEO. For local businesses, consistent, accurate citations help search engines trust your location data, improve visibility in local search and Google Business Profile results, and make it easier for customers to find and contact you. This post explains what local citations are, why they matter, common citation problems, and a step-by-step cleanup process you can follow (or offer as a service). It includes practical examples, a short case study, and places to insert images with suggested alt text.

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Why Local Citations Matter

Trust Signal For Search Engines: Search engines cross-check NAP details across many sources. Consistent citations increase confidence in your business’s existence and location.  

Local Search Ranking Factor: Accurate citations influence local pack and map rankings, especially for small businesses with limited backlinks.  

Customer Discovery And Convenience: Citations on directories, review sites, and apps help customers find your phone number, directions, and hours.  

Duplicate Suppression And Fraud Prevention: Clean citations reduce the risk of duplicate listings and incorrect entries created by third parties or data aggregators.

Types Of Local Citations

Structured Citations: Entries in business directories or databases where NAP fields exist explicitly (e.g., Yelp, Yellow Pages, Foursquare, local chamber directories).  

Unstructured Citations: Mentions on blogs, news sites, social posts, or event pages where NAP appears within body text.  

Aggregator Databases: Major data providers (e.g., Apple Maps provider, Infogroup, Localeze) that feed downstream directories and apps.  

Niche/Local Sites: Industry-specific directories (e.g., health directories, legal directories) and community sites (e.g., neighborhood guides, local blogs).  

Social profiles: Facebook Page, LinkedIn Company, Instagram (bio), and other platform profiles that list contact info.

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