What is local citation?
A mention of your business name, address and phone number on another website or directory.
The plain definition
A local citation is any place on the web that lists your business name, address and phone number, whether or not it links to your site. Online directories, chamber of commerce pages, industry listings and map apps are common examples. Search engines compare these details across sources.
An example
Your business is listed on a directory under an old phone number and a suite number you no longer use. A customer who finds that listing calls the wrong line, and a search engine sees conflicting details. Correcting the entry removes the confusion.
Why it matters for a local business
Consistent details build trust that your business is real and where you say it is. Start with the listings that matter most to your trade and area, make the name, address and phone number match your Google Business Profile exactly, and fix or remove duplicates as you find them.
Check it for free
See where you stand with the free google business profile checker. If you would rather have it handled, our Google Business Profile service covers this as part of the monthly work.
Related terms
Part of the SEO glossary. New to all this? Start with the beginner’s SEO guide.
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