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Gaining Local Citations for Local SEO (The Ultimate Guide)

Local search is more important than ever for businesses that want to thrive in their local communities. 

Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) has made it easier than ever for users to find a business, its website, and its address. 

(You may want to read about 5 factors to focus on your Google Business Profile.)

When it comes to ranking organically on Google, though, things get trickier. 

Local SEO experts understand the value of citations and third-party websites when it comes to boosting a business’ visibility on Google Maps and local search results. 

More importantly, they also understand how to use these assets effectively when building an SEO strategy for a business. 

Local SEO has become an expansive field where lots of different players are coming forward with different tips and tricks on how to rank higher in local search results. 

In this blog post, let’s discuss everything you need to know about local citations in local SEO. 

What are Local Citations?

Citations are sources that local directories and review sites use to verify your business’ information and address. 

They provide a valuable service for online users who want to find your business online, but they also carry weight with search engines. 

Third-party websites are an important part of any local SEO strategy because they help boost your visibility in search. 

Getting citations is a great way to get your business information out there and make it easier for people to find you on the web. 

The best citation sources include your business name and address information, as well as your website URL. 

If you have more than one address, you can include those as well, but it’s important to choose the one that you want your citations to direct back to, since more than one address could go to the same page. 

Why Are Local Citations Important in Local SEO?

Citations represent third-party authority and trust, which is invaluable to businesses looking to rank higher in local search. 

Citations are the result of an editorial process and are often the recognition of journalists or other experts in the field. 

They are also an important part of any search engine algorithm. 

Google and other search engines use citations to improve their understanding of your business’ information and address, which can have a positive impact on your rankings. 

In fact, citations are one of the most important factors for local businesses when it comes to ranking in local search results. 

A single citation can result in up to a 17% increase in click-through rates, and an increase in conversion rates of up to 49%. 

How to Add and Remove Your Business from Local Directories

The best way to build citations for your business is to add your information to local listings on directories like Yelp, Yellow Pages, and Google Business Profile. 

There are also niche-specific directories that can be helpful for certain businesses. 

While it’s important to add your information to these sites, it’s also important to remove your information from sites that you don’t want to show up in search results. 

To remove your information from a local directory, you can go to the directory’s website and click the “remove listing” or “edit listing” button. 

In some directories, you may have to contact the editor directly and ask to remove or edit your listing.

Be sure to check for multiple listings for your business, too. 

You may have entered your information on the site once, but it could have been added multiple times by a different user. 

When Are Local Citations Important in Local SEO?

Local citations are important for local SEO from the start of your SEO campaigns. 

However, they aren’t something that you can build overnight. 

It takes time to build citations and get your information verified in local directories. 

Ideally, you want to start your local citation building at least three months before you plan to launch your SEO campaign. 

This will give you time to build citations and have them show up in local search before you begin your launch. 

If you’re just starting out with your local SEO campaigns, then citations aren’t a high priority. 

Instead, focus on building your website, improving your keyword research, and conducting more thorough keyword research. 

After you’ve got a few months under your belt with your SEO campaigns, you can start building citations. 

How to Build Good Local Citations for Your Business?

There are a few different ways to build citations for your business. 

You can add your information to local directories, or you can get in touch with journalists or bloggers in your industry to request a citation for your business.

There are even a couple of automated tools that allow you to automatically create citations and build links to your website. 

However, the best way to go about building citations is to create them manually. 

Automated tools don’t always follow the proper citation format, and they don’t allow you to optimize your citations for search. 

Manual citations allow you to add the information that Google wants to see in your business information and they allow you to craft an attractive website link that will drive traffic to your website. 

The Bottom Line

Overall, citations are an important part of local SEO campaigns. 

They can help improve your click-through rates and conversion rates, and they help Google understand your business information and address more thoroughly.

Once you’ve started building citations, make sure you’re following the proper citation format. 

Don’t try to build citations manually unless you know what you’re doing, or you risk damaging your SEO campaign.

A local SEO agency could help you in creating citations for your website. You may want to check out how to get a local SEO agency for your business.

If you are looking for one of the best local SEO consultants in Kerala to build citations and help you in local SEO, then contact me now.

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