How Widespread Citations Can Boost Your Local SEO Efforts

Local directories are ideal for creating citations for local SEO. Citations are mentions of a businesses' name, address and phone number. Google uses citations to verify a business; every citation should have the same information. If your business changes its phone number, you have to update your citations. It's important to keep track of citations in case any of your NAP information changes. If you let someone else build your citations, they may hold your password hostage and you'll never be able to change your information.

Most publishers claim their listings on Yelp, Yellow Pages and other well-known nationwide business listing platforms, however, they are often many high-value local directories to build citations. Finding local directories to build your citations for local isn't difficult. Type your town or city name in Google followed by add your business, directory, submit company or add your site. Always review the site first to ensure it isn't a low quality directory published by companies which do this for each community in the country. Check your local Chamber of Commerce website, they often provide a directory, although you may have to be a member of the chamber to get your link added to the directory.

When you run out of local linking opportunities, look for industry specific ones. A few of these, such as TripAdvisor and FindLaw, will also drive traffic to your website. Some of these citations will cost money; don't pay for any citation unless it will bring you traffic.

Check your competition's citations. Your goal should be to have at least as much as they have, preferably more. In some small towns and certain industries, there are few local citation opportunities. Don't pay a service to build them for you if there are no opportunities left[ you'll get citations from low-quality directories. There's no set figure you need to dominate the local search results. For more information click here https://www.reddit.com/r/SEO/comments/c5467u/thefastestwaytospotlocalbusiness_directories/.