Citation building is a key component of local SEO that involves acquiring mentions or citations of a business’s name, address, and phone number (NAP) on various online platforms, directories, and websites. Citations are important for establishing the credibility, authority, and relevance of a business in local search results, as search engines like Google use citations as a ranking factor to determine the prominence and trustworthiness of a business. Building high-quality citations from authoritative and relevant sources can help improve a business’s local search visibility, attract more customers, and strengthen its online reputation.
Effective citation building involves identifying and listing the business on popular online directories, review sites, and local business listings relevant to its industry or location. This may include platforms such as Google My Business, Yelp, Facebook, YellowPages, and industry-specific directories or associations. Additionally, businesses should ensure that their NAP information is accurate and consistent across all citations to avoid confusing search engines and users.
Also see: Black hat SEO, Gray hat SEO, Penalty recovery, Duplicate content, Thin content, Content silos, Site architecture, Internal site search, Local SEO, Google My Business, Online reviews, NAP consistency, Local citations
