Everything You Need to Know About Citation Building
If you asked an SEO expert, “What can I do to improve my SEO ranking?” Citation building would be near the top of their list.
What are citations, what can they do for you, and how do you ‘build’ them? In this blog, we’re going to answer these questions and more. We’ll show you to build brand awareness through local citations and climb to the top of Google search results.
What are Citations?
In the world of digital marketing, a citation is any mention of your business name, address, and telephone number (also known as your NAP) on the internet. SEOs divide citations into two categories:
- Structured citations: every instance that your NAP is listed in a business directory, map application, or social media platform.
- Unstructured citations: every time your business is mentioned or referred to on the web (articles, blogs, newspapers, periodicals, etc.)
Citations boost your online visibility, and they can improve your online ranking too. Businesses and entrepreneurs of all sorts embrace citations—and you should too.
The Many Types of Citations
When we talk about citations at LinkNow, we’re usually referring to any of the many online business listing directories. Some of the most essential citations available to you include:
- Yelp
- Yellowpages
- DexKnows
- Apple Maps
- Superpages
These citations are free, and they’re also incredibly valuable. Creating citations on these platforms is easy, too—but managing all of them can become a little time-consuming. That’s why business owners near and far enlist the services of SEO experts.
What Citations Can Do for You
We can’t overstate the importance of online citations. Citations help build brand awareness, for starters—they’re a mode of free advertising. What’s more, they establish your trustworthiness. An accurate and well-maintained citation has the same effect as a helpful website.
They’re also very important to Google’s algorithms. Google’s algorithms take your citations into account when determining your online ranking (where Google places your website in search results). The citations verify that your business is legitimate and trustworthy.
The more citations you have, the more credible you will seem.
How to Build Citations
Building citations is relatively easy, as many of these directories are user-friendly and free to use. Things only start to get complicated when you have many citations that need consistent monitoring. Many SEO experts believe that your business should build upwards of twenty new citations within the first few months of opening your business. Is that something you really have time to worry about?
That is why many businesses rely on the services of citation experts like us. We optimize your citations by making sure all the information is accurate and up-to-date.
Always ‘Clean Up’ Your Citations
When you set out to create some citations of your own, you might notice that a few already exist. These ones might have been created by data aggregators or by a colleague of yours. In some cases, these citations have incorrect business information.
All your citations need to have 100%correct business information. Inconsistent NAPs confuse Google and customers alike. When those citations are accurate and easily verifiable, you’re more likely to get the clients you deserve.
Keeping track of all your citations is a lot of work, even for the savviest business owner. LinkNow Media offers exceptional local marketing services, from NAP clean-ups to citation building and more. For assistance, drop us a line at 1.888.667.7186, or email us at website@linknowmedia.com.
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