Been Working on Adding More Citations

 How I'm Working on Citations to Improve Local SEO

One of the most important aspects of local SEO is building and maintaining accurate citations. Citations—mentions of a business’s name, address, and phone number (NAP) on various directories—help establish credibility with search engines and improve local rankings. Over the past few weeks, I’ve been working on auditing, updating, and adding new citations to strengthen my SEO efforts.

Auditing Existing Citations

The first step was conducting a citation audit. I checked major directories where my business was already listed, such as Google Business Profile, Bing Places, Yelp, and industry-specific directories. I used tools to help identify inconsistencies and duplicate listings that needed to be corrected or removed. Having consistent NAP information across the web is crucial for search engines to trust a business’s legitimacy.

Fixing Inconsistencies

During the audit, I found some outdated or incorrect information that needed to be updated. Some directories had an old address, while others had slight variations in the business name or phone number. Even small differences, like missing suite numbers or abbreviations, can cause ranking issues. I systematically corrected each listing to ensure uniformity across all platforms.

Adding New Citations

After cleaning up existing citations, I moved on to adding my business to directories where it wasn’t yet listed. I focused on high-quality platforms that provide SEO value, including:

• General directories: Yellow Pages, Apple Maps, and Foursquare

• Industry-specific directories

• Local directories: Chamber of Commerce sites and city-specific business listings

• Data aggregators: Sites like Data Axle and Factual distribute business information to multiple directories, helping to expand reach.

Tracking & Maintaining Citations

SEO is an ongoing process, so I set up a system to track my citations. I created a spreadsheet to monitor listings, note submission dates, and keep track of any required updates. I also plan to periodically check for new opportunities to add citations and ensure my existing listings remain accurate.

The Impact on Local SEO

Citations play a critical role in improving search visibility, especially for local searches. Keeping them accurate and expanding my presence across multiple directories helps build authority, drive more local traffic, and improve rankings. This is an ongoing project, but so far, the results have been promising.

By focusing on citations, I’m reinforcing my business’s credibility in search engines’ eyes, making it easier for potential customers to find me when they need my services.