Citations are mentions of your business on other websites (name, address, phone). Google uses citations as trust signals.
If you're only on your GBP, you're leaving 80% of your ranking potential on the table.
Why Citations Matter
Google asks: "Is this business real?" Citations are proof. The more places your business is listed, the more real Google thinks you are.
Citation count = Local Authority = Higher Rankings
Where to Build Citations
Top Tier
High Authority (Must Have)
- Google My Business
- Yelp
- Apple Maps
- Better Business Bureau
- Yellow Pages
Second Tier
Industry-Specific
- Angie's List (home services)
- Justia (legal)
- Healthgrades (medical)
- NAPFAM (financial)
- [Your industry's main directory]
Third Tier
Local + General
- Local chamber of commerce
- City business directories
- Neighborhood directories
- Industry associations
Citation Checklist: 20+ Free Directories
Get Listed on These:
- Yelp
- Google My Business
- Apple Maps
- Better Business Bureau
- Yellow Pages
- MapQuest
- Foursquare/Swarm
- Twitter (verified business)
- Instagram (business profile)
- TripAdvisor (if applicable)
- Nextdoor (neighborhood social)
- Manta
- Merchant Circle
- Clutch (service businesses)
- Thumbtack (service businesses)
- HomeAdvisor (contractors)
- ServiceMaster (local services)
- Local Chamber of Commerce
Plus: Industry-specific directories for your niche
CRITICAL: NAP Consistency in Citations
Every citation must have the SAME:
- Business name
- Address (exact spelling)
- Phone number
If you list "123 Main St" in one place and "123 Main Street" in another, that weakens your authority.
The Citation Building Process
- Audit current citations (search "[your business name]" across directories)
- List all missing platforms (compare to checklist above)
- Add NAP to missing directories (1 per day for consistency)
- Verify consistency (make sure every citation matches your GBP exactly)
- Maintain monthly (update hours, address changes, add new reviews)
Timeline
- Week 1: Add to 5 top-tier directories
- Week 2: Add to 5 second-tier directories
- Week 3: Add to 10 third-tier directories
- Result: 20+ citations in 3 weeks = immediate ranking boost
The Result
Clients typically see:
- Ranking movement: Within 30-45 days
- Click increase: 30-50% more clicks from maps
- Authority boost: Google sees you as legitimate
Want Done-For-You Citation Building?
We'll get you on 50+ directories with perfect NAP consistency.
Get Your Citation Strategy