Citations
Online mentions of a business's name, address, and phone number (NAP) that help establish local search presence
Table of Contents
Detailed Explanation
Citations are references to a business's NAP information across the internet. They play a crucial role in local SEO by helping search engines verify business information and determine local search rankings. Citations can appear on business directories, social platforms, and industry-specific websites.
Key Components
NAP Consistency
Uniform business information
Citation Sources
Directory and platform selection
Information Accuracy
Data verification and updates
Citation Quality
Source authority and relevance
Best Practices
- Maintain consistent NAP
- Choose quality directories
- Regular citation audits
- Remove duplicate listings
- Update changed information
Common Challenges
Data Consistency
Maintaining uniform information
Citation Building
Scaling citation creation
Update Management
Handling information changes
Implementation Guide
1
Citation Audit
Review existing citations
2
Source Selection
Choose citation platforms
3
Information Verification
Confirm business details
4
Citation Creation
Build new citations
5
Monitoring
Track citation health
Tools and Features
Ahrefs
Key Features
- Site Explorer
- Local SEO
- Link Analysis
Citation Tracking
Monitor business mentions
Source Analysis
Evaluate citation quality