Citations: The Basics

[caption id="attachment_3157" align="alignleft" width="225"] The phone book may have gone the way of the dodo bird, but the importance of citations is anything but extinct! Photo credit: elizaIO / Foter / CC BY-SA[/caption] Whether you operate a small, mom-and-pop business or a multi-national behemoth, your brand is your company’s identity, and it has been compromised! Do a quick Google search of your brand name and chances are you’ll page through dozens of citations that you didn’t know existed. It’s time to take control of these and make sure the sites that list your business are a) reputable and b) provide accurate information. In honor of Whitespark’s excellent listing of the top citation sources by country, let’s take a look at the power a citation has and which sources you should target. But first, let’s get some basics out of the way.

What is a Citation?

Let me quell the collective groan I’m eliciting and inform you that no, you will not need an AP Stylebook for this task. A "citation" is any mention of your business on the web. Usually these mentions are pulled by directories building up their site content with the intention of attracting users. A full citation should include your NAP, or:

1. Name
2. Address
3. Phone Number

Note that a full citation does not necessarily include a link.

Why Bother?

Local SEO has exploded in the past year and citations are a large factor in how Google determines whether or not your site should rank locally. While we here at Ecreative tend to focus on B2B and making national connections for our clients, the importance of local ranking is undeniable. According to Moz, citations and NAP consistency make up 15% of Google’s local ranking factors. Taking control of your citations allows you to nurture your brand. When you Googled your brand name earlier, what did you see on the first page? Was it all related to your business? It should be. Take this opportunity to dominate your SERP. If there are any other options on the page – options that could lure potential customers away from you – push them off the page.

Which Citation Sources Should You Choose?

Take a look at your competitors. What does a branded search for them look like? Which sites list their citations? Take these sites into consideration when you are deciding which ones you will pursue. Yelp has incredible influence at the moment and you should definitely claim your citation on Yelp. Yellowpages, CitySearch, Bing Places and Facebook are all simple to claim and also give you the opportunity to add photos, hours and other useful information. Make your profiles look complete – if there is any space for info, use it! Although entering citations can be tedious, it is the first step in carving out your space online and letting your brand flourish. Make it easy for people to find you and take full advantage of your citations today!