In our previous post, we talked about the importance of claiming your Google+ Local Page. The Google+ Local page (previously known as Google Place page) is just one of the many citation sites where you can list your business.
What is Local Citation?
Local citation, or “mention” of your business information on a website or page, is one way of building your site’s authority. Citations can be a mention of your business name, address and contact information in an online business directory website or a local business association website.
Why Should You Get Your Business Listed Locally?
According to David Mihm, one of the world’s leading local search engine marketing practitioners, citations make-up roughly 25% of local search engine ranking factors. This means that search engines consider a business’ local citations to determine its relevance to a search. But more than ranking well in local SEO, citation helps validate your business’ authenticity in the online world. Because it’s hard to fake membership to these local business listings, claiming your listings on these sites guarantees that your business information is true and accurate.
Where to Get Listed
According to Compete.com, the following are some of the largest local business directories in terms of traffic volume.
- Google+ Local
- Yellowpages.com
- Yelp
- Local.com
- WhitePages.com
- Manta
- SuperPages
- CitySearch
- Patch
- City-Data
- MerchantCircle
- Yellowbook.com
- Yahoo Local
- Mapquest
- Topix
- DexKnows
- Yellow.com
- BBB.org
- ServiceMagic
- Angieslist
- AreaConnect
- Foursquare
- AmericanTowns
- BizJournals
- White Pages
- Insider Pages
If you want to focus specifically on the top directories in your area, you can check this recently released data by Getlisted.org and Whitespark.ca, the Best Citation Source by US City.
Are You Ready to Get Listed?
The most important thing before beginning with citations is to make sure that all your business information is accurate, consistently displayed, and that you make each listing as robust as possible by adding photos, videos, etc., where allowed. Need help getting started? Drop us a note.
