Citations are mentions of your business's NAP (Name, Address, Phone) on other websites, directories or review platforms. Without a link. Citations signal local authority.
A citation is a mention of a business's Name, Address and Phone on an external site, without a hyperlink relationship. Example: a directory says "Rank-Ro, London, 0731123456" (not a link). Or a listings site: "XYZ Salon, 10 Main St, 0212345678". Citations build trust and signal that the business is real. Google uses citations for local ranking. Citation consistency (the same NAP across the web) = better than a single citation. More citations on quality directories = higher local ranking.
Citations from quality directories influence Local Pack ranking. A business without citations = locally invisible. With 10-20 citations = higher local ranking.
Source: Moz β Local CitationsLocal SEO optimizes your site and business profile to appear in Google Maps and local search results for location keywords ("hair salon London").
Google Business Profile is a free Google tool where you manage how your business appears in Google Maps and local search results. Essential for companies with a physical location.
NAP = Name, Address, Phone. NAP consistency means a business's Name, Address and Phone are identical across the whole web (site, GBP, directories). Inconsistency = poor local ranking.
Google reviews are ratings and comments left by customers on a Google Business Profile. Positive reviews = higher trust, more local traffic. Negative reviews = a problem.
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