We’re excited to announce that we have successfully completed over 50 local citations for your business—by hand! Unlike many agencies that charge $100 per month for this service, who then outsource it to a software, we provide it to you completely free of charge.
Why? Because we believe in giving your business the best possible advantage when it comes to local SEO and helping you succeed without unnecessary costs. Actually claiming citations is better than just temporarily updating a few directory sources, which is what Yext and other tools do in their monthly service. Ours is a permanent update, which doesn’t go away if you stop paying the monthly update fee.
We have a podcast with Darren Shaw, founder of Local Spark, where we talk about citations and local SEO, plus a guide on citations. We don’t expect business owners to know the details that VAs who implement must do, but it’s good to make sure everything is inspectable as a standard.
What are local citations and why do they matter?
Local citations are online mentions of your business’s name, address, and phone number (NAP) on other websites and directories. These citations are essential for improving your local SEO and serve as a digital footprint of your business’s existence and location, providing credibility and accuracy to search engines like Google, Bing, and Yelp. They’re essential for any SEO checklist.
Here’s why they’re so important and the advantages you now have because of them being implemented:
Boosting Your Local Search Visibility
Search engines like Google use local citations to confirm your business’s location and legitimacy. For example, if someone is searching for “roofing services near me” and your business is listed consistently across multiple directories, Google is more likely to show your business at the top of the search results.
This can mean more visibility, more traffic, and ultimately more customers to service.
If you’re a roofing company based in Terre Haute like Guarantee Roofing, having your business listed across directories like Yelp, Angie’s List, and Yellow Pages helps Google understand that you are a relevant choice when someone searches for “roofers near me” in that area.
Building Trust and Credibility
Every citation we built for your business comes from reputable websites such as Yelp, Yellow Pages, and niche industry directories. These platforms are trusted by search engines, which means your business is viewed as trustworthy as well. This increases the likelihood that people in your community will find and choose your services over your competitors. This is different than just setting up your GMB, this is an extension of our existing credibility for Google to crawl.
Imagine you’re a homeowner looking for an HVAC repair service in your area. When you see the same company listed on trusted sites like Google My Business, Angie’s List, and Thumbtack, you’re more likely to believe they are a legitimate and reliable service provider.
Take for example Star Heating & Cooling, an HVAC company in Fishers, IN. By making sure our address is updated we can be seen by more people for our Google Business Profile, resulting in more qualified calls in our local service area.
Higher Rankings in Google’s Local Pack
You’ve probably seen the “Local Pack”—that map with the top three businesses listed right underneath it—when you search for services like “pressure washing in Pompano Beach” or “landscaping near me.” One of the key factors that helps businesses rank in this Local Pack is having strong, accurate local citations.
Now that you have over 50 of them, you’re in a better position to claim one of these highly sought-after spots!
Here’s an example of All About Pressure Washing and Cleaning, now ranking in a local pack in Pompano Beach, FL.
Direct Leads from Citations
Many of the directories where your business is now listed are also sources of direct leads. Customers can call you straight from those listings without ever visiting your website. This means more qualified calls from people actively searching for your service!
For example, if someone finds your business on Yelp or the Better Business Bureau website, they can contact you directly, increasing your chances of converting that lead into a paying customer.
Even in unlikely places like Quora, some of our clients like Plumbing Pros LLC in Easton have seen an increase in lead volume.
Beating the Competition
Many local service businesses don’t realize how crucial citations are for SEO. They might not invest in this, or they’re paying agencies hundreds of dollars each year just to maintain their listings. Thanks to the effort we’ve put into creating these citations for you, you’ve gained a real competitive advantage at no extra cost.
Building An Accurate Digital Footprint is Key
We’ve taken the time to ensure your NAP (name, address, phone number) information is consistent across all 50+ citations. Inconsistent information can confuse search engines and hurt your rankings. By maintaining accuracy across all platforms, we’re ensuring that search engines like Google can confidently recommend your business to potential customers.
What’s Next?
With your citations in place, you’ve taken a huge step toward boosting your online presence and local SEO performance. This is just one part of the larger strategy we’re implementing to ensure your business dominates in your local area.
Stay tuned for more exciting updates as we continue to work on optimizing your business for maximum visibility and growth.
Once again, congratulations on completing this milestone. We’re proud to support you on your journey to success!