A local citation is a listing of your business’s information in an online business directory like Google My Business, Yellow Pages, Better Business Bureau, Yelp, or an industry-relevant site. Online citations are all about validating your business’s existence so search engines have a greater chance of recommending your business at the top of their search.
Creating a website isn’t enough. You have to prove to Google you actually exist if you want to be considered in the search results. At Outpace we go above and beyond to validate businesses. We do this by utilizing online directories. An online business directory is a website containing lists of businesses operating within a certain location and industry. Each time a customer searches for a local service, the Google algorithm crawls through online directories to find local listings fitting specific parameters. If your business’s name, address, and phone number are listed across online directories, Google will consider displaying your business in their results.
Search engines aim at providing the most relevant search results to their users. The last thing they want to do is provide someone with the wrong business address or phone number. In order to avoid this incident, search engines look to ensure your business’s information is consistent across online directories. The more consistent your information, the more credible search engines will hold your business. If search engines find inconsistent information across the directories, they will be discouraged from showcasing your business. This is their way of ensuring they are passing along the right information to their customers. We ensure all of your information has been updated across the web so search engines have a greater chance of connecting you with people actively searching for your business.