Like many aspects of digital marketing, citations are complex. As an integral part of a plumber SEO strategy, they display pertinent business information and show viewers that the business exists both online and at a physical location. Do citations help SEO?
Rival Digital’s talented marketers explore the topic below. Find out how to work local SEO citations into your strategy with our expert insights.
How Do Search Engines Work?
Search engines connect potential customers with online and local businesses. Therefore, you must ensure all digital elements, from your website to your social media platforms, adhere to a well-rounded SEO strategy. When you take your local business online, you should adhere to organic and local SEO best practices to help your brand rank well in local searches.
Organic SEO
Organic SEO attracts a broader online audience. For example, your local business might have a physical storefront as well as an online store. Your brand should rank well in Google Search to attract an online audience that might purchase from the digital catalog.
Therefore, you might publish content that positions your website and local citations within specific industry categories. You want to earn citations on industry-specific sites to attract online customers seeking that particular business category.
Local SEO
Local SEO helps you show up in local search engine rankings. When a searcher looks up specific local businesses, they often input location-specific keywords to find the closest matches. For example, you might input “plumbing company in City, State” into the search bar. The engine will find local search results that match the service and location. These search results are often determined based on the searcher’s proximity to your physical location, but there are various strategies to help improve your results.
What Are Citation Websites?
Citations can improve organic and local rankings in search engines. But how do citations help SEO, and what are they, anyway? Simply put, a citation is an online mention of your business. It may feature your brand name, address, and phone number alongside other business data.
Some commonly used local citation categories include:
- Online business directories like Google Business Profiles
- GPS applications like Apple Maps
- Social media platforms like Facebook
- Review sites like Yelp
Essentially, local citations are any online reference that mentions your business.
Do Citations Help SEO for Local Businesses?
Yes, citations on local directory sites and other platforms can help SEO for a local business. However, you must ensure data accuracy and citation consistency throughout each platform. There are a few ways you can do this:
- Choose trusted online directories. While citations exist in almost every corner of the internet, not all of them are trustworthy. Some post spam profiles that aim to scam users.
- Cross-check NAP data accuracy. NAP information includes name, address, and phone number. Each listing must reflect the same information on your website.
- Regularly update individual business listings and profiles. Consistent activity is an essential ranking factor. Some directory listings, like Google Business Profiles, allow you to publish posts on your profile.
- Ensure your website aligns with each online business directory. The business data on your website should perfectly match the info on your local listings. Ensure they represent each product or service you provide and feature keywords similar to your website content.
- Respond to reviews posted on your local citations. Engaging with customers demonstrates transparency. Even negative reviews offer an opportunity to repair customer relationships and improve your service.
How Can You Obtain More Citations for Your Local Business?
Building citations successfully requires that you understand the two citation types. Structured and unstructured citations differ in how you build them and where they show up. There are many tools that can assist with building citations, so it’s good to know the different kinds of citations that you can and should be building for your home service business. You can increase your citation numbers in the following ways.
Structured Citations
Structured citations include local business directories, social media profiles, and review sites. Claim all your citations and flesh out the input fields with accurate information. Even if you only want to manage a few profiles, you should still gain control of as many citations as possible. Otherwise, rogue or unclaimed profiles could affect your SEO performance.
Unstructured Citations
Unstructured citations include blog, video, or social media content controlled by another party. For example, influencers, content creators, and other businesses might mention your brand in a post. Network with related (but not competing) local businesses and content creators to build professional relationships and earn unstructured citations on their platforms.
Improve Your Local Search Rankings With Rival Digital
Do citations help SEO and visibility? They certainly can when paired with the right marketing formula. Rival Digital specializes in helping web surfers discover local businesses like yours. Call 800-674-9823 to consult with our team about making the most of your citations. Discover more today.
