Structured local citations
Creating and building structured local citations is an effective way to boost your search engine rankings. They can help you reach your local target audience and increase discoverability. They also provide valuable information about your business to potential customers. Structured local citations include social media sites, Google Business Profiles, and industry-specific directories. It is important to understand these citations so that you can use them correctly.
In local SEO, you need to create citations that include your business’s NAP (Name, Address, and Phone Number). If you use different NAPs across the web, Google will consider your citations inconsistent, which can negatively impact your ranking. Inconsistent citations can cause customer journey problems, which can lead to less sales.
Structured local citations are created by a third party, like a data aggregator, which gathers information from other online sources and shares it with other websites. Some of these citation sites also function as review sites. Reviews on these sites help to build trust in your brand, which is important in SEO. You can use platforms like Podium to promote your business and encourage customers to leave reviews.
Structured local citations should include a link to your website. Searchers are more likely to click on a link that is attached to content. You should also use keywords in your description to improve your ranking on search engines. You should also add business categories to your local citations. These categories allow potential customers to understand your domain and find your services. It is important to have a clear description of your business so that potential customers can understand the services that you offer. It is also important to include images and videos to give visitors a more in-depth view of your business.
To build citations for local SEO, you should start with social media profiles. These accounts should be updated with accurate business information and include your business’s name, phone number, and address. You should also have a general business email rather than your personal email. Adding your business to a local charity or sports team can also be a great way to build links.
Structured local citations include business descriptions, business images, and business categories. These descriptions should include the best keywords to improve your SEO. You should also include your website’s URL and NAP. You can use platforms like Podium to create reviews on your business’s website and social media accounts. This will increase your chances of generating business. You should also include your business’s hours of operation. During festivals or holiday periods, you should also list these hours so that customers can find out about them.
You can also use GMB (Google My Business) to create a listing for your business. You can add a toll-free number as the primary number on your listing. However, you will need to confirm your connection with the business before adding it to the listing. If you have any questions or concerns, you can contact GMB support.
Creating citations is not an easy task. You should use citation automation tools to make repetitive tasks easier. You should also check your existing listings for errors. Inconsistent information can hurt your search engine rankings and confuse consumers.
