A citation is any place online that lists your business name, address and phone number, with or without a link. Examples are Yell, Checkatrade, Bing Places, Facebook and local directories.
Why they matter
Citations help Google confirm that your business is real and that its details are consistent. If your name, address and phone number match across the web, Google trusts them more. They are one small part of prominence. See Google Maps ranking factors.
Consistency beats quantity
The key is that your details are the same everywhere. A different phone number, an old address or “Ltd” in one place and not another creates doubt. Pick one version of your business name, address and number and use it exactly.
If you work from home and hide your address on your profile, make sure you do not show it on other sites either.
Which ones to start with
You do not need hundreds. A sensible list for a trade business is:
- Your Google Business Profile and Bing Places.
- Apple Maps (through Apple Business Connect).
- Facebook and your main social profiles.
- The trade bodies or schemes you belong to.
- A handful of respected directories for your trade and area.
Watch out for low-quality directories
Paying for lists of dozens of directories rarely helps and can bring spam. Choose places that real customers use or that are tied to your trade.
Keep them up to date
If you change phone number or address, update every listing. It is easy to forget, and old details can confuse both customers and Google.
Your website is the main one
Your own website should show your name, address and phone number in the footer and on the contact page, matching your profile exactly. See keeping business details consistent.
A short list of accurate, consistent listings does more than a long list of messy ones.