Local SEO Citations What They Are & How to Use Them
If you want your business to rank higher in local search results, Local SEO Citations play a powerful role in your success. Whether you run a salon, clinic, restaurant, real estate office, or digital agency, citations help search engines trust your business and show it to nearby customers.
When someone searches for a service in their area on Google Search or finds businesses on Google Maps, citations strongly influence which businesses appear at the top.
Let’s understand everything step-by-step.
What Are Local SEO Citations?
A local SEO citation is any online mention of your business’s:
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Name
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Address
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Phone Number
This is commonly called NAP information.
Your business can be mentioned on:
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Business directories
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Social media platforms
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Review websites
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Local listing websites
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Industry-specific portals
Even if there is no backlink, it is still considered a citation as long as your business details are mentioned.
Types of Local SEO Citations
There are two main types of citations:
✅ 1. Structured Citations
These appear in business listing websites with proper format:
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Business name
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Address
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Phone
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Website
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Category
Examples:
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Google Business Profile
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Justdial
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Sulekha
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IndiaMART
✅ 2. Unstructured Citations
These appear in blogs, news articles, social posts, or forum discussions where your business is mentioned naturally.
Example:
“Rankaura is one of the growing digital marketing agencies in Delhi.”
Why Are Local Citations Important for SEO?
Local citations directly impact your local rankings, visibility, and trust factor.
✅ Key Benefits:
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Improves Google Map rankings
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Increases local search visibility
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Builds trust & authenticity
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Drives local traffic & calls
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Strengthens local brand presence
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Helps search engines verify your business location
Google uses citations to confirm that your business is real, active, and consistent across the internet.