Local Citation Building
Local citation building and cleanup, so your business name, address and phone match everywhere Google cross checks.
A citation is any online mention of your business name, address and phone number: Yelp, Angi, the Better Business Bureau, Apple Maps, Bing, your local chamber of commerce and hundreds of smaller directories. Google uses them to confirm that your business is real and that your details are correct.
Why citations still matter
Citations will not push you to the top of the map on their own. But wrong or conflicting details hold you back. An old address from before you moved, a tracking number from an agency you left, or two listings with slightly different names all make Google less sure about you. Consistency matters far more than volume.
Our local citation building process
- Audit. We find where your business is already listed and record every version of your name, address and phone number.
- Clean up. We correct wrong details, merge or remove duplicates, and update listings that point to old numbers or addresses.
- Build. We create the listings you are missing on the directories that matter for your trade and area, using one consistent set of details.
- Monitor. Directories sometimes change details on their own. We check the important ones and fix anything that drifts.
Directories that matter for contractors
- Major platforms. Apple Maps, Bing Places, Yelp, Facebook and the Better Business Bureau.
- Home service directories. Sites homeowners use to find and compare contractors, such as Angi, Houzz, Thumbtack and Nextdoor.
- Data aggregators. Services that feed business details to many smaller directories at once.
- Trade and local sites. Industry associations, manufacturer dealer locators and your local chamber of commerce.
Common problems we fix
- Old addresses still showing after a move.
- Call tracking numbers left behind by a previous marketing company.
- Duplicate listings created automatically by directories.
- Different versions of your business name, such as with and without LLC.
- Listings for a service area business that show a home address you want hidden.
Questions about local citation building
How many citations do I need?
There is no magic number. Accurate listings on the important platforms plus the directories relevant to your trade matter much more than hundreds of low quality listings.
Do you use automated submission tools?
We use them where they help, such as data aggregators, and do the important listings by hand so they are accurate.
Who owns the listings you create?
You do. We create them under your business details and hand over logins wherever the platform allows.
Is citation building included in Local Growth?
Yes. Cleanup and building are part of the monthly work, and the most urgent fixes are part of the Local Tune-Up.
See what is holding back your calls
Tell us your business and city. We record a short video of your Google presence and show you exactly where we would start.
We work with one contractor per trade in each service area. Request your audit and we will tell you whether your area is still open.
Messages and audit requests answered within one business day.