SEO Term Definition
Local Citations
Local citations are online mentions of a business's name, address, and phone number (NAP) on directories, review sites, and other websites, serving as a key ranking factor for local SEO.
Reviewed by Alexander Yarovenko · Updated: 2026-07-03
What are Local Citations?
Local citations are online mentions of a business's NAP: Name, Address, Phone number. They appear on directories (Google Business Profile, Yelp, TripAdvisor, Yellow Pages), local chamber of commerce sites, review platforms, and social profiles.
Why Citations Matter for Local SEO
- Trust and verification — consistent NAP data signals to Google the business is legitimate
- Local ranking factor — citation consistency is a significant local ranking signal
- Discovery — citation sources like Yelp drive direct referral traffic
Citation Best Practices
- Consistent NAP — name, address, and phone EXACTLY the same across all citations (even "St." vs "Street" matters)
- Prioritise core citations first — Google Business Profile is the most important
- Audit existing citations — use Moz Local, BrightLocal, or Semrush to find inconsistencies
- Update when you move or change numbers — outdated NAP data is worse than no citation