Local Citation is a key component of SEO and can be a great way to get your business to the top of the search engines. It is also very important for referral traffic. This article from Rank Boss will explain how to use citations and directories to drive targeted traffic to your website.
Structured vs. unstructured citations. A local citation refers to a business name, address, and phone number (NAP) on an online platform. It is an effective way to boost your ranking in search engines. There are two types of citations, unstructured and structured. Structured citations are more common. These are placed on third-party websites such as Google My Business, Yelp, Apple Maps, Facebook, and Bing. They usually contain all the information a customer needs. For example, a restaurant can include its menu, hours, contact information, and photos.
Unstructured citations are not as organized, but they can still be useful. You may find mentions of your business on blog posts, forum discussions, news articles, and other non-business-specific websites. The key to getting a citation is to make sure the information you provide is accurate. Three factors determine how effective an unstructured citation is: domain authority, industry relevance, and local relevance. Each one has a different impact.
When it comes to local search results, the quality of online directories can play a big part in how Google perceives your business. You’ll want to make sure you’re listed in as many relevant directories as possible. This helps increase the number of people able to find your business.
There are two main types of local citations. The first is structured, which refers to listings on business-specific directories, like Yelp. Structured citations will usually contain your name, address, phone number, and website.
However, there are unstructured citations, which are more likely to happen on non-business-specific websites such as blogs. These citations don’t include all the information about your business, but they can still be valuable to your local SEO efforts.
It’s also important to be consistent with your citations. If you’re not, your local citations can begin to spread inaccurate information about your business. Not only can this hurt your reputation, it could also hurt your rankings.
There are many ways to get your business noticed, but obtaining the requisite citations is a surefire way to do so. Obtaining a citation is a time consuming and costly process, but the resulting SEO boost should pay off in the form of increased web traffic and sales. As with most digital marketing endeavors, a sound marketing strategy is key to success.
The first step is to identify a good list of potential local citation sources. This can be accomplished with a little research. A Google search will turn up numerous free directories that cater to your target demographic. You can also scour the local media to find out which local papers cite your business as well. One of the more challenging parts of this endeavor will be deciding which ones are worth the time and money. Once you’ve whittled down your list to a manageable number, it’s time to start the real work. It’s a good idea to keep a spreadsheet of prospective sites so that you can prioritize which ones are the most relevant.
Referral traffic is the term used to describe visitors who arrive at a website through another site. This type of traffic has many advantages. Aside from providing a consistent source of traffic, referral traffic can also provide access to contacts, increase sales, and improve the ranking of a website.
As with other types of SEO, generating referral traffic can be a challenge for business owners. It is crucial to understand the different ways that a website can obtain referral traffic.
One way to achieve referral traffic is to get listed in as many directories as possible. Some websites, such as Yelp, rank high for most local searches. These websites are a great source of referral traffic, as people trust recommendations from other sites.
Another method is to share content on social media. Sharing content on social media builds a following relationship and helps with SEO. Google will look at links from reputable websites to determine your online presence.