Local SEO

Local SEO Citations

Quick Definition

Local SEO citations are mentions of NAP across local-relevant directories and websites that build trust signals for Map Pack ranking.

In context

Build the top tier first (Google, Bing, Apple Maps, Facebook, Yelp, Yellow Pages, BBB), then second-tier local sites (BlogTO, Toronto.com), then niche industry directories. Quality and relevance beat quantity.

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Related terms

Local Link Building

Local link building is the practice of earning backlinks from regionally-relevant sources — local newspapers, community organizations, chambers of commerce, regional industry associations, local sponsorship pages — to boost local search rankings.

Hybrid Business

A hybrid business serves customers both at a physical location AND by traveling to them (a salon offering mobile services, a clinic with home visits).

Franchise SEO

Franchise SEO balances national brand consistency with local optimization for individual franchise locations.

Name, Address, Phone (NAP)

NAP is the canonical Name, Address, and Phone number of a business — the foundational consistency signal Google uses to confirm a business is real and where its locations are.

Unstructured Citation

An unstructured citation is a NAP mention in flowing text on a blog, news article, or other non-directory site.

LocalBusiness Schema (deeper)

LocalBusiness schema (and its many sub-types: Dentist, Restaurant, ProfessionalService, etc.) describes a physical-location business — name, address, telephone, geo, openingHours, areaServed.

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