What Is Citation in SEO?
Citation is the process of gaining a listing in search engines. There are various ways to get citations for your business. Some prefer to browse YellowPages, Yelp or specialized business directories. The more citations you have, the more likely you are to be ranked high on a search engine. However, not all experts agree that citations are important for SEO. This is because search engines use a variety of factors to determine whether or not a website is legitimate and trustworthy.
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Yext
One SEO technique that many business owners find helpful is using the Yext citation in their SEO campaign. Yext allows businesses to submit a location to a list of directories. This listing increases visibility of a business and helps search engines find it. However, Yext is not free. You must pay at least $500 per year to use this service.
One downside of Yext is the time spent setting it up and waiting for updates. You also have to choose a plan to suppress duplicate listings. This isn’t a very simple task and can take several weeks. To get the most out of your citations, SeoSamba recommends that you have at least twenty-five manual citations and at least one paid listing on Yext.
BrightLocal
BrightLocal can help you maintain your business’s citations and track their progress through an interactive report. Its reports are downloadable in PDF and white-labeled, which makes them easy to share with clients or colleagues. It also allows you to add citations to your website after the fact, which is beneficial for B2B companies and small business owners.
Business directories often show up in search results, so having a presence on them can improve your visibility. Additionally, business directory listings allow consumers to leave reviews, which can help build your business’ reputation. The more local business directories you have listed, the better. You can use BrightLocal’s Citation Builder to build your business’ citations.
Whitespark
If you’re looking to improve your local search rankings, you’ve probably heard of Whitespark citations. They’re a powerful SEO tool that finds and compares citations to your own. The software can identify hundreds of local citation opportunities. To start using them, sign up for a free trial. The trial includes three citation searches each day. If you find you need more, you can upgrade to unlimited searches.
Whitespark citations help your website rise in the search results. This is particularly useful for local businesses. Google uses citations as 25% of its local search ranking factors. They’re the second largest factor in Google Maps and the snack pack, and the more citations you have, the higher you’ll rank for multiple localized keywords. There are several benefits to using Whitespark for your local SEO efforts.
Tripadvisor
The Tripadvisor citation in SEO is an essential part of many businesses’ online presence. This site is the most popular review site and is often the first place that potential customers look for a business. Other social media platforms also offer opportunities to add relevant data about a business. It’s best to make your profile as comprehensive as possible, containing details such as business name, address, and phone number. Adding citations is important, but only if the citations are made on reputable sites. Avoid adding citations on questionable websites, as this can have a negative impact.
A TripAdvisor review can significantly affect a business’ conversion rate and visitor traffic. Without a TripAdvisor citation, potential customers will likely choose another, more competitive business. So if your business caters to travelers, it’s essential that it has a TripAdvisor listing.