Citations Guide
Understand how business directory citations boost your local search rankings.
What are citations?
A citation is any online mention of your business name, address, and phone number (NAP). Citations appear on business directories like Yelp, Yellow Pages, Apple Maps, and dozens of other sites. Search engines use citations to verify that your business is real and to determine where it should rank in local search results.
Why citations matter for local SEO
Citations are one of the top ranking factors for the Google Local Pack (the map results you see when searching for local businesses). More citations on reputable directories signal trustworthiness to search engines. Consistent, accurate citations across the web can directly improve your visibility in local searches.
- Improve your ranking in the Google Local Pack
- Help customers find you on directories they already use
- Build trust signals that search engines rely on
- Create backlinks that strengthen your domain authority
Directory tiers explained
BoostLocal organizes directories into three tiers based on their SEO value:
Tier 1 — Essential
The most important directories that every local business should be listed on. Includes Google Business Profile, Apple Maps, Bing Places, Yelp, and Facebook.
Tier 2 — High Value
Major directories with strong domain authority. Includes Yellow Pages, BBB, Foursquare, TripAdvisor, and Angi. These provide significant SEO benefit.
Tier 3 — Supplemental
Industry-specific and regional directories. Smaller SEO impact individually but valuable in aggregate. BoostLocal tracks dozens of these based on your business category.
How to claim your listings
BoostLocal scans directories and shows you which ones already have a listing for your business, which ones need to be claimed, and which ones you are not listed on yet. For each directory, we provide a direct link to the claim or create page along with step-by-step instructions.
Most directories require you to verify ownership via phone, email, or postcard. This process usually takes a few minutes to a few days depending on the directory.
NAP consistency
NAP stands for Name, Address, Phone number. Keeping your NAP identical across every directory is critical. Even small differences (like "St" vs. "Street" or a missing suite number) can confuse search engines and weaken your rankings.
BoostLocal flags NAP inconsistencies when it detects them and shows you exactly what needs to be corrected on each directory.