Local Citations.
Learn what Local Citations means in modern search and SEO.
Online mentions of a business's name, address, and phone number (NAP) on directories, review sites, and data aggregators.
Local citations are any online mention of a business's name, address, and phone number (NAP). They appear on general directories (Google Business Profile, Yelp, Bing Places), vertical directories (TripAdvisor, Healthgrades, Avvo), data aggregators (Data Axle, Neustar/Localeze, Foursquare), and social platforms.
Citation Volume and Consistency
Citation volume signals to Google that a business is established. Citation consistency, identical NAP across all sources, signals reliability. Inconsistencies introduced by address abbreviations, suite number formatting, or outdated phone numbers create conflicting signals that can suppress local pack rankings.
Structured vs. Unstructured Citations
Structured citations appear in designated NAP fields on directory sites. Unstructured citations are mentions in blog posts, news articles, or social content where the NAP appears in running text. Both contribute to prominence, though structured citations carry more weight in local algorithm ranking.
Citation Audits
Tools like BrightLocal, Whitespark, and Moz Local audit citation accuracy across major sources and flag inconsistencies. Fixing inaccurate citations and building new ones on authoritative, category-relevant directories is a foundational local SEO task, particularly for new businesses or those that have recently changed address or phone number.
Articles about Local Citations
Read more on the Aergos blog.
The Best Local SEO Tools in 2026 (for Single and Multi-Location Businesses)
Choosing the right local SEO tool is harder than it looks. This guide breaks down the best local SEO tools for 2026, covering rank grids, citation management, review monitoring, and AI visibility so you can pick the right stack for your situation.
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How to Track Your Brand Mentions in ChatGPT (Free and Paid Methods)
ChatGPT is recommending brands to millions of people every day, and most businesses have no idea whether they're in those answers or not. Here's how to find out, from free manual checks to continuous monitoring, so you stop flying blind in AI search.
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Link Building in 2025: What Still Works and What to Stop Doing
Link building in 2025 is not dead, but a lot of the shortcuts that used to work are. Here is a clear breakdown of what still earns real authority and what you should stop doing before it costs you rankings.
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The September 2025 Complete Guide to Local SEO
Whether you're running a single storefront or managing dozens of locations, this is the local SEO guide you'll actually bookmark. Updated for September 2025, it covers everything from Google Business Profile fundamentals to multi-location strategy and AI search visibility, with practical steps you can start today.
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Google's August 2026 Spam Update, Gemini 3.7 in AI Mode, and More
Google wrapped its third spam update of 2026 early Friday morning, while AI Mode quietly got a Gemini 3.7 Flash upgrade and ads platforms on both sides pushed major changes. A busy week in search: here's what actually matters for your site.
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What Is E-E-A-T and How Do You Build It for Your Website?
E-E-A-T is Google's framework for judging whether your site deserves to rank. Here's what each signal actually means, how Google's quality raters use it, and the practical steps you can take to build credibility that holds up through algorithm updates.
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