For Local SEO purposes, having local citations for your business is considered to be one of the most important factors in getting your Website to rank higher in Google’s newly modified local results section. A local citation is a link from an “authoritative” directory, review site or internet yellow pages site linking to your Website. In other cases, the citation can be a listing for your business on another site that matches (and therefore validates) the information on your site such as the address or phone number.
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The problem is that there are so many possible local citation sites to choose from that it can be very time-consuming to get your company listed in each one. With that in mind, I was looking for a fairly easy way to prioritize the different options so I (and my clients and readers) would waste less time and would be able to focus on the most impactful ones.
Prioritizing the Potential Local Citation Sources:
So, in order to get a quick and dirty prioritized list of sites for local citations, here is the process I followed:
- I had already collected a long list of sites for citations that I use (or had planned to use), so I just made sure I had a broad enough list by pulling in a few more possible sites.
- I ran individual searches in Google that included the terms “SEO” and “Local Citation” or “Local Citations” and “Possible Citation Site (fill in blank here)”. My theory was that this would give me the number of search results for articles discussing SEO AND that listed where to get the best local citations AND that included the “possible citation source” in the article. These would be like votes for each potential citation source (in a very rough sense) giving me a way to prioritize them.
- I ranked the Possible Citation Sources based on how many search results came up in Google for each one based on #2 above.
I focused mainly on general directories, internet yellow pages (IYP’s) and social networking/review sites versus more specialized sites like Zagat.com or UrbanSpoon.com (for restaurants). I also spot checked the results and pulled out some potential citation sources that seemed to have lots of results for the wrong reasons. As a note, most of these local citation sources will be most effective for businesses with a local address that you don’t mind displaying. Also, note that you should use a consistent business name, address and phone number in all citation sources and on your Website.
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Enjoy and let us know what’s missing in the comments!
The List of Citation Sources:
Without including a “possible citiation source” in the search, the total number of results was 9,300. The first few sites below show up in a very high percentage of those 9,300 results (for example, Google Places shows up in 44% of the results). Take a look an let me know what you think in the comments below. Anything missing?
Probably the most important and most talked about place to list your local business. Getting citations from many of the sites below (as well as ratings) can help boost your business’ listing in Google.
2) Yelp 
The most popular social networking, directory and review site. Aside from counting as a citation for your business in the eyes of the search engines, this site can deliver quite a bit of traffic on it’s own. Business-owners need to learn to deal with the occasional nasty review.
3) foursquare 
The popular way to check in via your smart phone can also provide a valuable citation for your local business.
A multiple local listing service – UBL.org (along with Localeze below) is one of the major players in the effort to fill in your information once to get listed with multiple yellow pages sites, directories and social networking/review sites. Saves time and effort but may be slower than going direct with the individual sites (see Localeze and InfoUSA below as well)
5) Yahoo Local 
Yahoo’s local directory tied to Yahoo Maps.
6) Local.com 
Business listings, event listings, coupons and reviews.
7) CitySearch 
One of the most authoritative local directories.
8) Bing Local 
Bing’s local business listing service tied integrated with maps of cities and towns.
9) CraigsList 
Some SEO’s recommend creating classifieds for your business on popular classified sites such as Craigslist. There’s some disagreement over whether this is effective from an SEO point of view.
10) GetListed.org 
Convenient way to identify where you’re listed (and where you’re not) in major directories. Provides referrals to Universal Business Listings and Localeze as well as consultants (if you need extra help).
11) dmoz (Open Diretory Project) 
A free and authoritative index (in the eyes of Google) that is managed by volunteers. If you can get your business listed, this helps with an authoritative backlink (but not necessarily a local citation). It can be difficult to get a new listing due ot the limited resources and large volumes of submissions.
12) Superpages 
One of the many Internet Yellow Pages directories (IYP). Includes business listings, people search, reviews and local deals.
13) Localeze 
A multiple local listing service.
14) InfoUSA 
A multiple local listings service.
15) Your local Chamber of Commerce 
Joining your local chamber of commerce or can often get you a business listing (and a citation for local SEO purposes).
16) InsiderPages 
Local directory and rating site
17) Merchant Circle 
Local directory and rating site
18) Best of the Web 
A popular directory with free and paid listing options – specifically for local, they have a Best of the Web Local directory
19) Yellowpages.com 
Internet yellow pages (also YP.com) 
20) Business.com 
Business.com provides business information but also has a business directory.
21)Kudzu 
Business review site (like Yelp)
Your local Better Business Bureaus usually charge for membership and provide a link to your business.
23) DexKnows 
Business and people directory
24) Acxiom 
A major source of data for various yellowpages and directories – they don’t take business submissions like some of the other data providers or multiple local listings services.
25) Your local newspaper’s Website 
Getting an article, business listing or classified ad optimized with your local information and a link can provide a citation for your business.
26) Yellowbook.com 
Internet yellow pages
27) HotFrog 
A business directory with free and fairly inexpensive paid listing options
28) Crunchbase 
A listing of technology companies that is user-generated
29) Angie’s List 
Service provider directory
30) Judy’s Book 
Local review site
31) Jigsaw 
Business people and company directory
32) ibegin 
US and Canadian business directory
33) OpenList 
Local directory with ratings
34) wikimapia 
Wiki-based directory of places including schools, businesses, and more – laid out on maps
35) citysquares 
Local business directory with ratings
36) Infospace 
Business and people listings.
37) magicyellow 
A straightforward internet yellow pages directory
38) whitepages.com 
People and business listings
39) Manta 
Company profiles
40) EZLocal 
Local business listings and ratings
41) BrownBook 
Local business listings and ratings
42) CityVoter 
Vote for favorite businesses
43) ShopCity 
Local business listings
44) YellowBot 
Local listings and ratings
45) MojoPages 
Social networking and review site (like Yelp)
46) Tupalo.com 
International social networking and review site
47) Praized 
Social networking and review site
48) Panoramio 
Pictures associated with maps. Geotag images, upload to Panoramio and add them to your Google Places listings.
49) GetFave 
Business directory, including featured listings (with additional content such as videos, pictures)
50) BizJournals 
Business journal that includes business directories for certain US cities
51) Tjoos 
Online store listings and coupons
52) JoeAnt 
Webiste directory
53) Zidster 
Products, services or business listings
54) TrueLocal 
Business directory – seems to have sparse listings
55) ZipLeaf 
Network of international business directories
56) WCities 
Places and events for cities and towns, including ratings
57) Naymz 
Personal branding site
58) Zoominfo 
Database of people and companies
59) Yellowikis 
Wiki-based business directory
60) gomylocal 
Yellow pages/local directory
Online business networking site
62) City Slick 
Free business directory
63) Busiverse (also businessdb)
Business directory
A general directory
65) Service Magic 
Directory of service companies (includes a “seal of approval”)
66) Local forums 
Forums focused on local areas
Industrial directory
68) MatchPoint 
Directory of service providers
69) USCity.net 
Directory focused on the U.S.
70) Metrobot 
County street maps
“Create personalized, annotated, customized maps using Google Maps”. Listing businesses in custom maps may help them in ranking for local search.
72) Yellowee (formerly Genie Knows)
Local review site
73) AskCity 
Ask.com’s local directory
74) Tyloon
Billed as International Yellow Pages (including multi-lingual listings)
“the ultimate US travel, tourism and relocation guide”
Do you see anything that surprises you? Are there any biggies missing? Leave your input, ideas or other good resources in the comments below.
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