Benefits of Online Citations to Visibility and SEO
Why Citations are Important
Online citations are a tremendous benefit your company because getting listed improves the likelihood that your customers are able to find your business when they are searching for specific services and products. In simple terms, a citation in the online world refers to any time your company information is listed on a website. These include listings such as local directories, such as Yelp.com, YellowPages.com, and SuperPages.com. It helps to be listed in multiple directories that are both more general in nature and tailored specifically to your company’s niche. Citations are also apart of Google’s algorithm for SEO, so if it’s important for Google, then it’s important for SEO. Here are some of the possibilities:
- Citations Provide a Better Measurement for Brand Authority – Google has turned away from traditional link building as a sole factor for establishing brand authority and a better alternative for establishing authority is through brand mentions.
- Citations Provide Better Protection Against Manipulation – Anchor text and links can easily be manipulated. Sometimes, links point back to a site that is totally irrelevant to the source site. Brand mentions, on the other hand, will be harder to manipulate as the citation or online mention of the brand will be relevant to the content.
- Citations are Already Important for Local SEO – Local SEO is important for small and medium businesses that target customers from within a certain area or location. Citations are already an important factor for local SEO, particularly the usual NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number) information. Google makes use of this importance for the bigger picture.
Any online exposure for your company will bring attention to your products and services, which obviously benefit you. These citations expand your exposure to potential customers that may have previously passed you by and help you connect with these potential buyers.
In addition, a citation is most effective when it is accompanied by as much information about your business as possible. Be sure to include your hours of operations, pictures, videos, details about your products and services, and any other helpful information you think your potential customers would like to have.
Citations are critical for SEO today. Google and other search engines use online citations to rank your business with the more citations you have, the higher your website will list in the search results. Higher ranking means more web traffic and more business for you. If your business needs help with or doesn’t know the full impact of citations, give us a call us today.