A local citation is the web confirming that your business exists, where it is, and how to reach it. The more consistent these confirmations are, the more search engines trust you.
The short version
A local citation is any online mention of a business's name, address, and phone number, whether on a directory, a review site, an app, or another website. Citations help validate a business's existence and location.
Two main types
Structured, listings on directories and review platforms
Unstructured, mentions in articles, blogs, and news
Why they matter
Consistent citations reinforce your location signals and support local rankings. They work best alongside a complete profile and clean NAP details, all part of solid SEO and ecommerce foundations.
FAQ
How many local citations do I need?
Quality and consistency matter more than volume. A set of accurate citations on relevant, reputable platforms beats hundreds of sloppy ones.