Glossary
Backlinks
Definition
Backlinks are links from other websites pointing to your site, and they act as votes of authority that help search engines determine how trustworthy and relevant your content is.
In depth
For local businesses, the most valuable backlinks come from locally relevant sources: city news sites, chamber of commerce directories, local bloggers, neighborhood association pages, and industry-specific directories. A single link from a reputable local publication can outweigh dozens of links from generic directories. Local backlinks also improve AI search visibility by creating corroborated mentions of your business name and location across trusted web sources.
Related terms
- Local SEO
Local SEO is the practice of optimizing a business's online presence so it appears prominently in geographically relevant search results, including Google Maps and the local pack.
- Citations
Citations are online mentions of your business's name, address, and phone number on directories, review sites, data aggregators, and local websites — with or without a link.
- GEO Audit
A GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) audit evaluates how accurately and consistently your business information appears across the sources that AI search tools use to generate answers.
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