Glossary
Citations
Definition
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.
In depth
Citations on authoritative directories like Yelp, Apple Maps, Bing Places, Facebook, and industry-specific sites signal to Google that your business is real, established, and correctly located. Citation volume and accuracy both matter: missing listings reduce your footprint, while inaccurate listings introduce conflicting data that can suppress rankings. Structured citations (with consistent NAP in a standard format) carry the most weight, while unstructured citations (mentions in local news or blog posts) add credibility and corroboration.
Related terms
- NAP Consistency
NAP consistency refers to having your business Name, Address, and Phone number identical across every online listing, directory, and web page where your business appears.
- 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.
- Backlinks
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.
- 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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