Generating local citations is the most important part of getting a better web presence for your Atlanta based business. Google uses the references of your business details on various online sources while evaluating its credibility. The more consistent data it gathers, higher will be your website’s ranking in search engine results pages (SERPs).
However, in order to avoid getting your business flagged, it is important that all your citations are relevant and accurate. Here are a few factors that you need to consider while generating local citations for your business:
Determine Your Business’ NAP
Determining the accurate name, address and phone number (NAP) of your business is the most basic element of generating quality citations. Make sure that the business name you provide is consistent with those on your website and Google+ page. Changing it or using abbreviations can make it irrelevant. Your business address should also be descriptive enough for the customers to easily find you. For this, you should include all the relevant details like state, city, street, building and the floor or suite no., if applicable. You can provide a landmark if your business is situated in a distinct location. The phone number should be the same in all your citations. You should mention your working hours, products and services offered or probably anything else that you want your customers to know.
Finding The Ideal Platforms
Even the best citations would be of no use if posted on irrelevant platforms. You should find websites where your potential customers are bound to visit and know about your business. Social networking sites, such as Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Foursquare, are the most viable options to start with. Mainly, there are five main types of websites that you must get your business listed on – data aggregators, horizontal portals, industry specific and location specific directories.
Claim Existing Citations
You may find mentions of your business on several websites you choose for citations. Search Google for your business name, phone number or toll free number to locate any duplicate citations. If you find any, make sure you claim the listing, inspect all its information and correct any errors to avoid any inconsistency in citations.
Keeping all these factors in mind and gradually going about the citations generating process can help you improve your website’s ranking, attract more traffic and increase ROI.
