Top Websites for Building Citations

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Google Places Tips – Top Citation Sources

As I described in my training on Your Google Business Listing, there are three major determinants to placement on the Google Map:

  1. Proper claiming and optimization of your Google Business listing.
  2. Having a consistent N.A.P. (name, address, phone number) profile across the web via citation development (getting listed on all the major online directory sites with the same name, address and phone number).
  3. Reviews and Google’s confidence in your true service area.

Below is a list of what I have found to be the most important places to ensure that you company is listed with the same name, address & phone number.

Top Citation Sources for Google My Business Optimization

  • Google My Business
    Probably the most important and most talked about place to list your local business. Getting citations and ratings from many of the sites below can help boost your business’ listing on Google.
  • Yelp
    The most popular social networking, directory and review site. Aside from counting as a citation for your business in the eyes of the search engines, this site can deliver quite a bit of traffic on its own. However, business owners will need to learn to deal with the occasional nasty review.
  • Foursquare
    The popular way to check in via your smartphone can also provide a valuable citation for your local business.
  • Universal Business Listing
    A multiple local listing service – UBL.org (along with Localeze below) is one of the major players in the effort to fill in your information once to get listed with multiple yellow pages sites, directories and social networking/review sites. Saves time and effort but may be slower than going direct with the individual sites (see Localeze and InfoUSA below as well).
  • Local.com
    Business listings, event listings, coupons and reviews.
  • CitySearch
    One of the most authoritative local directories.
  • Bing Places
    Bing’s local business listing service integrated with maps of cities and towns.
  • CraigsList
    Some SEO’s recommend creating classifieds for your business on popular sites such as Craigslist. There’s some disagreement over whether this is effective from an SEO point of view.
  • GetListed.org
    Convenient way to identify where you are and aren’t listed on major directories. Provides referrals to Universal Business Listings and Localeze as well as consultants (if you need extra help).
  • dmoz (Open Diretory Project)
    A free and authoritative index that is managed by volunteers. If you can get your business listed, this helps with an authoritative back-link (but not necessarily a local citation). It can be difficult to get a new listing due to the limited resources and large volumes of submissions.
  • Superpages
    One of the many Internet Yellow Pages directories (IYP). Includes business listings, people search, reviews and local deals.
  • InfoUSA
    A multiple local listings service.
  • Your local Chamber of Commerce
    Joining your local chamber of commerce can often get you a business listing (and a citation for local SEO purposes).
  • Best of the Web
    A popular directory with free and paid listing options – specifically for local businesses. They have a Best of the Web Local directory.
  • Business.com
    Business.com provides business information but also has a directory.
  • Kudzu
    Business review site (like Yelp).
  • Better Business Bureau
    Your local Better Business Bureau usually charges for membership and provides a link to your business.
  • Acxiom
    A major source of data for various yellowpages and directories – they don’t take business submissions like some of the other data providers or multiple local listings services.
  • Your local newspaper’s website
    Getting an article, business listing or classified ad optimized with your local information and a link can provide a citation for your business.
  • HotFrog
    A business directory with free and fairly inexpensive paid listing options.
  • Crunchbase
    A listing of technology companies that is user-generated.
  • Jigsaw
    Business people and company directory.
  • Ibegin
    U.S. and Canadian business directory.
  • Wikimapia
    Wiki-based directory of places including schools, businesses, and more – laid out on maps.
  • Magicyellow
    A straightforward Internet Yellow Pages directory.
  • EZLocal
    Local business listings and ratings.
  • MojoPages
    Social networking and review site (like Yelp).
  • Tupalo.com
    International social networking and review site.
  • Praized
    Social networking and review site.
  • Panoramio
    Pictures associated with maps. Geo Tag images, upload to Panoramio and add them to your Google Places listings.
  • GetFave
    Business directory, including featured listings (with additional content such as videos and pictures).
  • BizJournals
    Business journal that includes business directories for certain U.S. cities.
  • Tjoos
    Online store listings and coupons.
  • Zidster
    Products, services or business listings.
  • TrueLocal
    Business directory – seems to have sparse listings.
  • ZipLeaf
    Network of international business directories.
  • WCities
    Places and events for cities and towns, including ratings.
  • Naymz
    Personal branding site.
  • Busiverse(also businessdb)
    Business directory.
  • Service Magic
    Directory of service companies (includes a “seal of approval”).
  • Local forums
    Forums focused on local areas.
  • Google Custom Maps
    “Create personalized, annotated, customized maps using Google Maps. Listing businesses in custom maps may help them in ranking for local search.
  • Yellowee (formerly Genie Knows)
    Local review site.
  • Tyloon
    Billed as International Yellow Pages (including multi-lingual listings).

 

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