Promoting your business is all about gaining trust. Quotes help you gain this trust and show your business in local SEO results.
In simple SEO terms, local citation refers to an online company reference. It can be in your business directory, industry-specific site, blog, or other local website.
Local citations are useful for ranking in local search results, but they are no longer the main ranking factor. But they are still worth considering to promote your business.
Common citations you may already know include posting Cork E-Bikes Zone on business directory websites such as Yell and Thomson Local. The full quote must include the company's name, address, and phone number. Local citations do not always contain a link to your site, but if they do, they are more valuable.
What do they do?
Citations help you rank your list of Google Local Packs (formerly known as Google+ Local Maps) by providing Google with a reliable source of information about your business. The quote tells Google that what you say about it is accurate because your business exists, is legal, and can be backed up by multiple sources. Therefore, providing consistent names, addresses, and phone numbers on different sites is essential to providing Google with a signal of trust.
A typical Google local pack on the search results page looks like this:
Google Local Pack Search Results
How do they work?
Google considers several factors, along with the citation directory, when deciding whether to show your business listings to those who search for the products or services you offer. One of the things they take into account is the proximity of your business to the location of your search.
To take advantage of local quotes, you need to set up, claim, and optimize your Google My Business listings.
In traditional organic SEO, links from trusted related websites are one of the main ranking factors used by Google. For local SEO, text hyperlinks help you rank your list of Google local packs in search results.
Obtaining citations from sites with high domain privileges and high traffic can improve your ranking in local search. The key here is to look for quality links rather than quantity.
Here are some examples of regional citations:
General business directory
Industry, niche, or sector-specific directory (TripAdvisor)
Websites of local newspapers and news organizations
Local Themed Blogs – For example, LeftLion is perfect for local nightlife facilities such as bars, pubs, clubs and restaurants.
Social media websites such as Twitter, FourSquare, Facebook, YouTube, etc.
Here's an example of Haram's quote from the prominent local Nottingham blog: