What are local citations and NAP consistency?
A citation is a listing of your business name, address and phone (NAP) on another site. Keeping those details identical everywhere helps customers and search engines trust them.
A local citation is a mention of your business name, address and phone number on another website: a directory, a map app, a chamber of commerce page, an industry association or a social profile. NAP stands for name, address, phone. NAP consistency means those details match everywhere they appear, including your website and your Google Business Profile.
Why it matters
- Customers find the right place. An old address or phone number on a popular directory sends real customers to the wrong spot.
- It supports prominence. Google says local ranking considers how well known a business is, including information like how many websites link to your business. Accurate listings on trusted local and industry sites are part of being well known.
- It matches Google's own rules. Google asks that your Business Profile name match your real-world name as used on your signs, website and stationery, without extra keywords.
What to keep consistent
| Detail | Tip |
|---|---|
| Business name | Use your real name exactly as on your sign. No added keywords or towns. |
| Address | Same format everywhere, including the suite number. If customers do not visit you, hide the address on Google and list your service area. |
| Phone | One main local number. Avoid using a different tracking number on every listing unless you know how to manage it. |
| Website | The same address, with or without www, everywhere. |
| Hours | Update holiday and seasonal hours in every place. |
Steps
- Write down your official name, address, phone and website, exactly as you want them shown.
- Search Google for your business name and your phone number to find existing listings.
- Fix any wrong details, starting with Google Business Profile, Apple Business Connect, Bing Places, Facebook and the major directories in your industry.
- Remove or mark closed any duplicate listings.
- Keep a list of where you are listed, so you can update them all if you move.
We can do this for you. Open a request in your client portal and our team can audit and update your listings.
Common problems
- If you moved, update every listing. Old addresses can live on directories for years.
- If a directory calls to "confirm" your listing and then sends an invoice, be careful. The FTC warns about directory listing scams. See the article on website shutdown scams.
- If a listing will not let you edit it, look for a "claim this business" or "suggest an edit" option on that site.
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