Definition: Local citations are online references to a business’s Name, Address, Phone number (NAP), and often include details like website, operating hours, business categories, customer reviews, photos, and social media links. These appear on local directories (e.g., Yelp, EZlocal, Yellow Pages), map apps (e.g., Google Maps, Apple Maps), social platforms, and unstructured sources like blogs, news articles, or community websites.
Why They Matter: Local citations act as digital trust signals, validating a business’s legitimacy, location, and relevance for AI-driven search platforms and generative AI tools like Google’s AI Overviews or ChatGPT Search. With 46% of searches in 2025 having local intent and 96% of consumers discovering businesses online, citations are essential for:
- Boosting Local SEO Rankings: Citations enhance visibility in local search results, driving 20-40% more website traffic.
- Ensuring Accuracy: 62% of consumers avoid businesses with inconsistent or inaccurate NAP listings, making precise citations critical.
- Powering AI Recommendations: AI systems rely on consistent NAP data across 300+ directories to recommend businesses for queries like “best coffee shop near me” or “local plumber.”
- Supporting SMBs: Tools like EZlocal Dash enable free citation building, syncing NAP data to major directories, leveling the playing field for small and medium-sized businesses.
How They Work: Search engines and AI platforms crawl citations to verify a business’s existence, location, and relevance. Consistent, high-quality citations across authoritative directories signal trustworthiness, improving local search rankings and increasing the likelihood of AI-driven platforms citing your business in responses to user queries.
