What a local citation is
A citation is any place online that names your business with its address or phone number: a directory listing, a map app, a chamber of commerce page, a news story. Google ranks local results partly on prominence, which it describes as how well known a business is, and its help page says this draws on information Google has about the business from across the web, like links, articles and directories (Google Business Profile Help).
In 2026 citations matter for one more reason: AI assistants and map apps answer "find me a plumber" from these sources. Apple Maps and Siri read Apple Business Connect. Bing Places feeds Bing Maps and Microsoft Copilot answers. If a source is wrong, the answer is wrong.
The 7 core listings (everyone)
| Site | Who it is for | Where to claim | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Business Profile | Everyone | business.google.com | The one that runs the map pack |
| Bing Places for Business | Everyone | bingplaces.com | Can import your Google profile to save time |
| Apple Business Connect | Everyone | businessconnect.apple.com | Feeds Apple Maps and Siri |
| Facebook Page | Everyone | facebook.com/pages/create | Keep address, phone and hours filled |
| Yelp for Business | Most consumer businesses | biz.yelp.com | Claiming is free |
| Better Business Bureau | Trades and services (US, Canada) | bbb.org | A free listing exists; accreditation is optional |
| Nextdoor Business | Home services, neighborhood shops | business.nextdoor.com | Recommendations come from neighbors |
The 2 data sources (feed other apps)
Some companies sell business data to apps, car systems and smaller directories. Fix your record once at the source and the fix spreads.
| Source | Who it is for | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Foursquare (Places data) | Everyone: its place data feeds many apps | foursquare.com/products/places |
| Data Axle | Everyone (US business data supplier) | data-axle.com |
General directories (3)
| Site | Who it is for |
|---|---|
| Yellow Pages (yp.com) | Trades and services |
| MapQuest | Everyone |
| LinkedIn Company Page | B2B and professional services |
Industry directories (pick only yours)
| Industry | Sites |
|---|---|
| Home services | Angi, Thumbtack, Houzz (design and remodeling) |
| Health | Healthgrades, Zocdoc (doctors, dentists) |
| Legal | Avvo |
| Food and travel | Tripadvisor, OpenTable |
Local sources (3)
- Your chamber of commerce members page (search "[your city] chamber of commerce")
- Your city or neighborhood business directory
- Your trade association's member directory
These carry real local weight because few businesses outside your area can get them. Most also include a link to your site.
That makes 23: 7 core, 2 data sources, 3 general, 8 industry and 3 local.
How to find the directories that matter for you
The best directory for your business is the one already ranking for your searches:
- Search your main service and city in Google, for example "emergency plumber denver".
- Note every directory on page 1 (Yelp, Angi, Thumbtack, a local "best of" list).
- Do the same for your 3 to 5 money searches.
- Claim every directory that shows up twice or more.
Directories that show on page 1 send customers directly, whatever they do for your ranking.
How to claim without creating duplicates
- Search before you create. Look up your phone number and name on each site first. Many already have an auto-created listing to claim.
- Use your canonical NAP. The exact same name, address and phone everywhere. Our NAP consistency guide shows how to set it.
- Use a business email you will keep, not a staff member's personal one.
- Link to the right page. Single location: your homepage. Several locations: each location's page.
- Log every listing with its login and URL in the checklist's Citations sheet.
- Merge duplicates through each site's support form rather than creating a new one.
What to skip
- Bulk submission packages that promise hundreds of listings. Most are low-quality sites no customer visits, and you cannot update them after a move.
- Paid "premium" listings you do not need. Claiming is free on the core sites.
- Directories unrelated to your industry or country.
How often to re-check
Every 6 months, and right after a move, new phone number or rebrand. Directories copy from each other, so old details come back. Search your old phone and address in quotes each time.
How to use this with an AI assistant
Connect SEOmatic at https://seomatic.ai/mcp and ask: "Sign me in with connect_seomatic, then use site_pages with action crawl on my contact page and give me my business name, address and phone exactly as written there, plus any page where they differ, so I paste one consistent NAP into every directory." SEOmatic reads your site; claiming listings stays with you.