What is Local Citation?
A directory or web mention of business name, address, and phone. Core citations on major platforms establish existence; niche directories add relevance per vertical.
Related terms
NAP Consistency
Matching Name, Address, and Phone data across listings, citations, and the site. Inconsistencies confuse entity resolution and suppress local confidence.
Local Link Building
Links from neighborhood sources: chambers, sponsors, local press, partners. A handful of genuinely local links outweigh national links for pack relevance.
Duplicate Listing
Multiple profiles for one location splitting reviews and signals. Find via Maps search and category scans, merge through official channels, and prevent with one-owner governance.
Google Business Profile (GBP)
The free listing controlling how a business appears in Maps and local results: hours, categories, photos, reviews, posts. Complete and active profiles outrank neglected ones.
Local Pack
The three-business map block atop local results. Pack membership runs on proximity plus profile strength, so track it separately from organic positions.
Geo-Modifier
A location word added to a query ("plumber austin"). Location pages and profiles must mirror the modifiers searchers actually use, not internal district names.