I used to build tons of citations but when the right engagements are made on the property, citations are a drop in the bucket. It’s when the right actions aren’t made that you need everything at your disposal, which includes citations. I’m able to move brand new map listings above established listings with only 3-5 engagement actions with no citations and far less reviews that the competition. Citations will be a dying need as engagement methods become more common place.
I completely agree that Citations are important but not the in ways that they used to be. I recommend that GBP, FB, Yelp, Bing, Yahoo, and Apple Maps all match. Yelp feeds Bing, Yahoo, and Apple Maps. I don't believe in NAP, name, address, and phone, I believe in NAH, Name, address, and hours. I use different call tracking numbers on different websites and have never seen any issues with rankings. There is an extremely handy tool with Yext citations, which has helped me to rank and trigger a KP, knowledge panel. I have seen too many SEO and SMB worry and overthink the address part. The question is always what if the address is being shared with different businesses. I have never seen this to be an issue. We have Redboxes, Starbucks, KeyMe, and other businesses located inside a supermarket. They have never had any issues ranking or with performance. They all have different categories, which is the bigger issue as to why a business will be filtered out and not rank or perform as well.
I didn't know Yext tools. All the directories they show in their listings are free and with do follow citations ? Is it important to be in all these directories ? Tks
I love how interesting and even funny you're doing your videos. I was taken by surprise when I saw you with all the white hair trying to demonstrate a point - I laughed a lot, well done man!
YES, Darren. Local Citations are recognized and ranked by Google. I revamped my wife's Dental Prosthesis office... GMaps had only indexed 2 keywords in top 3 (within 4 weeks increased to 84)... Google Search Knowledge Panels (KP) rose from a handful to 30 of 212 GEO-Pro keyword combinations, GBR (3-packs) 31... with immediate results displayed within the 1ST week.
I agree Darren! I've seen it in múltiple anecdotal cases here in Valencia, Spain. creating citations not only improves local rankings, but also improves your overall search appearance and provide credibility when people can see you placed in more than one placement. I'm such a fan and looking forward to the 2022 local search ranking survey
I believe that citations are still an integral part of Local SEO, despite what Mike Blumenthal and David Mihm think. (Sorry guys, love you like brothers but...) The deal is, I think, citations just aren't as heavy a factor as in years past. Back in 2009 when I started in this crazy biz, Google needed secondary sources for indexing. Get a few key citations, Google notices and BANG! Page One, Baby!! Since then there have been SO many more factors affecting ranking that citations have declined in value on a relative basis. But I still believe, as you pointed out, there is value here.
For sure, Jim. Citations used to be a beautiful shortcut to rankings back in 2009. I think that there are two key factors that have reduced their impact since those glory days: 1. The local search results are WAY more competitive these days. Back in 2009, when you were the only business with 100 citations in your city, you'd crush the competition. Now, every business in the top 20 has 100+. So, adding citations doesn't seem to have the same impact it used to have. Citations today are table stakes, but you better still get them. 2. More factors. As Google's local algorithm has advanced, the local algorithm pie has been split into ever smaller and smaller pieces per factor. My take: yes, it's true that citations don't have the same impact they used to have, but they are still valuable, and you definitely still want to get them.
I think citations help your organic rankings as well because they feed into Google's assessment of your trustworthiness. A business with a verified address, phone number, and hours of operation is more trustworthy than one that is not.
I used to build tons of citations but when the right engagements are made on the property, citations are a drop in the bucket. It’s when the right actions aren’t made that you need everything at your disposal, which includes citations. I’m able to move brand new map listings above established listings with only 3-5 engagement actions with no citations and far less reviews that the competition. Citations will be a dying need as engagement methods become more common place.
How do you do “engagement actions”?
I completely agree that Citations are important but not the in ways that they used to be. I recommend that GBP, FB, Yelp, Bing, Yahoo, and Apple Maps all match. Yelp feeds Bing, Yahoo, and Apple Maps. I don't believe in NAP, name, address, and phone, I believe in NAH, Name, address, and hours. I use different call tracking numbers on different websites and have never seen any issues with rankings. There is an extremely handy tool with Yext citations, which has helped me to rank and trigger a KP, knowledge panel.
I have seen too many SEO and SMB worry and overthink the address part. The question is always what if the address is being shared with different businesses. I have never seen this to be an issue. We have Redboxes, Starbucks, KeyMe, and other businesses located inside a supermarket. They have never had any issues ranking or with performance. They all have different categories, which is the bigger issue as to why a business will be filtered out and not rank or perform as well.
Agree that citation consistency isn't an issue for SEO!
I didn't know Yext tools. All the directories they show in their listings are free and with do follow citations ?
Is it important to be in all these directories ?
Tks
I love how interesting and even funny you're doing your videos. I was taken by surprise when I saw you with all the white hair trying to demonstrate a point - I laughed a lot, well done man!
Thanks! Shout out to our awesome editor, @CarlGratiot! www.youtube.com/@CarlGratiot
@@WhitesparkCa ❤
@@CarlGratiot I just subscribed to your channel.
@@megavideomarketing thank you!
YES, Darren. Local Citations are recognized and ranked by Google. I revamped my wife's Dental Prosthesis office... GMaps had only indexed 2 keywords in top 3 (within 4 weeks increased to 84)... Google Search Knowledge Panels (KP) rose from a handful to 30 of 212 GEO-Pro keyword combinations, GBR (3-packs) 31... with immediate results displayed within the 1ST week.
Great results!
Great video as usual!
Great comment as usual!
I agree Darren! I've seen it in múltiple anecdotal cases here in Valencia, Spain. creating citations not only improves local rankings, but also improves your overall search appearance and provide credibility when people can see you placed in more than one placement. I'm such a fan and looking forward to the 2022 local search ranking survey
Thanks, Rami. Next Local Search Ranking Factors will come out in early 2023. Much better to publish at the start of the year, rather than the end. :)
@@WhitesparkCa oh man thank you so much for letting me know. Now I can stop checking your website 3 times a day to see if it's already out.
Great video. We are still using local citations at our agency located in the UK.
Thank you!
Great, do you have a list of the top 50 directories that any businesses should be listed on? Thx
I do! It’s a bit outdated now, but still good: whitespark.ca/top-local-citation-sources-by-country/
@@WhitesparkCa awesome, Thx a lot
I believe that citations are still an integral part of Local SEO, despite what Mike Blumenthal and David Mihm think. (Sorry guys, love you like brothers but...) The deal is, I think, citations just aren't as heavy a factor as in years past. Back in 2009 when I started in this crazy biz, Google needed secondary sources for indexing. Get a few key citations, Google notices and BANG! Page One, Baby!! Since then there have been SO many more factors affecting ranking that citations have declined in value on a relative basis. But I still believe, as you pointed out, there is value here.
For sure, Jim. Citations used to be a beautiful shortcut to rankings back in 2009. I think that there are two key factors that have reduced their impact since those glory days:
1. The local search results are WAY more competitive these days. Back in 2009, when you were the only business with 100 citations in your city, you'd crush the competition. Now, every business in the top 20 has 100+. So, adding citations doesn't seem to have the same impact it used to have. Citations today are table stakes, but you better still get them.
2. More factors. As Google's local algorithm has advanced, the local algorithm pie has been split into ever smaller and smaller pieces per factor.
My take: yes, it's true that citations don't have the same impact they used to have, but they are still valuable, and you definitely still want to get them.
I think citations help your organic rankings as well because they feed into Google's assessment of your trustworthiness. A business with a verified address, phone number, and hours of operation is more trustworthy than one that is not.
Started using them about to index them via omega. Thanks
you're welcome!
why not just index your site map yourself ?