What are “citations”?
Citations are any places on the internet where your business’s Name, Address, and Phone number (NAP) appear—think Google Business Profile, Apple Maps, Yelp, Facebook, Bing, YellowPages, industry directories, chamber sites, etc. They may also include your website URL, hours, and services.
Why do citations matter for search visibility?
Citations are your business’s digital “ID.” When that ID is consistent across the web, search engines trust you more—and customers can find and contact you without friction.
Simple analogy:
If Google is the librarian, citations are the matching index cards filed under your business name in many drawers. When every card shows the same details, you’re easy to find. When cards disagree, the librarian hesitates to recommend you.
