A citation is any online mention of your business name, address and phone number (NAP). Consistent citations on trusted sites help Google trust your business details.
Types of citation sites
| Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Maps and search | Google Business Profile, Bing Places, Apple Business Connect |
| Indian business directories | Justdial, Sulekha, IndiaMART (B2B), local city directories |
| Social platforms | Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn |
| Industry sites | Healthcare, food, travel, real estate and wedding directories |
| Local sites | Chamber of commerce, trade associations, local news |
Quality over quantity
A handful of accurate listings on relevant, trusted sites is worth more than hundreds of low-quality directory entries.
Keep NAP identical
- Same business name spelling.
- Same address format.
- Same main phone number.
- Same website URL.
Read why NAP consistency matters.
Complete each listing
Add categories, hours, photos and a description, not just the basics.
Mark up your website too
Add local business schema to your website with our schema generator. A vCard QR code on printed material keeps your details consistent offline too.
See our local citation building service.
Want the full picture? This article is part of Google Business Profile: the complete guide, our in-depth guide with everything in one place.
