If you’re a local business looking to boost your visibility online, building citations is one of the most effective ways to improve your Local SEO. At Digital Span, we specialize in helping businesses across the Netherlands grow their digital presence and citation building is a key component in that journey.
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your strategy, this guide walks you through how to build citations that make a real difference in local search rankings.
What Are Citations?
A citation is any mention of your business’s Name, Address, and Phone number (NAP) online. These typically appear in:
- Business directories (like Google Business Profile or Yelp)
- Industry-specific sites
- Local directories
- Review platforms
Accurate, consistent citations signal to search engines that your business is legitimate, local, and trustworthy.
Why Do Citations Matter for Local SEO?
Citations help increase:
- Trust and authority in your local market
- Relevance in Google Maps and local packs
- Referral traffic from directories and maps
- Google’s confidence in your business details
For example, if your NAP details match across dozens of reputable sources, Google is more likely to rank your business higher in local search results.
How to Build Citations for Local SEO
1. Audit Existing Listings
Start by checking where your business is already listed. Use tools like Whitespark’s Local Citation Finder to identify and clean up any inconsistencies in your NAP.
2. Submit to Core Directories
Claim and optimize your listings on high-authority platforms like:
- Google Business Profile
- Bing Places
- Apple Maps
- Yelp
At Digital Span, we help clients ensure these listings are set up correctly as part of our app development and local optimization services.
3. Add Niche and Local Citations
Look for directories related to your industry (e.g., legal, healthcare, real estate) and regional listings in your specific city or province.
These highly relevant directories often outperform national ones when it comes to generating qualified leads.
4. Complete and Optimize Every Listing
Don’t stop at just your name, address, and phone number. Add your:
- Business website
- Operating hours
- Photos or logo
- Keyword-rich description
- Categories and services
This makes your listings more appealing and more likely to rank well.
5. Keep Everything Consistent
Even a small change (like “St” vs. “Street”) can cause confusion. Keep your NAP details identical across every platform. Regularly check your listings, especially after any business changes. We recommend doing a monthly review and that’s a service we include in every Digital Span local SEO package.
6. Encourage Customer Mentions
Customers who mention your business on blogs, forums, or social media can provide “unstructured citations.” These still carry weight with Google, especially if they come from local sources.
Final Thoughts
Citation building is not a one-time task it’s an ongoing effort that strengthens your Local SEO foundation. If you’re serious about getting found by local customers, now’s the time to invest in it. Want help building or managing your citations? Contact the Digital Span team today and let us help your business rank where it matters most locally.