Local Citation Software
Local Citation Software is a Local SEO best practice that allows you to synchronise opening times, URLs & NAP data across a multitude of third-party networks.
What is a Local Citation Software?
Local Citation Software is a critical tool for Local SEO that automates the synchronisation of your business’s NAP (Name, Address, and Phone number) data, opening hours, URLs, and other key details across a wide range of third-party platforms. Most platforms include major players like Google Business Profile as just a normal citation, we use it as our source of truth. From there, we sync other platforms like Facebook, Apple & Bing Maps, Here, TomTom, Yellow Pages and a long list of local heroes and niche directories relevant to specific industries or regions.
By adding the Citations module to our software, you are maintaining consistency across all platforms. Local Citation Software ensures your business remains visible, trustworthy, and optimised for local search results on non-Google platforms. We recommend starting this once your Google Business Profiles are fully optimised.
Why do you need Local Citation Software?
In local SEO, consistency is everything. Google and other search engines prioritise accurate, reliable information to provide the best user experience. Ensuring your business’s NAP (Name, Address, Phone number) is consistent across the web is vital for improving visibility in search results and on platforms like Google Maps. Inaccurate or outdated information can hurt your credibility and lead potential customers elsewhere.
Local Citation Software simplifies and automates the process of managing your business information across a wide range of platforms. These include high-traffic sites like Facebook and Bing, as well as specialised directories, regional or industry-specific platforms, and navigational apps like Apple Maps. With automation, you ensure your data stays consistent and up-to-date across all platforms, boosting your credibility and visibility while saving time and reducing human error.
When do you need Local Citation Software?
Start with the platforms that have the most impact. Managing Google Business Profiles is the top priority for most businesses, driving 80–90% of local search visibility. While this percentage may vary slightly in industries like travel or automotive, GBP remains the most critical tool for local SEO success.
Once your GBP is optimised, move to other major platforms like Apple Maps, Bing Maps, and Facebook Shops. These platforms help expand your reach, particularly in markets where they are dominant – for example, Apple Maps in regions with high iPhone usage or Bing Maps in areas with strong Microsoft adoption. Together, these platforms can account for another 10–15% of your visibility, making them a valuable next step.
After you’ve established a presence on the major platforms, managing your information across an increasing number of platforms can become overwhelming. This is where Local Citation Software becomes indispensable. It allows you to automate updates and maintain accuracy for essential details like your NAP, opening hours, and website links, all from one centralised and user-friendly interface.
For multi-location businesses or those in competitive industries, Local Citation Software is a game-changer. It ensures your business information is always consistent, which is crucial for building trust with both customers and search engines. By automating citation management, you can focus on what truly matters – growing your business.
The Bottom Line
Local Citation Software becomes essential once your core platforms are optimised and you’re ready to expand and streamline your online presence. With automation, you’ll save time, avoid costly errors, and maintain the accuracy needed to stay competitive in local search.
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What does our Local Citation Software do?
GMBapi.com’s local citation software syncs your Google Business Profile data with over 40 locally relevant networks. It’s designed to save you time by streamlining the management of multiple locations across a wide range of platforms, ensuring consistency and accuracy for your business.
Are Local Citations important?
You should include, in your marketing strategy, anything that improves your local SEO rankings, costs you minimal time, and has the potential to make you more visible on platforms other than Google.
Most importantly, when your local landing page, Google Business Profile, and external networks all feature consistent information about your business, Google can confidently verify your data, increasing the likelihood of your business being featured in Local Search.
However, as Local SEO specialist Michel van Luijtelaar notes, citations are only the sixth priority when it comes to impacting discoverability. Be sure to address the other key areas before focusing on citations.
In addition to enhancing the visibility of your Google Business Profile, you should make use of any other website or online community that can direct visitors to you. So, it is important to concentrate on niche search engines like Petal or Baidu. Or focus on car navigation software so that people can find your pharmacy on their way home.
Our Local Citation Software
We use third-party software to maintain API connections across a multitude of platforms. Contact us for solid advice on why, how, and when to start adding this to your Local SEO strategy. Start your free trial here.
FAQ
Google local citations are mentions of your business NAP (Name, Address, Phone number) on the web, Google Business Profile, local directories, and review sites. These citations help Google verify your business information and show up in local search results.
To create a citation:
- List the platforms for your business, Google Business Profile, Yelp, niche directories, etc.
- Use the same information, business name, address, phone number (NAP), and website URL.
- Claim and verify on major platforms.
Use a citation software tool like GMBapi.com to automate and keep consistent across multiple platforms.
You can find citations by:
- Searching your business name and location on Google to see where your information is listed.
- Using our online presence check tool to find existing citations on all major sites.
- Niche directories specific to your industry or region are also something you should be interested in.
Google doesn’t have a “citation tool” for local SEO. However, Google Business Profile is the main platform where businesses can manage their NAP, hours of operation and other important information to improve local search visibility.
Local citations are important for SEO if your potential customers use the platforms that we create and manage citations for.
- They verify your business’s legitimacy and accuracy to search engines.
- Show up in local search results across other relevant platforms or navigation services.
- Build customer trust by providing accurate business information everywhere.
While they are important, local citations rank lower than reviews, content quality and on-page SEO in overall local SEO rankings.
A local citation service helps businesses manage and distribute their NAP data across multiple platforms, keeping it consistent and accurate. These services often automate the process, saving time and reducing errors. Examples are GMBapi.com, Yext, and BrightLocal.
A local Google citation is mentions of your business on Google platforms like Google Business Profile, Google Maps, or even third-party sites that Google uses to validate your business NAP information.
Yes – we will check if location information is present. If it is not present, a location will be created and linked to our software. No one can change that information except us.
We will check if the location information is present. If it is present, we will claim ownership and update the information. If another citation provider created the citations they will need to “let them go” before we can claim ownership.
Check out our tool in action
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