What does local citation mean?

Graphic illustration of local citation components, featuring layered elements with a location pin, NAP acronym, and digital design motifs, set against a vibrant green background, emphasizing local SEO relevance.

Over 5,000 digital marketing agencies and resellers outsource their local citation building to BrightLocal. A complete local citation should include the company name, address, and phone number, which is referred to as your “NAP. Citations help people to discover local businesses and can also impact local search engine rankings. The point to remember is that a citation does not need to have a link to be valuable to your local search efforts.

A local citation is any mention of your business on the web; it is any combination of your company name, phone number, address, zip or postal code, and website address. Citations can occur on local business directories, on websites and apps, and on social platforms. Specifically, having high quality basic citations can help you rank accurately on Google’s local search interfaces. We have a handy tool called the Local Citation Finder that will complete a competitive analysis based on keyphrase search or business search.

A local citation is any online mention of partial or complete name, address, and phone number of a local business – also called NAP data. Online citations can result from automated aggregation and the flow of data from local business data platforms. In local search engine optimization (SEO), citations are mentions of your business’s name, address, and phone number (commonly referred to as NAP) on a website that isn’t your own. Local businesses can actively manage many citations to ensure data accuracy.

If you’ve read any introductory posts about local SEO, you’ve likely heard about how important citation consistency is.

What is local citation in research paper?

A local SEO citation is any instance of certain information about your business, mentioned on an online source. A local citation is any online mention of partial or complete name, address, and phone number of a local business – also called NAP data.

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David Corcoran
With over 25 years of experience in business leadership, operations management, and organizational strategy, David Corcoran has built a career helping companies streamline processes, strengthen teams, and scale sustainably. Throughout roles ranging from operations director to executive advisor, David Corcoran has led cross-functional initiatives, improved operational efficiency, and guided organizations through periods of rapid growth and transformation. Drawing on a deep background in systems design, project management, and people development, David Corcoran writes about practical, real-world approaches to leadership, productivity, operational excellence, and strategic planning. Their work focuses on bridging the gap between high-level strategy and day-to-day execution—empowering leaders at all levels to build stronger, more adaptable organizations. When not consulting or writing, David Corcoran mentors emerging managers, contributes to professional development programs, and stays active exploring the latest trends in business operations and workplace innovation.

Over 5,000 digital marketing agencies and resellers outsource their local citation building to BrightLocal. A complete local citation should include the company name, address, and phone number, which is referred to as your “NAP. Citations help people to discover local businesses and can also impact local search engine rankings. The point to remember is that…