Local Citations: Which Directories Still Matter
Which citations still influence local SEO and which to skip.
Citations are mentions of a business's name, address, and phone (NAP) on other websites. Not all citations influence local SEO equally. This guide covers which directories still matter and which to skip. See Citation and NAP Consistency Checklist for the consistency audit.
Which directories matter
| Tier | Examples | Why they matter |
|---|---|---|
| Primary | Google Business Profile | The most important local listing |
| Major aggregators | Apple Maps, Bing Places | Distribute data to other directories |
| Industry-specific | Healthgrades, Houzz, Avvo | Relevant to the business type |
| Local | Chamber of commerce, local business directories | Relevant to the location |
Which to skip
- Low-quality directories that exist only for links.
- Directories that charge for inclusion with no editorial value.
- Directories unrelated to the business or location.
Primary sources
- How Google ranks local results — Google Business Profile Help (accessed 2025-01-15)