15 Local Citation Softwares

by Venchito Tampon Jr | Last Updated on June 26, 2023

One of the marketing trends that has been around for a while and is still going strong is local citations. It’s one of the fundamentals of good local SEO.

For the past years, Moz has been surveying local SEO experts to ask them what they believe are the most important local search ranking factors. Local citations (27.5%) and links (21.3%) are the two most important factors, according to these experts.

 

So, what exactly are local citations?

A local citation is any mention of your business on the web, with or without a link. The keyword here is “local.”

Citations can be in the form of your NAP (Name, Address, Phone number), reviews, and mentions of your business on social media or local directories.

To put it simply: if your business is mentioned on the internet, it’s considered a citation.

There are numerous benefits of local citations. The most important one is that they improve your local SEO ranking.

Other benefits include:

• Increased brand awareness and recognition
• More traffic to your website and physical location
• Improved lead generation
• Greater customer engagement

 

There are three types of local citations:

1. Structured Citations: These are the most common and include directories like Yelp, Angie’s List, and Thomson Local.
2. Unstructured Citations: These are mentions of your business on sites that don’t necessarily have a local focus, such as news sites and blogs.
3. Social Citations: These are mentions of your business on social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Now that you know what local citations are and why they’re important, it’s time to start building them. A good local citation software can help you with that.

 

What is local citation software?

Local citation software is a tool that helps you build citations for your business. It’s basically a citation management tool that allows you to track, manage, and monitor your citations.

 

The best local citation software should have the following features:

• A directory submission feature that allows you to submit your business to the most relevant and high-quality directories.
• A citation tracking feature that allows you to track your citations and see which ones are most effective.
• A reporting feature that allows you to generate reports so you can see your progress and ROI.
• An automated submission feature that allows you to automate the process of submitting your business to directories.
• A customer support feature that allows you to get help from the software’s customer support team in case you run into any problems.

 

Now that you know what local citation software is and what features to look for, let’s take a look at some of the best options on the market.

1. Moz Local

 

Moz’s very own local citation software is one of the best on the market. It’s a complete local SEO platform that helps you with everything from listing your business in directories to tracking your progress.

Moz Local has a directory submission feature that allows you to submit your business to the most relevant and high-quality directories. It also has a citation tracking feature that allows you to track your citations and see which ones are most effective.

Plus, Moz Local has a reporting feature that allows you to generate reports so you can see your progress and ROI. And if you need help, you can always turn to the customer support team.

 

2. BrightLocal

 

 

BrightLocal is another great local citation software. It’s an all-in-one local SEO platform that helps you with everything from listing your business on directories to monitoring your citations.

Like Moz Local, BrightLocal has a directory submission feature that allows you to submit your business to the most relevant and high-quality directories.

 

3. Whitespark

 

 

Whitespark features everything you need to build citations for your business. Whitespark is a comprehensive local SEO resource that places a lot of emphasis on local citations. It offers two citation management tools, as well as a plethora of how-tos and articles to help you optimize your technique.

 

4. Yext

 

Yext is a local SEO platform that helps you manage your local listings and citations. Yext offers a variety of features, including listing management, citation tracking, review monitoring, and more.

One of the best things about Yext is that it offers a free listing scan. This allows you to see how your business is listed across the web and identify any errors that need to be fixed.

 

5. Synup

 

Synup is a local listing and reputation management software that allows business to boost their marketing through accurate and consistent listings. Synup allows you to manage your listings, monitor your reviews, and track your citations, all in one place.

Synup also offers a free listing scan that helps you identify any errors in your listings.

 

6. GeoRanker

 

 

GeoRanker is a powerful local citation finder tool that helps you boost your local SEO rankings. With GeoRanker, you can easily find and track local citations for your business. The tool also allows you to monitor your competition and see where they are getting their citations from. GeoRanker is the perfect tool for any business that wants to improve their local SEO rankings.

 

7. ReviewTrackers

 

 

ReviewTrackers helps businesses track, monitor, and manage their online reviews. ReviewTrackers offers a variety of features, including review monitoring, review management, and review generation.

Unlike some of the tools above, ReviewTrackers is a paid tool.

8. SOCi

 

SOCi is an all-in-one marketing platform that helps businesses with everything from social media to local SEO. Their focus is on brands with multiple locations.

SOCi offers a variety of features, including listing management, review monitoring, social media management, and more.

 

9. TribeLocal

 

With over 200+ local listing sites, TribeLocal is one of the most comprehensive local citation services available. TribeLocal also offers a wide range of other local SEO services, making it a one-stop-shop for all your local SEO needs.

 

10. BirdEye

 

Birdeye is an all-in-one customer experience platform. Every day, over 80,000 businesses use Birdeye to attract new leads with Listings, Reviews, and Referrals, convert them into customers with Webchat and Payments. It also features surveys, ticketing, and insights – all in one place.

 

11. Advice Local

 

Advice Local is a software and technology firm based in Dallas, Texas. Advice local provides a variety of software-based solutions to help digital marketers in Local SEO perform their tasks. The company offers a listing management solution that utilizes hand submissions and APIs to claim and optimize large numbers of listings quickly.

 

12. Mypresences 

 

Mypresences is another top choice for local citation services. They offer a wide range of local citation services for different industry types. It lets you manage your presence on 100+ local directories with ease. You can get started with a free trial to try their services.

 

13. SemRush Listing Management

 

Semrush is a popular SEO software that also offers a listing management tool. This tool allows you to track your listings, monitor your citations, and receive alerts when your business is mentioned online.

Using the tool, marketers can quickly distribute their business listings through a wide network of third-party directories, avoid Google penalties by reducing duplicate postings, and manage feedback and brand reputation across platforms with ease.

 

14. Go Daddy Go Central

 

GoDaddy’s GoCentral is a website builder that also offers a listing management feature. With this feature, you can track your listings, monitor your citations, and receive alerts when your business is mentioned online.

GoDaddy’s GoCentral also offers a variety of other features, such as SEO, social media, and email marketing.

 

15. Ontolo

 

Ontolo is a data mining tool that specializes in sales prospecting and lead generation strategies. In this regard, Ontolo offers a listing management feature that helps marketers track their citations, generate leads, and improve site rankings through structured data markup.

With Ontolo’s solution, digital marketers can ensure the quality of business listings across all platforms or directories and track competitor activities in real-time.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is local citation in SEO?

Local citation is a term used in SEO to describe the process of building and managing online listings for your business across various platforms and directories. This helps improve search engine rankings by creating more robust and consistent information about your business online.

 

What is global and local citation?

Global citation is the process of building and managing online listings for your business across various platforms and directories on a worldwide scale.

Local citation, on the other hand, is focused on improving search engine rankings within a specific geographic region.

 

What are Brightlocal citations?

Brightlocal citations are a type of local citation service offered by the company Brightlocal. These services help businesses build and manage their listings across major platforms and directories to improve search engine rankings and visibility in local search results.

Brightlocal citations include:

• Business name
• Business address
• Business phone number
• Business website URL
• Business category

 

Do citations work for local SEO?

Yes, citations can definitely help improve your local SEO. This is because when you build citations for your business, you’re essentially creating more consistent and robust information about your business online. This helps search engines better understand who you are and where you’re located, which can lead to improved rankings in local search results.

Citations work for local SEO by helping to create more consistent and robust information about your business online. This helps search engines better understand who you are and where you’re located, which can lead to improved rankings in local search results.

To optimize your citations for local SEO, you should first make sure that all of your business listings have the same information and are optimized with proper keywords. You should also focus on building high-quality citations from reputable platforms and directories. Additionally, it’s important to monitor and respond promptly to customer reviews and ratings in order to manage your brand reputation across directories.

 

How do you create a local citation?

There is no single formula for creating a local citation, as the process will vary depending on the platform or directory you are using.

Some general best practices include:

1. Make sure all of your business listings have the same NAP (name, address, phone number) information.
2. Optimize your listings with proper keywords to improve your visibility in search results.
3. Focus on building high-quality citations from reputable platforms and directories.
4. Monitor and respond promptly to customer reviews and ratings in order to manage your brand reputation across directories.

 

How do I find local citations?

To find local citations, you can use a variety of online tools and platforms, such as Moz Local or Brightlocal. These tools will help you identify and track the number and quality of your business listings across major directories and platforms, allowing you to optimize your listings for improved visibility in local search results.

Some other tips for finding local citations include performing keyword research to identify relevant directories and platforms in your industry, as well as reaching out to other businesses in your local area to exchange links or co-citations.

Finally, you can also use social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter to create new listings for your business and connect with potential customers in your area.

 

What are the benefits of using local citation software?

There are several benefits to using local citation software:

1. Saves time and effort: Local citation software automates the process of building and maintaining citations, saving businesses time and effort.
2. Improves local SEO: Consistent and accurate citations are important for local SEO. Local citation software helps businesses ensure that their NAP information is consistent across all citations, which can improve their local SEO.
3. Identifies and fixes incorrect or duplicate citations: Local citation software can help businesses identify and fix incorrect or duplicate citations, which can negatively impact their local SEO.
4. Tracks citation progress: Local citation software can help businesses track their citation progress and monitor the success of their local SEO efforts.
5. Increases visibility: Local citation software can help businesses increase their visibility by building citations on a wide range of websites, including local directories, review sites, and industry-specific websites.
6. Enhances reputation: Local citation software can help businesses enhance their reputation by ensuring that their NAP information is accurate and consistent across all citations. This can help businesses build trust with customers and establish their credibility.

 

Are there any risks to using local citation software?

There are a few risks to consider when using local citation software:

1. Low-quality or spammy citations: Some local citation software may create low-quality or spammy citations that could harm a business’s reputation or local SEO. It’s important to research the reputation of different local citation software providers and choose a reputable provider.
2. Violation of best practices: Some local citation software may not adhere to best practices for citation building, which could result in penalties or issues with search engines. It’s important to ensure that the software follows best practices and is compatible with the guidelines of major search engines.
3. Security risks: Some local citation software may not be secure, which could expose a business’s sensitive information to potential hackers. It’s important to choose software from a reputable provider and ensure that it has strong security measures in place to protect sensitive information.
4. Dependence on software: Relying too heavily on local citation software can lead to a lack of manual oversight and control. It’s important for businesses to periodically check their citations and make sure all information is accurate and up-to-date, even if they are using citation software.
5. Cost: Local citation software can be expensive, particularly for businesses with multiple locations or a large number of citations to manage. It’s important to carefully consider the costs and benefits of using local citation software and choose a solution that fits within a business’s budget.

 

How do I choose the right local citation software for my business?

Here are some factors to consider when choosing the right local citation software for your business:

Cost: Determine your budget and look for software that fits within it. Some local citation software is free to use, while others charge a monthly or annual subscription fee. The price may also depend on the number of locations or citations that a business needs to manage.

Features: Consider the features that are most important to your business, such as automation, reporting, and alerts. Look for software that offers the features you need at a price you can afford.

Reputation: Research the reputation of different local citation software providers and read reviews from other users. Choose a provider with a proven track record of delivering high-quality software and services.

Compatibility: Make sure the software is compatible with your current systems and processes. Consider whether the software integrates with any other tools or platforms that your business uses.

Customer support: Look for software with reliable customer support in case you have any issues or questions. Choose a provider that offers multiple support channels, such as email, phone, and chat, and has a track record of responding to customer inquiries in a timely manner.

 

How does local citation software improve local SEO?

Local citation software helps improve local SEO by building and maintaining consistent and accurate citations for a business. Citations are mentions of a business’s name, address, and phone number (NAP) on other websites. Search engines use citations as a way to verify the legitimacy and accuracy of a business’s NAP information. By building and maintaining accurate citations, businesses can improve their local SEO and increase their chances of ranking higher in local search results.

Here are a few specific ways in which local citation software can improve local SEO:

Consistent NAP information: Local citation software helps businesses ensure that their NAP information is consistent across all citations. This is important because search engines use NAP information to verify the identity and location of a business. Inconsistent or incorrect NAP information can confuse search engines and negatively impact a business’s local SEO.

More citations: Local citation software helps businesses build citations on a wide range of websites, including local directories, review sites, and industry-specific websites. The more citations a business has, the more credibility and authority it can establish with search engines. This can lead to higher rankings in local search results.

Quality of citations: Local citation software can help businesses build high-quality citations on reputable websites. Search engines tend to give more weight to citations from authoritative and trusted websites. Building high-quality citations can therefore improve a business’s local SEO.

Duplicate citations: Local citation software can help businesses identify and remove duplicate citations, which can negatively impact their local SEO. Search engines may view duplicate citations as spammy or low-quality and penalize a business’s rankings as a result.

Incorrect citations: Local citation software can help businesses identify and fix incorrect citations, which can also negatively impact their local SEO. Incorrect citations can confuse search engines and make it difficult for them to verify the accuracy of a business’s NAP information. Fixing incorrect citations can help improve a business’s local SEO.

 

What types of businesses can benefit from local citation software?

Local citation software can be beneficial for any business with a physical location, as well as businesses that serve a specific geographic area. This includes brick-and-mortar businesses such as restaurants, retail stores, and service providers, as well as online businesses that offer delivery or in-home services.

Some examples of businesses that may particularly benefit from using local citation software include:

Local retailers and restaurants: Local retailers and restaurants can use local citation software to build citations on local directories, review sites, and industry-specific websites. This can help them attract local customers and improve their local SEO.

Service providers: Service providers such as plumbers, electricians, and HVAC technicians can use local citation software to build citations on local directories and review sites. This can help them attract local customers and improve their local SEO.

Online businesses with physical locations: Online businesses with physical locations, such as stores or warehouses, can use local citation software to build citations on local directories and review sites. This can help them attract local customers and improve their local SEO.

Businesses that serve a specific geographic area: Businesses that serve a specific geographic area, such as a delivery service or a landscaping company, can use local citation software to build citations on local directories and review sites. This can help them attract local customers and improve their local SEO.

Overall, any business that wants to improve its local SEO and attract local customers can benefit from using local citation software.

 

How often should a business update their citations using local citation software?

It’s generally recommended to update a business’s citations on a regular basis, such as every few months. This helps ensure that the information is accurate and up-to-date. Some local citation software may offer alerts or notifications when it’s time to update citations. It’s also a good idea for businesses to manually check their citations periodically to ensure that all information is accurate and consistent.

In general, the frequency of citation updates will depend on the business and the nature of its operations. For example, a business that frequently changes its address or phone number may need to update its citations more frequently than a business with stable contact information.

It’s also a good idea for businesses to monitor their local SEO performance and look for any changes or trends in their citation counts or rankings. If a business notices a decline in its local SEO performance, it may want to review its citations and make any necessary updates.

Overall, the key is to keep citations accurate and up-to-date to ensure that they are effective in improving local SEO and attracting local customers.