Boosting Your Google Ranking with Citations

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with BlogEasy for Real Estate Agents

If you start investigating local web search and Google Local Business Center (GLBC), you'll find that "citations" are important to your ability to rank in Google local search. If you're not familiar with Google Local Search, see my previous post called Getting Found in Google Local Search.

In fact "citations" along with inbound links are generally considered the second most important ranking factor after the actual content of your GLBC listing. Some local search specialists consider citations and links the most important factor - outweighing even the contents of your actual GLBC listing.

A "citation" is not the same as a link. It is a "web reference' found on some site other than your own which contains information about your business. According to David Mihm , a citation "always contains your business address and/or phone number."

The most important places to get citations are major directories such as

- Online Yellow Pages
- SuperPages
- Local.com
and many others, as well as well recognized local directories and websites specific to your local area.

To find out which directories and sites Google considers important for citations, do a local search for the keyword you want to rank in (for example, "Kitchener Real Estate" or "Toledo Realtors" and then look at the current "more info" tab of your highest ranking competitors to get an idea of what resources are referring to them. Then try to get yourself listed there too.

Having a consistent business description (address, phone number, website, email address, description) is important. An effective way to spread your standard business listing information to a large number of online directories is to use the submission service available from Universal Business Listings ($30).

Comments (6)

Anthony Moretz
Moretz Realty Partners - Hickory, NC
REALTOR®

Good Stuff Rick, Thanks for sharing. I'm sure others will make good use of this information.

Jan 04, 2010 12:19 AM
Paul Piedra
Sabre Realty Group, LLC - Stamford, CT
Commercial Real Estate Specialist

Thanks for the info!  I'm going to look into these now.

Jan 04, 2010 12:20 AM
Joseph Welusz
QuoteMatcher.com - Evesham Township, NJ

Makes sense.  Thanks for the tip.

Jan 04, 2010 12:25 AM
Larry Bettag
Cherry Creek Mortgage Illinois Residential Mortgage License LMB #0005759 Cherry Creek Mortgage NMLS #: 3001 - Saint Charles, IL
Vice-President of National Production

I never heard of "citations" for SEO.  Good information....thanks. Didin't know that citations were so important.

Jan 04, 2010 12:26 AM
Jody Lautenbach
Century 21 Premier Associates - Pella, IA

So much to learn so little time.  Thanks for getting this information out to us to help our own marketing! 

Jan 04, 2010 12:51 AM
Rick Hendershot
BlogEasy for Real Estate Agents - International, IT

Hi All,

I'm glad you found this information useful.

Rick

Jan 04, 2010 10:31 PM