If you run a local business in Plattsburgh, NY, you might be missing out on one of the most powerful (and free!) SEO tools: business citations.
Citations—mentions of your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) across the web—help Google verify your legitimacy and boost your local search rankings. But not all citations are created equal.
Let’s break down the different types, why they matter, and how to use them effectively.
Google cross-checks your NAP details across multiple websites to confirm your business is real and accurate. The more consistent your listings, the better your chances of ranking for local searches like:
Example: If your Google Business Profile says you’re at 123 Main St, but Yelp lists 456 Elm St, Google gets confused—and may rank you lower.
Many people still use directories like Yelp or Yellow Pages to find businesses. A complete listing means more visibility and potential customers.
A 2023 BrightLocal study found that businesses with consistent citations ranked 7% higher in local searches.
Need Help With Your Project?
I'm only a few clicks away.
Beautiful websites to capture the attention of your ideal client.
See your website at the top of google!
Get help on your do-it-yourself website design project.
Unstructured citations are those that are not formal directories, instead, they can be a blog, or top ten list, or something more informal. To improve your ranking in Google, structured citations must appear in relevant stories, blogs, and websites. Unstructured citations of your business in a blog with links are the most valuable because the more links you have, the higher your domain authority.
If you want your citations to be valuable, make sure your site is up-to-date. Unstructured citations don’t need to be linked to your website but should be relevant to your niche and company.
These are official listings on trusted business directories.
Directory | Why It Matters | Best For |
Google Business Profile | #1 for local rankings | All businesses |
Apple Maps | iPhone users rely on it | Retail, restaurants |
Yelp | Popular for reviews | Service businesses |
BBB | Builds trust | Contractors, professionals |
💡 Pro Tips:
These are informal references to your business on blogs, news sites, or social media.
Examples:
How to Get Them:
Industry-specific directories carry extra weight because they’re highly relevant.
Industry | Top Niche Directory |
Lawyers | Avvo, Justia |
Contractors | Angi, HomeAdvisor |
Doctors | Healthgrades, Zocdoc |
Restaurants | OpenTable, TripAdvisor |
💡 Why It Works: A listing on FindLaw.com tells Google you’re a legitimate attorney—not just another generic business.
❌ Problem: Your website says “Suite 101,” but Facebook lists “Unit 101.”
✅ Fix: Audit your listings with Moz Local or BrightLocal and standardize everything.
❌ Problem: Listing your business on spammy sites (e.g., BestPlattsburghBizList.xyz).
✅ Fix: Stick to trusted directories (like those listed above).
❌ Problem: You’re on Google but not Apple Maps.
✅ Fix: Use a citation service like Yext or Whitespark to push updates everywhere.
✔ Citations help Google verify your business and improve rankings.
✔ Structured citations (Google, Yelp, BBB) are mandatory—keep them consistent.
✔ Unstructured citations (blogs, news) add credibility—pursue them for extra SEO juice.
✔ Niche directories (like Avvo for lawyers) boost relevance in your industry.
Managing citations can be tedious. If you’d like a free audit of your Plattsburgh business listings, contact me here. Let’s make sure Google sees you as the local authority you are!
