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Citation Cleanup Services

In the current era, where everything has gone digital and potential customers rely heavily on online searches to find local businesses, having a strong online presence is crucial.
But it’s not just about having a website – it’s also about ensuring your business information (NAP – Name, Address, Phone number) is consistent and accurate across the web. This is where citation cleanup services come in.

PRO

Local Citation Cleanup

$250

  • Full Citation Audit For Your Business
  • Discover Incorrect Information
  • 2 Rounds of Manual Outreach to Fix Citation Issues
  • Receive a Detailed, Comprehensive Report
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What are Local Citation Cleanup Services?

Suppose a potential customer is searching for your business online. They find listings with your business name, but the addresses are slightly different on each one.
Maybe one has the old street number from before you moved, another has a typo in the zip code, and a third might be missing your suite number entirely.
This inconsistency can be confusing and frustrating for the customer, potentially leading them to a competitor with a more accurate online presence.

This is where our citation cleanup services come in.

They act as your online reputation management team specifically for NAP (Name, Address, Phone number) citations. Here’s a closer look at what citation cleanup services entail:

Scouring the Web

Citation cleanup services employ sophisticated tools and manual processes to scan a vast network of online directories, websites, apps, and data aggregators. These include popular platforms like Google My Business, Yelp, Bing Places, Yellow Pages, industry-specific directories, and local news mentions.

Identifying Discrepancies

Once the scan is complete, the team meticulously analyzes each citation for inconsistencies. This includes typos in your business name, address variations (missing suite number, abbreviated street name, etc.), incorrect phone numbers, or even duplicate listings under slightly different names.

Classifying Errors

Not all inconsistencies are created equal. The team will categorize the errors based on severity. A minor typo in your address might require a different approach than a completely missing listing on a major directory.

Taking Corrective Action

Here's where the magic happens. Depending on the platform and the nature of the error, the team will take targeted action to rectify the issue. This may involve:

Manual Correction

For many platforms, the team will directly log in and edit your listing to ensure the correct information is displayed.

Contacting Platform Support

For certain directories or data aggregators, it might be necessary to contact their support team and request an update. This often involves submitting change requests and following up to ensure the correction is implemented.

Duplicate Removal

In cases of duplicate listings, the team will identify the primary listing and take steps to suppress or remove the inaccurate duplicates. This might involve contacting the platform or using suppression tools offered by the data aggregator.

Beyond Basic Citation Cleanup

A good citation cleanup service goes beyond just fixing basic errors. Here’s what you can expect from our comprehensive services:

Data Aggregation Management

Data aggregators play a significant role in distributing your NAP information across various platforms. The team can monitor these aggregators to ensure your information is accurate and consistently distributed.

New Citation Building

While the focus is on cleaning up existing citations, some services can also help build new citations on relevant directories to strengthen your online presence further.

Ongoing Monitoring

The digital landscape is constantly evolving, and new directories emerge all the time. A good service will offer ongoing monitoring to identify any new inconsistencies that might arise.

By investing in our citation cleanup services, you’re essentially taking control of your online reputation and ensuring that potential customers can find you easily and accurately. This translates to improved local SEO ranking, increased website traffic, and, ultimately, more business for you.

Why is Local Citation Cleanup Important?

Here’s why citation cleanup is essential for local businesses:

Improved Local SEO

Search engines like Google heavily rely on consistent NAP citations to determine a business's legitimacy and local ranking. Inaccurate citations can confuse search engines and negatively impact your local search visibility.

Enhanced Brand Reputation

Consistent citations across platforms project a professional image and build trust with potential customers.

Increased Website Traffic

Accurate listings with correct contact information will lead more qualified leads to your website or physical location.

Reduced Customer Confusion

Inconsistent listings can lead to frustrated customers who can't find your correct information or reach you easily.

Citation Cleanup Services: A Step-by-Step Breakdown

Our citation cleanup service takes a meticulous approach to ensure your online presence shines. Here's a detailed breakdown of each step involved:

Free Citation Audit: Unearthing the Inconsistent Web

Web Crawlin

We utilize advanced web crawling tools to scour a massive network of online sources. This includes popular business directories, industry-specific platforms, local news mentions, apps with location services, and even social media profiles where your business address might be listed.

Data Aggregation Analysis

We don't just look at individual listings; we also delve into data aggregators. These are companies that collect and distribute business information to various platforms. By analyzing your presence within these aggregators, we ensure your NAP details are consistent throughout the online ecosystem.

Manual Verification

While web crawlers are powerful, there's no substitute for human eyes. Our team manually verifies each identified citation to ensure its accuracy. This helps catch nuances that crawlers might miss, like slight variations in address formatting or abbreviations.

In-Depth Analysis: Making Sense of the Data

Inconsistency Classification

Not all errors are created equal. Our team will categorize the discrepancies they find. This could be anything from a minor typo in your phone number to a completely missing listing on a major directory.

Impact Assessment

We'll evaluate the potential impact of each inconsistency on your local SEO ranking. For instance, a missing suite number on a minor directory might be less critical than an incorrect address on Google My Business.

Prioritization Strategy

Based on the severity and impact, the team will create a prioritized list of citations that require correction. This ensures we tackle the most critical issues first to maximize the positive impact on your local search visibility.

Manual Cleanup: Taking Action on Discrepancies

Platform-Specific Approach

The team will take targeted action depending on the platform and the nature of the error. For instance:

  • Direct Edits: For many directories with user accounts, the team can directly log in and edit your listing to ensure the correct information is displayed.
  • Support Ticket Submissions: For platforms with dedicated support channels, the team will submit well-documented change requests and follow up to ensure the corrections are implemented.
  • Data Aggregator Communication: In the case of data aggregators, the team might use specialized tools or contact their support to request NAP updates across the platforms they distribute to.

Communication is Key

Throughout the process, we'll keep you informed. This may involve sending screenshots or summaries of the contact made with each platform and the expected turnaround time for corrections.

Duplicate Suppression: Eliminating Confusing Clones

Duplicate Identification

Our team utilizes advanced techniques to identify duplicate listings across the web. These duplicates can have slight variations in name, address, or phone number, making them difficult to detect manually.

Prioritization and Action

Not all duplicates are harmful. The team will prioritize which ones to suppress based on factors like accuracy, platform importance, and potential impact on search engines.

Suppression Methods

Depending on the platform, the team might use built-in suppression tools, contact website administrators, or leverage data aggregator functionalities to remove unwanted duplicates.

Progress Reports: Keeping You in the Loop

Clear and Concise Communication: We understand the importance of transparency. Throughout the cleanup process, you’ll receive regular reports detailing the progress made. These reports will typically include:

    • Number of citations identified and analyzed.
    • Breakdown of identified inconsistencies (typos, missing information, duplicates).
    • Status updates on correction requests submitted to various platforms.
    • Citations successfully updated or duplicates removed.

Actionable Insights: The reports will not just be data dumps. Our team will also provide insights and recommendations based on the findings. This could involve suggestions for building new citations on relevant directories or ongoing monitoring strategies to maintain a consistent online presence.

By following this comprehensive approach, our citation audit and cleanup service ensures your business information is accurate, consistent, and optimized across the web. This translates to a stronger online presence, improved local SEO ranking, and, ultimately, the ability to attract more customers who can easily find you.

Invest in Your Local Search Success

Don’t let inaccurate citations hold your business back from reaching its full potential in local search. Our citation cleanup services can help you establish a strong online presence, improve local SEO, and ultimately attract more customers.

Contact us today to discuss your specific needs and learn how our citation cleanup services can help your business thrive in the local search landscape.

Answering Some FAQs About Citation Cleanup Services!

In the world of local SEO, citations refer to online mentions of your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) across various platforms. These platforms can include business directories, industry-specific websites, online maps, social media profiles, and even local news mentions. Search engines like Google heavily rely on consistent NAP citations to determine a business’s legitimacy and local search ranking. Inconsistent or inaccurate citations can confuse search engines and negatively impact your local SEO visibility.

Inaccurate citations can lead to several problems:

  • Reduced Local Search Ranking: Search engines prioritize businesses with consistent citations. Inaccurate listings can make it harder for potential customers to find you online.
  • Confused Customers: If your address or phone number is wrong online, customers might have difficulty reaching you or finding your location. This can lead to frustration and lost business.
  • Damaged Reputation: Inconsistent citations can make your business appear unprofessional or untrustworthy.

By investing in citation cleanup services, you can ensure your business information is accurate and consistent across the web.

If you’re a local business, especially one with multiple locations or that has recently moved or rebranded, then you likely benefit from a citation cleanup service. Here are some signs you might need help:

  • You’ve never audited your online listings before.
  • You’ve recently moved locations or changed your phone number.
  • You suspect there might be inaccurate information about your business online.
  • You’re struggling to improve your local SEO ranking.

A comprehensive citation cleanup service typically includes several steps:

  • Free Citation Audit: A thorough scan of the web to identify all mentions of your business.
  • In-Depth Analysis: Classifying and prioritizing inconsistencies found in your citations.
  • Manual Cleanup: Contact individual platforms and data aggregators to request corrections.
  • Duplicate Suppression: Identifying and removing duplicate listings that can confuse search engines.

Progress Reports: Keeping you informed about the progress made and next steps.

There are several advantages to using a professional service:

  • Expertise and Efficiency: The team has the tools and know-how to find and fix citation errors quickly and effectively.
  • Time-Saving Solution: You can focus on running your business while the experts handle the cleanup process.
  • Improved Local SEO Ranking: By ensuring consistent citations, the service helps your business climb the local search ladder.
  • Increased Website Traffic: Accurate listings with correct contact information will lead more qualified leads to your website.

Enhanced Brand Reputation: A consistent online presence builds trust and portrays a professional image for your business.

The cost of citation cleanup services can vary depending on the complexity of the project, the number of locations you have, and the features included in the service package. However, most reputable agencies offer free consultations to assess your specific needs and provide a custom quote.

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