What Should Be Included in a Citation Submission?
The preparation of citations and strategically placing them on the right listing sites is not always given the attention that the task deserves. In fact, citations that include the right information and are found on the ideal sites can do quite a bit to enhance your SEO efforts. What sort of information should be included in the citation? Make sure the following is part of every citation submission that you prepare.
The Full Name of Your Business
Always lead with the full name of the business. The goal is to ensure the listing easily relates to any other online content that has to do with the company. This type of uniformity eliminates the potential for some consumers to think that your business is different from the similarly named company they have come across elsewhere.
At the same time, don’t hesitate to include a nickname that applies to your business. It doesn’t have to be the lead part of the citation, but do include it elsewhere. That will also ease any issues with confusion, since some consumers may have heard of the company by the nickname.
The Business Address
Make sure to include the full physical address for your business. At this juncture, you aren’t concerned about where the company receives mail. The goal is to provide consumers with the ability to pinpoint where you are. This is especially important if they may come to you in order to conduct any type of business activity.
Keep in mind that the address that you put in the listing will likely be picked up by the major search engines and used to generate directions to your company. For example, this bit of information would make it easier for your company to be listed on Google Maps.
The Phone Number
A phone number is always a good bit of information to supply. Consumers who aren’t ready to make the physical trek to your location may decide that a phone call is in order. This type of communication is a good way for consumers to confirm that you have what they need, or to ensure they know what your hours of operation happen to be.
Remember this should be the main number for your business. This will make it easier for a receptionist to greet callers, then direct their call in whatever way is needed. The same is true if you have an auto-attendant programmed, allowing callers to use a keypad to select the right department.
The Company URL
The company URL provides a way for interested parties to go directly from the listing to the company website. See this as an alternative to making a phone call, since it allows consumers to look over more information about what you have to offer. This may answer their questions, or it may tell them just enough to motivate a visit or a phone contact.
The URL can be to the home page of your site. Assuming that navigating from the home page to the other pages is easy, they will have no trouble finding what they want to know.
The Industry Classification
It’s true that most listing sites require users to identify an industry before they can submit any citation submission, but it’s still important to include something within the citation that confirms your industry type. it does more than reinforce the fact that the citation is filed under the correct designation; it also helps the consumer to be sure he or she is in the right place.
It doesn’t have to be long and detailed. In fact, short and sweet is what you want to go for with this bit of information. You’ll be surprised at how affirming the classification will further aid your SEO efforts.
Don’t take the idea of citations lightly. Just as with link building, citation building is a key tool that can make a difference in how well you create a strong online presence. If you’re not sure what to do, make use of a service that can help with this task. You can bet that the results will serve your company well for a long time.