Have listing services like Yext become obsolete due to changes in Google?

If you’re a local business owner or an SEO professional, you’ve probably heard of local citations. It refers to the online mentions of your business’s name, address, and phone number (NAP) on various online directories, such as Yelp, TripAdvisor, and YellowPages. These citations are believed to be an essential factor in local search rankings, and so many businesses turned to automated citation submission services like Yext to manage their local listings.

But with Google’s constantly changing algorithms, local SEO experts are questioning the significance of citations in the modern digital landscape. Mike Blumenthal, the co-founder of GatherUp, is one of the most prominent voices against citations.

The decline of local citations

According to Mike, if your business’s NAP information is accurate on your website and Google My Business, Yelp, and Facebook, you don’t need a citation campaign, nor do you need to pay for recurring costs. Instead, he emphasizes the importance of local sites and web-references that users engage with and occur on pages of prominence. In other words, Google cares more about the quality and relevance of your business listings rather than the number of citations.

Joy Hawkins from Sterling Sky shares the same sentiment. She believes that citation building isn’t a high-impact tactic and only bothers with it if the client has recently moved locations.

So, does that mean local citations are no longer relevant? Not quite.

The role of local citations today

While local citations may not be as important as they were before, they still play a role in local SEO. For instance, consistent citations across different directories can help Google associate your business with specific keywords and locations, making it easier for potential customers to find you in search results.

Moreover, local citations can also drive traffic to your website and improve your brand’s visibility online. However, instead of relying on automated citation submission services, we recommend manual submissions to relevant and high-quality directories.

In other words, focus on quality rather than quantity. Submit to directories that are relevant to your business, and make sure that your NAP information is consistent and accurate across all directories.

Conclusion

So, have listing services like Yext become obsolete due to changes in Google? While the significance of local citations may have declined, they still play a role in local SEO. However, businesses should focus on manual submissions to relevant and high-quality directories, rather than relying on automated services.

The digital landscape is constantly evolving, and so is local SEO. As SEO professionals, we need to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and strategies to ensure our clients’ businesses thrive online.

FAQs

Q: What are local citations? A: Local citations are online mentions of your business’s name, address, and phone number (NAP) on various online directories.

Q: Are local citations still relevant for local SEO? A: While the significance of local citations may have declined, they still play a role in local SEO.

Q: Should I use automated citation submission services like Yext? A: We recommend manual submissions to relevant and high-quality directories instead of relying on automated services.

Q: How can I ensure consistent NAP information across different directories? A: Make sure to use the same NAP information across all directories and update it promptly whenever there’s a change.

Q: What are some high-quality directories to submit to? A: Some high-quality directories include Google My Business, Yelp, TripAdvisor, and YellowPages.

Reference:

searchengineland.com/do-local-citations-matter-anymore-five-local-seos-sound-off-320015