When starting a small business, it's crucial to establish an online presence, particularly through citation sites where potential customers can find and learn about you. Here are the top five citations every new small business owner should claim from the start:
1. Google Business Profile
The most essential listing, it increases your visibility on Google Search and Maps. Make sure to provide accurate business details and optimize it with photos, posts, and reviews. (Want to know more about GBP specifically? Check out this blog too!)
2. Yelp
Yelp is a go-to platform for customer reviews and is crucial for businesses in service industries such as restaurants, beauty, or home services. Claim your business to respond to reviews and enhance credibility.
3. Facebook
As the most widely used social media platform, Facebook allows businesses to create pages where customers can check hours, services, and updates, while also engaging directly with your brand. (Need help with what to post? Check out this blog too!)
4. Bing Places for Business
While Google dominates, Bing has its own audience. Claiming your listing on Bing helps reach an additional group of users and ensures a wider presence across multiple search engines.
5. Better Business Bureau (BBB)
For businesses focused on trust and credibility, the BBB listing is vital. Even if you’re not accredited, a listing on the BBB website offers customers a place to see and leave reviews, helping to build trust.
Why These Listings Matter
Each of these citation platforms not only increases your online visibility but also helps with local SEO—ensuring your business ranks higher in local searches. Many of these platforms allow customers to leave reviews, which builds trust and credibility for your business.
Pro Tip: Ensure Consistent NAP
NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number) consistency across all citation sites is vital to establishing your business’s authority with search engines. Inconsistencies in these details can hurt your SEO ranking. (Here is more!)
Need Help Managing Your Listings?
If you’re a small business owner looking to establish your online presence but don’t have the time to manage these listings, Willow and Sage Marketing can assist you. We’ll help you claim, optimize, and manage your citations, so you can focus on what matters most—growing your business! Contact us today to get started.
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