Citation field guide

Local SEO citations: consistency before volume

A local citation is a reference to a business on another website or platform, often including its name, address and phone number. Citations help most when the information is accurate and the source is relevant.

Updated September 5, 2026 · Published by LocalSEO.ca

Vancouver-basedServing Canadian marketsClear scope and reporting

Audit the business truth first

Confirm the official name, customer-facing address rules, phone, website and hours before updating platforms. Document intentional variations such as department numbers.

Prioritize sources

Start with the platforms customers and data providers actually use, then consider reputable industry associations and locally meaningful sources.

Clean conflicts and duplicates

Old addresses, duplicate profiles and mismatched phone numbers can confuse customers. Remediation should be recorded so future updates do not recreate the issue.

Reviewed sources

Primary sources and standards

Use these official resources to confirm platform rules and technical guidance. They are maintained by their publishers and may change over time.