What are NAP and local citations?

Why consistency matters

Google compares what it finds about your business across the web. When your name, address and phone number match everywhere, it can be more confident the listing is accurate and the business is real. When they conflict, for example an old address on one directory and a new one on another, the signal is weaker and customers can end up at the wrong place.

Where citations live

• Google Business Profile, Apple Business Connect and Bing Places
• General directories such as Yell, Thomson Local and Yelp
• Sector directories: for example healthcare registers, trade associations and legal directories
• Social profiles and your own website footer and contact page

How to audit your NAP

1. Decide the single correct version of your name, address, phone number and website.
2. List every place the business appears: search for the name, the old and new addresses and each phone number.
3. Correct or remove every variation, starting with the high-visibility directories.
4. Remove duplicate listings, which are a common cause of confusion and suspension.
5. Re-check twice a year, and after any move, rebrand or change of number.

Common mistakes

Writing “Street” on one site and “St.” on another is minor, but changing the business name, using a tracking number as the main number everywhere, or leaving a former address live are the errors that cause real damage.

How Starboost handles it

NAP consistency is part of every local SEO engagement: we audit the main directories, fix the differences and keep the listing, website and directories aligned. Read more on our local SEO agency page.