What if My Business Has Multiple Locations?
Businesses with multiple locations and/or phone numbers can hurt their rankings when they do not understand how to effectively enter in NAP data. Companies which have one location, but multiple phone numbers, should choose a single phone number to use for all NAP entries. For firms with multiple locations and phone numbers, it is better create one unique listing for each location and remember to be consistent for every single entry. Keep in mind NAP does not allow Post Office boxes and relies upon actual physical addresses.
How to Create a Good Online Citation
The most effective way to create a good online citation is to be consistent. You need to start by confirming your NAP data is accurate everywhere it has been listed. Not only do you need to verify your own site, but also other websites including, Yelp, Yellowpages.com, Google+, and other local directly sites.
As you are verifying your current NAP entries, look at the number of fields which are completed correctly and are consistent across all listings. These fields have a positive result on localized searches. To improve your rankings, enter as much information about your business as possible, use effective keywords, and make sure it is exactly the same across all listings on every single site. When you are consistent, it makes it easier for customers to find your location and builds credibility for your business with search engines.
Improving Local Search Results for Service Areas
Many local businesses provide their products and/or services to surrounding communities and neighbourhoods in addition to their key physical location. For instance, a company located in Toronto can service such areas like Mississauga, York, and Scarborough. While it might be tempting to create false listings in each of these areas, it is better to utilize localized keywords and key phrases in your actual online content, such as “pizza delivery in Mississauga”. This key phrase is indexed by search engines and shows up in localized search results.