hello@brandsmartini.caIf you’re a business owner in Vancouver, you probably already know how important local SEO is for getting more customers. Many companies hire a local SEO company Vancouver but still struggle to show up on the top of Google. The reason? Small but serious citation mistakes.
A citation is whenever you mention your business Name, Address, & Phone Number (NAP) on a website, directory, or social site. If NAP isn’t accurate and consistent, Google does not trust this information for your business.
The good news is, you don’t have to handle them alone. As a professional SEO company in Vancouver, BrandsMartini CA will help you fix these issues step by step and boost your local rankings.
What Are Citations and Why They Matter for Local SEO?
Citations are like your business’s online footprints. When these footprints are consistent everywhere, search engines trust your business more. A trusted local SEO company Vancouver can help you keep them accurate.
Correct citations can:
- Improve your Google Maps ranking
- Help customers find your business faster
- Increase your online authority
👉 Fun Fact: Moz found that consistent citations can improve your local rankings by up to 25%.
The 5 Most Common Citation Mistakes (Explained in Detail)
1. Inconsistent NAP Information
This is by far the most frequent, and most damaging mistake. Your business Name, Address, and Phone number (NAP) need to be listed exactly the same everywhere. Even slight variations can confuse Google’s algorithm which is why working with a local SEO company Vancouver can help keep everything consistent..
Example:
- On Yelp: BrandsMartini CA, 123 Street Road, Vancouver, BC
- On Yellow Pages: BrandsMartini Canada, 123 St. Rd., Vancouver
To you, this looks harmless. But to Google, these are two separate businesses. That inconsistency lowers trust and hurts rankings.
Fix: Always copy your NAP directly from your website and paste it into every new listing. Treat it like your digital business ID.
2. Duplicate Citations
Another silent killer is duplicate listings on the same platform. Many businesses create a second listing without realizing they already had one. Or sometimes, directories automatically generate a duplicate.
What happens then? Customers see two profiles and get confused about which is correct. Google also splits the “authority” between them, which reduces your ranking power.
Fix: Regularly audit your listings, or let a local SEO company Vancouver handle the cleanup by claiming both profiles and deleting or merging the extra ones.
3. Using Low-Quality or Spammy Directories
Not all directories are useful. Some are old, some have no relevance to your business, and some are created solely to spam the search engines. Listing on one of those directories can damage your reputation.
For example: If you operate a dental clinic in Vancouver and you have listed information about your practice in a directory created for plumbers, the citation is useless and doesn’t help any potential customer looking for a dentist. And on top of that, not all the directories provide quality links; poor or spammy sites can actually lead to penalties.
Fix: The solution is to work with a good SEO company in Vancouver to identify only high authority directories that are relevant to your industry. Quality is better than quantity.
4. Missing Citations on Key Platforms
This mistake is about neglect, not error. Many business owners only create a Google Business Profile and stop there. But Google looks at your wider digital footprint. If you are not on directory sites and platforms like Yelp, Bing Places, Apple Maps, or any other industry-specific directory sites, you may not be getting the exposure possible.
For example, if you run a restaurant in Vancouver and you’re not on Yelp or Trip Advisor, you are completely missing thousands of potential customers who are searching for restaurants in Vancouver.
Fix: The solution is to create citations in every major directory and local directories that matter in Vancouver.
5. Outdated Business Information
Business changes – a new office, a new phone number, a new brand. If the citation does not reflect the accurate information, customers will end up calling the wrong number, or driving to the incorrect address. This creates frustration and kills trust.
And guess what? Google also sees outdated info as a “red flag” that your business might not be reliable. A local SEO company Vancouver can help you keep all your listings updated so you never lose customers.
Fix: Anytime your business info changes, update your Google Business Profile first, then go through all directories and update them. Set a reminder to audit your citations every 6 months.
Step-by-Step Fixing Guide
- Audit your citations – Find all existing mentions online.
- Match your NAP – Use the same format as your website.
- Remove duplicates – Delete or merge extra listings.
- Update old ones – Don’t let outdated info hang around.
- Focus on quality – Stick to directories that matter.
Hiring a Vancouver SEO company can save you a lot of time in doing this properly.
Why Work With a Local SEO Company Vancouver?
Fixing citations is not the most delightful task; it’s time-consuming, and somewhat soul-crushing. A SEO company in Vancouver or a seo agency near me, like BrandsMartini CA, can do the heavy lifting. With a winning strategy in place, your business may be pushed into the top 3 map results that are responsible for the majority of clicks.
👉 FACT: Businesses with accurate citations are 50% more likely to appear in Google’s local 3-pack.
FAQs About Citations & Local SEO Company Vancouver
Q1: How many citations are necessary for my firm?
There is not a specific number of citations that you must have, however it is important to be cited in all the major directories, such as Google, Yelp, Bing and any other specific to your industry.
Q2: Can citation errors affect my rankings?
Mistakes can definitely impact local SEO by causing Google to have some confusion around your business. It is important to get citations to be as consistent as possible.
Q3: Do I have to fix citations on my own, or can I hire an agency?
You may work on them yourself, but it will take time and effort. Working with a local SEO company Vancouver such as BrandsMartini CA can save you time and provide assurance of accuracy.
Q4: Once my citations are fixed, do they guarantee improved ranking?
No, while all citations have value, it is merely one fragment of the overall pie. However, citations, paired with reviews, backlinks and effective website SEO, will help edge you ahead of your competitors.
Q5: How often do I need to check my citations?
At least every 6 months. If you change business info, update them immediately.
Final Thoughts
Citations may not seem like a large deal, but are an important part of contributing to your local search visibility. By stopping the mistakes such as inconsistencies, duplicates, wrong or missing listings; you can elevate your business visibility to where it deserves. As a reliable local SEO company Vancouver, we make sure your business details stay accurate everywhere and your rankings stay strong.Don’t let little errors hold you back—work with the experts. At BrandsMartini CA, we specialize in fixing citation issues and boosting local rankings.