Competitive advantage is one primary need in the real estate business today. Many investors and SEO experts choose real estate local citations to improve search engine rankings. Statistics say over 78% of local mobile searches will result in offline purchases. It underlines the growing importance of local SEO for real estate. Today, let’s see the role of local citations in real estate SEO. You also get step-by-step instructions on how to do it and mistakes to avoid.
What are Local Citations?
Local citations are any online mention of a business. You may see these citations on directories, websites, apps, and social media networks. In real estate, local citations improve prospective clients and search engines’ trust in your business. Let us see the familiar places where you see local citations:
- Online directories.
- Real estate listing sites.
- Local business directories.
- Social media platforms.
- Niche directories.
These citations boost the visibility of your real estate business and improve your local SEO.
Why are Local Citations Important for Real Estate SEO in 2024?
Even in 2024, building local citations is a vital ranking factor for real estate SEO. The search engines rely on local citations for information to judge the relevance and credibility of the business based on location. If it is consistent on all platforms, it will tell the search engines that your real estate business is trustworthy.
- Google My Business Listing: GMB is the face of local real estate SEO citation. A well-optimized GMB profile will improve your chances of getting into that elusive “Local Pack.” It’s one of the top three local search results, shown right at the top of Google.
- Consistency is Key: Ensuring the accuracy and consistency of your NAP details in all citations is vital. Inconsistencies will confuse search engines and clients searching for your services, thus negatively affecting your search rankings.
Building Trust and Credibility
Real estate investors have to allure clients by being a person they can trust. Local citations help build trust by establishing your presence in the local market. If your business comes up on multiple credible sites, that does a lot to cement your legitimacy and credibility.
- Positive Reviews: Many local citation sites like Yelp or Google My Business are business review sites. Good reviews that you garner this way also aid in local SEO optimization.
- Local Relevance: If your business name appears on most local directories and websites, you must be an active real estate player in the local market. It again reinforces trust with potential clients.
Organic Traffic Generation
They can also drive organic traffic to your website and physical location. The more places your business is listed, the more likely people are to find and visit your website or at least call you directly if they are searching in their areas for real estate services.
- Better Visibility: The more directories your business is in, the more chances a lead has to find you.
- Direct Leads: Accurate citations can generate direct inquiries from interested buyers or sellers who find your information in an online search.
Competing in the Local Market
The real estate business is very competitive, especially in a local setting. Local citations will enable you to outcompete others since it increases your visibility, allowing you to show up at the top of local search results in search engines. It is important, especially for real estate investors in certain neighborhoods or cities.
- Inclusion in the Local Pack: This certainly includes the likelihood of being within the top three local business listings. It increases the exposure of real estate agent websites to prospects.
- Outranking Competitors: With persistent and widespread citations, it becomes more likely to outrank competitors that have not done as much in local SEO. It easily lets you grab a large market share of sellers or buyers.
Improved Mobile Search Results
With the advent of mobile search, accurate local citations are more important than ever. Too many users search for real estate services from their mobile devices while on the move, and search engines put weight on nearby businesses and correctly listed in multiple citations.
- Mobile Optimization: Local citations help rank high in mobile searches because proximity and relevance matter greatly in this format.
- Voice Search: This equally applies to the voice search function, which is increasingly gaining ground. Getting your listing on the best places will draw potential client who asks for real estate services nearby.
Types of Real Estate Local Citation
Two types of local citations exist in real estate SEO. They are structured and unstructured. Learning about them makes SEO much more manageable.
Structured Citations
Structured citations appear in a standard format in directories, review sites, and social media profiles. They usually include your business’s NAP information in a consistent, easily recognizable way.
- Google My Business: It is the most crucial citation for local SEO. Optimize your GMB profile with accurate NAP information, business hours, and categories.
- Yelp: This is another prominent platform for local citations, especially for businesses dependent on customer reviews.
- Bing Places: Much like Google My Business, Bing Places is important when local search results on Bing come into play.
- Real Estate Directories: Make sure the business gets listed on top real estate websites like Zillow, Realtor.com, and Trulia, along with other real estate directories in your area where you can create listings.
Unstructured Citations
Unstructured citations are any mention of your business where the formatting is inconsistent. They may be from a blog post, news article, or other content where you can cite the business name, address, or phone number.
- Local News Websites: Getting your business featured in a local news article or blog is an excellent way to get an unstructured citation
- Real Estate Blogs: If a prominent real estate blog mentions your business while discussing local trends or investment opportunities, that would be an unstructured citation. Guest blogs also belong to this category.
- Social Media Mentions: While not as powerful as structured citations, social media mentions can still contribute toward local SEO for your business.
How to Build and Manage Local Citations for Real Estate SEO?
Building up and managing local citations for improved local SEO takes time. The following is a step-by-step guide on effectively building and managing local citations.
Claim Your Google My Business profile
GMB is the most important local citation for real estate SEO. So, please claim your GMB profile and ensure all the NAP information is accurate and current.
- Fill out All Fields: In your GMB profile, fill out every field. It includes hours of operation, business categories, services, and pictures.
- Get Reviews: Get happy clients to review your listing on GMB. It will improve your local SEO.
Use the Same NAP in All Citations
The crux of local citations is consistency. See to it that you have the same NAP listed everywhere. Even slight changes, like abbreviating “Street” to “St.” can affect your local SEO.
- Master NAP List: You can keep all of your NAP information in one master list. Refer to it while creating new citations.
- Audit: Do a citation audit so that you know the inconsistencies within your current citations.
Online Directories Submissions for Your Business
Help your real estate business to get structured citations by submitting them to online directories. Go for high authority, relevant to industry, and location-specific directories. Send your business to general business listings like Yellow Pages and the Better Business Bureau. You should also try real estate directories like Zillow, Realtor, and other niche local directories.
Check and Maintain Your Citations Regularly
Local Citations is not a one-time job. You must check on them occasionally to ensure they stay correct and constant over time.
- Get citation management tools: Tools such as Moz Local, BrightLocal, Citations Check, and Yext will help you monitor your citations and identify inconsistencies.
- Update Citations When Necessary: Update if you move to a different office location or change your contact details.
Get the Most Out of Unstructured Citations
While structured citations are the backbone of local SEO, unstructured citations can also drive visibility and credibility. Contact local media outlets, bloggers, and even influencers who are more likely to refer your business.
- News Releases: Distribute news releases for events such as new property listings, awards, or community involvement. It may result in mentions by local news articles.
- Guest Blogging: Guest post for a local real estate blog or website and mention your business in your author bio or content.
Get and Engage with Reviews
Client reviews are important in local citations, especially on Google My Business and Yelp. Good reviews increase reputation and improve local SEO.
- Request Reviews: Ask your clients to write reviews at the end of each sale. It’s good to get more reviews on Google My Business or any other website that accepts reviews.
- Respond to Reviews: Reply to clients’ positive or negative reviews. It shows that you value the client feedback and are committed to excellent service.
Common Mistakes to Avoid with Local Citations
Although local citations are one of the most potent and forgotten tools of real estate SEO, a few common mistakes can sink your efforts. Here are a few to watch out for:
- Inconsistent NAP Info: As was said above, the most pervasive mistake businesses make with local citations is inaccurate or inconsistent NAP information. Keep your NAP details consistent across all platforms to avoid confusing search engines and clients.
- Ignoring Negative Reviews: Avoid negative reviews. But when you get one, not addressing it might also hurt your reputation and local SEO. Instead, respond professionally to negative reviews and attempt to resolve the issue.
- Not Paying Attention to Niche Directories: While general business directories are essential, some niche directories in the real estate industry hold much value regarding local citation. Ignoring it can affect your website’s visibility.
- Not Updating Citations: If your business relocates to a different location or the phone number changes, update your citations. If not, it could result in customer loss and lower search ranking positions. You should check and update them periodically.
- Relying on Structured Citations: Structured citations are necessary, but that doesn’t mean you can ignore unstructured ones. Build good relations with your local press and bloggers. These good relations may bring your company mentions, thus improving your local SEO.
Final Words
Local citations have become integral to real estate SEO, boosting search rankings. It helps build trust with new prospects and increase your website’s traffic. Now that you know the importance of local citations and the strategies shared in this guide, you can strive to improve your online presence and outclass others in the local real estate market.
Remember that local citations are something you don’t simply do once and then stop working on. Once you set the NAP correctly, it’s time to monitor, manage, and update the citations to ensure they stay accurate and consistent. It will ensure you dominate the local real estate market, attract more clients, and keep your business booming. Even in 2024, local citations are a must. Don’t miss it.
