ONE FOCUSED ACTION

Audit existing local citations to identify inconsistencies.

Local citation optimization · Local SEO

1 checklist items

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    Why this matters

    To detect and document variations and errors in business name, address, and phone number (NAP) across directories that impact local SEO rankings.

    A STARTING-POINT EXAMPLE

    Hypothetical standard operating procedure

    Adapt this example to your site, access, tools, and change process. It is our suggested procedure, informed by the sources below.

    1. Search major directories manually using exact business NAP strings.
    2. Use citation audit tools like BrightLocal or Moz Local for automated coverage.
    3. Compile all findings in a single spreadsheet with columns for name, address, phone, and source URL.
    4. Highlight discrepancies, duplicates, and missing data for priority correction.

    Watch for

    Ignoring errors or duplicates weakens trust signals and may reduce ranking visibility.

    Definition of done

    A comprehensive spreadsheet listing all current citations with NAP details, highlighting inconsistencies and duplicates.

    Sources & attribution

    1. Local Citation Building: Directories & NAP Consistency ↗
    2. NAP Consistency Checker 2026: Local Citation Audit ↗
    3. 10 Local SEO Mistakes That Cost You Customers | BrandPepper ↗

    Original checklist wording and example SOP by Best SEO Checklist, using source-grounded AI assistance. Editorial contact: Ted Kubaitis, @tedkubaitis on Teams. Check current source guidance before implementation.