A local citation is any online mention of your business's Name, Address, and Phone number (commonly referred to as NAP). Citations occur on local business directories (like Yelp, Yellow Pages, TripAdvisor), websites, apps, and social platforms.
Search engines use these citations to verify the accuracy and legitimacy of a local business. Having consistent, accurate NAP data across hundreds of authoritative directories builds trust with Google's algorithm, significantly boosting your ability to rank high in the Local Map Pack. Conversely, inconsistent data (like an old address on one site and a new one on another) can hurt your rankings.