I Tested Local Citations for Near Me Rankings — Here's What Happened

I Tested Local Citations for Near Me Rankings — Here's What Happened

Ask Perplexity for a "dentist near me" in Dallas. Does it recommend your practice? Citation data heavily influences those results. One wrong phone number across 20 listings? Perplexity might skip you for a competitor with cleaner data.

I ran a 60-day test with a local business to prove it. Ace Dental went from position 19 to position 6. Calls increased by 30%. Here's what I found.

Ace Dental: Position 19 and Drowning in NAP Errors

Ace Dental in Dallas ranked position 19 for "dentist near me." Not great. A manual citation audit revealed 42 listings, but 18 had incorrect phone numbers or old addresses. Competitors averaged 60+ citations with far fewer errors.

The core problem? Inconsistent Name, Address, Phone number (NAP) data spread across the web. AI search engines like Perplexity and ChatGPT use this data to determine relevance and trust.

Week 1-2: Data Aggregator Takedown

Data aggregators feed citation data to hundreds of smaller sites. Fix the aggregators, fix the ecosystem. It's the fastest way to propagate correct info.

I focused on the "big four" data aggregators:

• Factual

• Neustar Localeze

• Data Axle (formerly InfoGroup)

• Experian

I claimed and corrected listings on each platform. This required patience. Each aggregator has its own verification process.

Week 3-4: Core Directory Cleanup

With aggregators updated, I tackled core directories. Think of these as the foundation of your online presence.

These directories matter most:

• Google Business Profile

• Yelp

• Facebook

• Apple Maps

• Bing Places

• YellowPages

I ensured NAP data was 100% consistent across all platforms. This included business name, address, phone number, website URL, and business category.

Week 5-6: Competitor Citation Cloning

I identified citation sources where top-ranking competitors were listed but Ace Dental wasn't. Then, I built citations on those same platforms.

This "citation cloning" strategy helps level the playing field. It signals to search engines that Ace Dental is a relevant and trustworthy business in Dallas.

Day 60: Position 6 and 30% More Calls

After 60 days, Ace Dental jumped from position 19 to position 6 for "dentist near me." Call volume increased by 30%.

Website traffic also saw a 25% boost. The improved citation profile increased overall online visibility.

What Fixed It: Aggregator Fixes and NAP Consistency

The biggest impact came from fixing the data aggregators. Correcting those four sources automatically updated hundreds of smaller directories.

Maintaining NAP consistency across all platforms is crucial. AI search engines rely on this data to determine which businesses to recommend. Inconsistent data equals lost opportunities.

Tools That Helped: BrightLocal and Manual Audits

I used BrightLocal ($29-$79/month) to track citation changes and ranking improvements. It saved time and provided valuable insights.

However, a manual audit was essential to uncover hidden NAP inconsistencies. Automated tools can miss subtle errors.

Other tools to consider include: Whitespark ($25-$300/month), Moz Local ($14/month per location), Yext ($499-$999/year per location), and Semrush Local ($50/month per location).

This Week: Run a Free Citation Audit

Don't let inconsistent citation data sabotage your "near me" rankings. AI search engines are watching.

Run your business through our free citation checker to see what AI search finds. It takes 30 seconds to spot the problems.

Fix those errors and watch your rankings climb. Start today.