[citationforge]

Hey everyone 👋

I’ve been doing local SEO for a while, and I still get mixed signals when it comes to citations.

Some say 20–30 solid citations are enough. Others push for 100+ across all platforms.

Here’s what I usually do:

• Start with core sites (Google, Bing, Yelp, Apple Maps)
• Add niche directories based on the business type
• Use a few geo-specific ones

I don’t use automated tools manual has worked better for me.

But here’s my question:

How many citations have actually made a difference in your rankings?

Also, do you bother updating them yearly or just once?

Would love to hear how you all handle it in 2025. Let’s compare notes.

 

[Tim Kahlert]

Hi!

Well I wouldn't focus so much on rankings but how many leads those citations can get you. The rest is not in your hands. Google is certainly looking at third party reviews and whether the profiles are complete for a maximum of trust. I would only get listed on those that your competitors are already ranking with and those that have the potential to rank well at some point or are referred to by AI like ChatGPT. You will never know how much of an impact those citations have on rankings as the impact is usually very small and can be a result from other changes as well. I don't think 100+ citations get you anywhere, unless they're potential traffic sources.

 

[citationforge]

Hi!

Well I wouldn't focus so much on rankings but how many leads those citations can get you. The rest is not in your hands. Google is certainly looking at third party reviews and whether the profiles are complete for a maximum of trust. I would only get listed on those that your competitors are already ranking with and those that have the potential to rank well at some point or are referred to by AI like ChatGPT. You will never know how much of an impact those citations have on rankings as the impact is usually very small and can be a result from other changes as well. I don't think 100+ citations get you anywhere, unless they're potential traffic sources.

I agree citations alone won’t move the needle much. I’ve also noticed that listings with real reviews and traffic tend to matter more than just the count.

I like your idea about checking where competitors rank and going after those. Haven’t thought about ChatGPT referrals either smart angle, especially with how people search now.

Do you ever track call or click data from citations to measure lead quality? Curious if you’ve seen anything stand out.