A “citation” is a mention of your business (name, address, phone) on a website other than your own: a directory, a maps app, a social network, a marketplace.
Why it matters
On iPhone, the default maps app is Apple Maps; in the car, many people use Waze. If you are not there, or with the wrong information, those customers do not find you.
Accurate and consistent citations also strengthen Google’s trust in your information (see the “NAP” guide).
The words to know
- Apple Business Connect
- Apple’s free tool to manage your listing in Apple Maps.
- Bing Places
- Bing’s business listing. It can import your Google profile.
- Waze
- A place can be added or corrected from the app.
- PagesJaunes
- The long-established French directory. Your business is often already listed: check that the information is correct.
- Annuaire des entreprises
- The French government website that shows your business’s official data. It is updated through your official filings.
What you can do yourself
- Create or claim your Apple Maps listing (Apple Business Connect)
- Create your Bing Places listing (it can be imported from Google)
- Check your business on Waze and PagesJaunes
- Check your details on the Annuaire des entreprises
- Complete your Facebook and Instagram pages, and your profiles on the platforms you use
- Everywhere: the same name, address and phone number
- Paying for “listing in 500 directories”: quantity does not replace quality, and your information gets scattered
- Leaving old or duplicate listings uncorrected
With your website, we list your business on Apple Maps and Waze, and submit it to Google and Bing.
Frequently asked questions
Are paid directories worth it?
Rarely to start with. First set up the essential free listings (Google, Apple, Bing), complete and consistent.
How many citations do I need?
Not a number: the right ones. A few accurate citations are worth more than dozens of approximate ones.
Does AlloVoisins count?
Yes. AlloVoisins is a French local services marketplace, and like any platform where your business appears with its contact details, it counts. Check they are identical to those on your Google profile.