How to Find Competitor’s Citations For Free (3 Methods)

When you’re diving into the world of competitor analysis, uncovering where they’re getting their citations can be a goldmine for your SEO strategy.

Citations help improve visibility and ranking, especially for local businesses, so knowing who is talking about your competitors is crucial.

The good news is, you don’t have to break the bank to gather this data. In this guide, we’ll walk you through three methods to find competitor citations for free.

We’ll start with good old-fashioned manual research, explore the nifty Localo app, and then delve into how you can utilize SEMrush without the hefty price tag.

Let’s get started and unlock some valuable insights to boost your business!

1 What are Citations in Local SEO? Why It’s important?

Citations in local SEO are online mentions of your business’s name, address, and phone number, commonly referred to as NAP. These mentions can occur in various places across the web, such as directories, websites, and social platforms.

They are vital for boosting your business’s local search engine rankings and visibility. Here’s why citations are important and how they work:

• Improve Local Search Rankings: Search engines trust businesses with consistent citations because they signal credibility and accuracy, thus elevating your local rankings.
• Enhance Online Presence: The more places your business appears online, the more likely potential customers will come across it, leading to greater visibility.
• Build Trust Among Customers: Consistent and accurate citations build trust with potential customers as they prove validity and professionalism.
• Drive More Website Traffic: Increased visibility from credible citations naturally boosts your website’s traffic, resulting in more leads and conversions.

Now, we have understood the importance of citations for your business, now its time get into 3 ways you can spy on your competitor’s citations as below.

2 Ways to Find Competitor’s Citations

2.1 Method #1 – Manual Research (Free)

Finding your competitors’ citations manually might seem a bit old-school, but it’s an absolutely effective way to uncover some hidden gems without spending a dime. Let’s break it down into easy steps so you can start getting those valuable insights right away:

• Shortlist Your Competitors: First, start by listing all your competitors. Make sure you include both direct competitors and those who dominate your industry.
• Access Their Business Profiles: Next, visit each competitor’s online business profile. This could be on platforms like Google My Business, Yelp, or any industry-specific platform where they have listed their details.
• Copy Their Address: Once you’re on their profile, carefully copy their business address. This is crucial for the steps that follow.

• Google Their Address: Paste the copied address into Google and hit search. What you’re doing here is using the address as a breadcrumb trail to find where else this business is being mentioned online.

• Identify Citation Sites: The search results will reveal lists of websites where that specific address appears. These sites are likely citations of your competitor’s business.

• Compile and Paste into a Spreadsheet: Note down these citation sites and add them to a spreadsheet or document for easy access and comparison.

2.1.1 Why does this method work?

It’s all about the NAP—Name, Address, and Phone number. Top businesses ensure that this information is consistently listed across all their citations.

Thanks to this consistency, search engines recognize and acknowledge these citations, boosting credibility and improving search rankings.

By tapping into this strategy, you can map out exactly where your competitors are being mentioned and potentially replicate their success.

Now, Moving forward to third party app called “Localo” as below;

2.2 Method #2 – Using Localo App (Freemium)

Localo offers a fantastic freemium tool that can help you effortlessly uncover your competitors’ citations and bolster your local SEO strategy. Here’s how to take advantage of it:

• Sign Up for a Free Account: First, head over to Localo Local Rank Checker and create a free account. This opens the door to a wealth of local SEO insights.
• Add Your Location: Once your account is set up, add your business location to personalize the tool’s features for your specific region.
• Access Your Dashboard: After setting your location, navigate to your dashboard. This is your command center for all things local SEO.
• Click on Competitors: From the dashboard, click on the “Competitors” section. Here, you’ll find a list of businesses competing for your chosen keywords.

• Select “Show More” and then “Citations”: To dig deeper, click on “Show More” for any competitor and select “Citations” from the available options. This feature reveals all the citation sources your competitors are leveraging.

• Submit Your Business: With this list of citation sites at your fingertips, you can now submit your business to these platforms. Doing so will align your online presence with top competitors, pushing you higher in local rankings.

Localo makes it remarkably simple to gain insights from your competitors’ SEO strategies. Use these revealed citations to enhance your business’s visibility, making it a top contender in local search results. This tool truly is a game-changer for local SEO efforts!

Next, we have SEMRUSH, which is a digital marketing tool.

2.3 Method #3 – Using SEMRUSH (Paid)

Exploring your competitors’ citations can be significantly streamlined with SEMrush, offering a powerful paid tool to enhance your local SEO efforts. Here’s how to effectively utilize SEMrush:

1. Head to Google Maps: Start by visiting Google Maps to locate your competitors’ businesses. Search for their listings to gain access to their Google Maps profiles.
2. Copy the URL: Once you’ve found their listing, copy either the website URL or the Google Maps URL associated with the competitor. If they don’t have these, note that this method won’t work.
3. Visit SEMrush: Go to SEMrush and paste the URL you copied into the search bar to access data on your competitor’s domain.
4. View Domain Overview: After pasting the URL in SEMrush, review the domain overview to gather a comprehensive understanding of your competitor’s online presence, including traffic and backlinks.
5. Select “Backlinks”: Navigate to the “Backlinks” section within SEMrush. This will showcase a list of all the sites linked to your competitor, effectively revealing their citation sources.
6. Replicate Citations: Use the insights gained to compile a list of these citation sources. By submitting your own business to these platforms, you can emulate your competitor’s strategy, thereby improving your local search standing.

SEMrush offers a detailed glimpse into your competitor’s citation network, providing the blueprint needed to build or enhance your own credible citations. Utilize this method as a cornerstone in your local SEO strategy.

3 Final Thoughts!

In conclusion, exploring and understanding your competitors’ citation networks can significantly enhance your business’s local SEO strategy.

By leveraging methods such as manual address-based searches, utilizing tools like Localo, and diving deep with SEMrush, you can effectively map out where your competitors are being mentioned and craft a plan to improve your own online visibility.

These strategies provide valuable insights into the best practices for listing your business across relevant platforms, ensuring that your NAP information remains consistent and authoritative.

Embracing these methods not only boosts your search engine rankings but also solidifies your presence in your local market, giving you the edge over competitors. By staying proactive and resourceful, you can navigate the intricacies of local SEO with confidence and success.