Local citations are a key part of local SEO. But wrong or outdated ones? They do more harm than good.

In this guide, I'll show you how to fix bad citations step by step—without wasting hours or hurting your rankings.

What Are Incorrect Citations?

A citation is any online mention of your business's Name, Address, and Phone number (NAP). That includes:

  • Business directories like Yelp or Yellow Pages

  • Review sites

  • Social platforms

  • Local blogs or newspapers

Incorrect citations have wrong or mismatched NAP info. This confuses search engines and sends mixed signals about your business.

Why Incorrect Citations Hurt Local SEO

Search engines use NAP data to trust your business info. If your listings don't match, it can:

  • Lower your rankings in Google Maps and local pack

  • Push traffic to old or wrong addresses

  • Reduce trust with customers

  • Block you from getting top 3 local spots

Fixing them = more trust, better rankings, and more foot traffic.

Step-by-Step: How to Fix Bad Local Citations

1. Find All Existing Citations

Start with a full citation audit. Use tools like:

Search for your business name + phone, name + address, etc. Check Google for common errors.

2. Create a Master NAP File

Make one clean, correct version of your business info. Use this format:

  • Business Name: [Correct, full name]

  • Address: [Formatted as per local postal standards]

  • Phone Number: [With area code]

Keep this file handy for updating every listing.

3. Claim and Update Listings

Log in to each site that has a wrong citation. Then:

  • Claim the listing (if unclaimed)

  • Update the NAP

  • Fix business hours, website URL, and categories if needed

Some platforms may ask for phone or email verification.

4. Contact Sites You Can't Edit

Some directories don't let you claim listings easily. In that case:

  • Find their support/contact form

  • Send them your correct NAP

  • Ask them to update or remove the listing

Keep messages short and direct. Mention why the info is outdated.

5. Use Citation Cleanup Services (Optional)

If you've got 50+ listings and no time, hire help. Services like:

  • Loganix

  • BrightLocal

  • Whitespark

They'll fix or suppress incorrect citations for a fee.

6. Track Progress Regularly

Fixing citations isn't one-and-done. Recheck every 3-6 months. Set alerts for new mentions or wrong listings.

You can use Google Alerts or tools like SEMrush and Ahrefs for this.

Pro Tips to Keep Citations Clean

  • Use the same NAP on your website and all directories

  • Avoid using tracking numbers on listings

  • Never change your business name or address without planning a full update

  • Keep login details saved in one place

Final Thoughts

Fixing incorrect citations isn't flashy—but it's a must for strong local SEO. Clean listings help you rank higher, get found easily, and build trust with search engines and customers.

Don't ignore your citations. Audit, fix, and monitor them. It pays off.