Best Local Citations by Industry: Where to List Your Business

80% of local searches convert - and those searches increasingly happen on industry-specific platforms, not just Google.

General directories like Yelp and Yellow Pages (also called business listings or local listings) matter for every business. But industry-specific directories often carry more weight for local SEO.

Why? Because they're where your actual customers look.

A patient searching for a dentist checks Healthgrades before Yelp. A homeowner looking for a plumber browses Angi before Yellow Pages. A restaurant-goer checks OpenTable before Google Maps.

This guide covers the most important citation sources (business directories and listings) for each major industry.

Universal Citations (Every Business Needs These)

Before diving into industry-specific directories, make sure you're covered on the platforms that matter for everyone:

Tier 1: Essential

| Platform | Why It Matters | |----------|----------------| | Google Business Profile | The most important local signal - period | | Facebook | Massive user base, social trust signal | | Yelp | High authority, influences Google results | | Apple Maps | iPhone users, Siri voice searches | | Bing Places | Microsoft ecosystem, Cortana |

Tier 2: Important

• Yellow Pages
• Better Business Bureau
• Foursquare
• MapQuest
• Citysearch

Tier 3: Data Aggregators

These distribute to hundreds of downstream directories:

• Data Axle (Infogroup)
• Neustar Localeze
• Foursquare (Factual)

For detailed guidance on building these citations, read our complete citation building guide.

Now, let's get industry-specific.

Restaurant & Food Service Citations

Restaurants have the most developed citation ecosystem. Beyond general directories, food-focused platforms drive serious traffic.

Essential Restaurant Directories

| Platform | Why It Matters | |----------|----------------| | TripAdvisor | Dominates tourist searches, high authority | | OpenTable | Reservation platform + discovery | | Yelp | Critical for restaurants specifically | | Google Business Profile | Menu, photos, reviews, reservations | | Grubhub | Delivery + discovery |

Secondary Restaurant Directories

• DoorDash - Growing delivery platform
• Uber Eats - Delivery discovery
• Zomato - Restaurant reviews and discovery
• The Infatuation - Editorial food guides
• Eater - Food news and city guides
• Zagat - Classic restaurant ratings
• MenuPages - Menu-focused directory
• Allmenus - Menu aggregator

Cuisine-Specific Directories

• Pizza.com - Pizza restaurants
• BurgerBusinesses.com - Burger joints
• CoffeeShopDirectory.com - Coffee shops
• WineryHunt.com - Wineries

Tips for Restaurant Citations

1. Complete menus everywhere - Platforms that show your menu drive more traffic
2. High-quality food photos - Visual platforms reward great imagery
3. Accurate hours - Restaurant hours change; keep them updated
4. Reservation integration - If you accept reservations, enable booking

For restaurant website design, see our restaurant website design services.

Healthcare & Medical Citations

Healthcare citations are uniquely important because patients research providers heavily before booking.

Essential Healthcare Directories

| Platform | Why It Matters | |----------|----------------| | Healthgrades | #1 doctor directory, influences Google | | Vitals | Popular patient review site | | Zocdoc | Appointment booking + discovery | | WebMD | High authority health information | | RateMDs | Doctor ratings and reviews |

Secondary Healthcare Directories

• CareDash - Provider reviews
• Doctor.com - Physician directory
• Wellness.com - Health and wellness providers
• MedlinePlus - NIH-backed directory
• HealthMD - Doctor search

Specialty-Specific Directories

Dental:

• Dentistry.com
• 1-800-DENTIST directory
• DentalPlans.com
• Opencare

Mental Health:

• Psychology Today (therapist directory)
• GoodTherapy
• TherapyDen
• BetterHelp directory

Chiropractors:

• ChiroDirectory
• ChiropractorDirectory.com
• Spine-Health

Optometry:

• AllAboutVision.com
• Eyecare.org
• VSP provider finder

Tips for Healthcare Citations

1. Verify credentials - Ensure licenses and certifications are accurate
2. Insurance information - List accepted insurance plans
3. Patient reviews - Actively manage reviews on Healthgrades and Zocdoc
4. Appointment availability - Integrate scheduling where possible

Explore our dental website design and mental health website design services.

Legal Services Citations

Lawyers face a competitive citation landscape. The right directories can generate direct leads.

Essential Legal Directories

| Platform | Why It Matters | |----------|----------------| | Avvo | Lawyer ratings, Q&A, high traffic | | FindLaw | Thomson Reuters directory, authority | | Justia | Legal information + lawyer directory | | Lawyers.com | Martindale-connected directory | | Super Lawyers | Peer-selected recognition |

Secondary Legal Directories

• Martindale-Hubbell - Classic lawyer ratings
• Nolo - Legal information + directory
• HG.org - Legal resources directory
• LegalZoom - Partner directory
• LawInfo - Attorney finder
• LawyerRatingz - Reviews focus
• LawGuru - Legal Q&A + directory

Practice Area-Specific

Personal Injury:

• PersonalInjuryLawyers.com
• InjuryBoard

Family Law:

• DivorceNet
• Custody X Change directory

Criminal Defense:

• CriminalDefenseLawyer.com

Bankruptcy:

• BankruptcyLawyers.com

Tips for Legal Citations

1. Practice area accuracy - Be specific about what you practice
2. Bar membership - Include bar numbers for verification
3. Results and verdicts - Where permitted, highlight case results
4. Client reviews - Critical on Avvo especially

See our law firm website design services.

Home Services Citations

Home service businesses (plumbers, electricians, contractors, etc.) have citation opportunities that drive direct leads.

Essential Home Services Directories

| Platform | Why It Matters | |----------|----------------| | Angi (Angie's List) | Trusted home services marketplace | | HomeAdvisor | Lead generation + reviews | | Thumbtack | Service professional marketplace | | Houzz | Design + home improvement | | Porch | Home improvement platform |

Secondary Home Services Directories

• Nextdoor - Neighborhood recommendations
• BuildZoom - Contractor directory
• GuildQuality - Home improvement reviews
• Networx - Home service connections
• Pro Referral - Pro-focused leads
• CraftJack - Contractor leads

Trade-Specific Directories

Plumbing:

• PlumbersNearYou.com
• PlumbingPoints

Electrical:

• ElectricalContractor.com
• FindLocalElectricians.com

HVAC:

• HVACDirect.com
• HVAC.com

Roofing:

• RoofingContractor.com
• GAF Contractor Network

Landscaping:

• LawnStarter
• GreenPal
• LandscapingNetwork.com

Tips for Home Services Citations

1. License verification - Include license numbers
2. Service area accuracy - Define your coverage area clearly
3. Before/after photos - Visual proof of work quality
4. Response time - Some platforms track how fast you respond

Real Estate Citations

Real estate professionals need visibility where buyers and sellers search.

Essential Real Estate Directories

| Platform | Why It Matters | |----------|----------------| | Zillow | Dominant real estate platform | | Realtor.com | NAR-connected, high traffic | | Trulia | Popular home search site | | Redfin | Growing real estate platform | | Homes.com | Major property search |

Secondary Real Estate Directories

• Movoto - Home search engine
• HomeFinder - Property listings
• Point2Homes - Real estate directory
• LandWatch - Land and property
• LoopNet - Commercial real estate

Agent-Focused Directories

• Agent Pronto - Agent matching
• HomeLight - Agent recommendations
• UpNest - Agent comparison
• FastExpert - Agent search

Tips for Real Estate Citations

1. Transaction history - Highlight sales volume where allowed
2. Market expertise - Specify neighborhoods and property types
3. Client testimonials - Social proof drives agent selection
4. Professional photos - Present yourself professionally

Automotive Citations

Auto businesses - dealerships, repair shops, detailers - have specialized citation opportunities.

Essential Automotive Directories

| Platform | Why It Matters | |----------|----------------| | Cars.com | Major auto marketplace | | AutoTrader | Classic vehicle marketplace | | CarGurus | Growing car search platform | | Edmunds | Research + dealer reviews | | CarFax - Service shop directory |

Secondary Automotive Directories

• TrueCar - Car buying service
• KBB.com - Kelley Blue Book
• RepairPal - Repair shop finder
• AAA - Approved Auto Repair
• ASE - Certified mechanic finder

Tips for Automotive Citations

1. Certifications - ASE, manufacturer certifications
2. Inventory integration - For dealerships, sync inventory
3. Service specialties - Specify what you work on
4. Warranty information - Highlight guarantees

Fitness & Wellness Citations

Gyms, personal trainers, yoga studios, and wellness businesses have niche directories.

Essential Fitness Directories

| Platform | Why It Matters | |----------|----------------| | ClassPass | Fitness class booking platform | | Mindbody | Wellness booking software + discovery | | Gympass - Corporate wellness platform | | Yelp Fitness - Category-specific search |

Secondary Fitness Directories

• FitnessTrainer.com - Personal trainer directory
• Gymlocator.com - Gym finder
• YogaFinder - Yoga studio directory
• SpaFinder - Spa and wellness
• WellnessLiving - Business platform + discovery

Tips for Fitness Citations

1. Class schedules - Keep offerings current
2. Trial offers - Highlight intro specials
3. Certifications - List trainer credentials
4. Photos of facilities - Showcase your space

Professional Services Citations

Accountants, consultants, marketing agencies, and other B2B services have different citation needs.

Essential Professional Services Directories

| Platform | Why It Matters | |----------|----------------| | LinkedIn | B2B essential, company pages | | Clutch - Agency reviews and rankings | | UpCity - Service provider directory | | G2 - Business software + services | | GoodFirms - B2B company reviews |

Secondary Professional Services Directories

• DesignRush - Agency directory
• Agency Spotter - Marketing agency reviews
• The Manifest - B2B directory
• TopDevelopers.co - Development agencies
• Sortlist - Agency matching

Accounting-Specific

• CPA Directory - Certified accountant finder
• TaxPrepDirectory - Tax preparer search
• AccountantsList - Accounting firm directory

Tips for Professional Services

1. Case studies - Demonstrate results
2. Industry expertise - Specify verticals you serve
3. Client reviews - B2B decisions need social proof
4. Certifications - CPA, PMP, etc.

How to Prioritize Citation Building

You can't build every citation at once. Here's how to prioritize:

Step 1: Cover the Universals First

Every business needs:

1. Google Business Profile
2. Facebook
3. Yelp
4. Apple Maps
5. Bing Places

Don't skip these for industry directories.

Step 2: Identify Your Top 5 Industry Directories

From the lists above, pick the 5 most important for your specific business. Ask:

• Where do my customers actually search?
• Which platforms have the highest traffic in my area?
• Where are my competitors listed?

Step 3: Build and Optimize

For each priority directory:

1. Create a complete profile
2. Add accurate NAP information
3. Include photos, descriptions, and categories
4. Encourage reviews where appropriate

Step 4: Expand Gradually

Add 3-5 new citations per month. Steady growth looks more natural than blitzing 100 directories at once.

Step 5: Maintain Consistency

Use tools like Moz Local to monitor for inconsistencies. Or audit manually quarterly.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many citations do I really need?

Quality beats quantity. For most businesses, aim for:

• 5 essential platforms (Google, Facebook, Yelp, Apple Maps, Bing)
• 3-4 data aggregators (Data Axle, Neustar, Foursquare)
• 5-10 industry-specific directories from the lists above
• 2-5 local citations (Chamber of Commerce, local associations)

That's 15-25 total high-quality citations. This will outperform 100 listings on low-authority directories.

Do industry directories actually send leads?

Yes. Many industry directories drive direct business:

• Angi and Thumbtack generate millions of leads for home services
• Zocdoc sends appointment bookings for healthcare
• Avvo drives consultation requests for lawyers
• OpenTable sends reservations for restaurants

These aren't just SEO signals - they're lead generation platforms.

Should I pay for premium directory listings?

It depends on the ROI for your industry. Generally:

| Worth considering | Usually skip | |-------------------|--------------| | Angi Pro (home services) | Premium general directories | | Healthgrades (high-competition markets) | "Guaranteed placement" offers | | Avvo Pro (lawyers) | Unknown directories asking for payment | | OpenTable (restaurants with reservations) | Any site you've never heard of |

Test with a free listing first. Upgrade only if you see value.

What if a directory has wrong information about my business?

1. Claim the listing if possible - most directories let you claim and edit
2. Contact the directory directly if you can't claim it
3. Submit to data aggregators - Correct info flows downstream over time
4. Be persistent - Some directories are slow to update

Use tools like Moz Local to monitor for inconsistencies automatically.

How often should I check my citations?

Audit your listings quarterly at minimum. Check more frequently if:

• You recently changed address, phone, or business name
• You're in a highly competitive market
• You notice ranking drops in local search

Set a calendar reminder - it takes 30 minutes and can catch problems before they hurt your rankings.

The Bottom Line

Industry-specific citations (business listings) often matter more than generic directories because:

1. Higher intent - Users on Healthgrades are actively seeking healthcare
2. Better relevance - Industry directories understand your business type
3. Less competition - Smaller pools than Google/Yelp
4. Direct leads - Many industry directories drive bookings/calls directly

Don't ignore the universal directories. But don't stop there either.

Build a citation profile that matches how your specific customers search, and you'll outrank competitors who only focus on the obvious platforms.

For a complete overview of citation building, read our local citations guide. Learn about NAP consistency to ensure your listings stay accurate.

Explore our local SEO services for cities like Edmonton, Los Angeles, and New Orleans.

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