🧭 Overview
Before you submit your business information to the Data Aggregator, it is essential to capture a NAP (Name, Address, Phone) baseline benchmark. This snapshot shows you exactly where your business is currently listed across the web and whether your NAP data is consistent. The tool you need for this is the Citation Scan, located inside GBP Audit.
Important: The Citation Scan is not found on the Local Citations page. It is accessed through the Left sidebar → Local → GBP Audit (Generate New Audit Report) navigation described below.
🗺️ Where to Find the Citation Scan
Follow these steps to navigate to the correct location:
- In the left sidebar, click Local.
- Click Local Citations.
- Locate the business project you want to audit and open it.
- Inside the project, open the GBP Audit tab.
- Select the business you want to scan.
- Click Run Audit.
- Once the audit completes, scroll to the Citations section to view your NAP baseline results.
📋 What the Citation Scan Shows You
The Citations section of the GBP Audit surfaces the following information:
- Where your business is listed — directories, data aggregators, and local platforms currently showing your business.
- NAP consistency — whether your Name, Address, and Phone number match across all detected listings.
- Inconsistent or duplicate listings — entries where your NAP data differs from your primary source of truth.
- Missing listings — major directories where your business has no presence.
Reviewing this data before running the Data Aggregator ensures you submit clean, accurate information and can measure improvement after distribution.
📸 How to Capture Your Baseline Benchmark
To use the Citation Scan results as a reliable before-and-after reference, complete these steps:
- Run the Citation Scan using the navigation path above.
- Review the Citations section and note the total number of listings found, the number of consistent NAP entries, and any flagged discrepancies.
- Export or screenshot your audit results. Use the Export Report option available in the Local → Ranking Factor Matrix section if you need a shareable document.
- Record the date of your scan. This becomes your baseline date for future comparison.
- Correct any critical NAP errors in your Google Business Profile before proceeding to the Data Aggregator submission.
🚀 Running the Data Aggregator After Your Baseline
Once you have your NAP baseline documented, you are ready to submit to the Data Aggregator. The aggregator distributes your accurate NAP information to major data providers, which then feed hundreds of directories and platforms.
- Ensure your Name, Address, and Phone in Search Atlas exactly match what is on your Google Business Profile.
- Submit only after resolving the most critical inconsistencies identified in your Citation Scan.
- Plan to re-run the Citation Scan four to eight weeks after Data Aggregator submission to measure how your listing coverage and NAP consistency have improved.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Can I run the Citation Scan without a connected GBP account?
You need at least one GBP project set up in Search Atlas. Go to Local (GBP Projects) and click Connect GBP Account if you have not done this yet.
How long does the audit take?
Most audits complete within a few minutes depending on the number of existing listings found across the web.
Do I need to fix all inconsistencies before using the Data Aggregator?
You do not need to fix every issue first, but resolving your primary NAP details (especially address format and phone number) will produce the best results from aggregator distribution.
Where is the Local Citations page and what is it used for?
The Local Citations section in the platform serves a different purpose from the Citation Scan in GBP Audit. For benchmarking your NAP before Data Aggregator submission, always use the GBP Audit → Citations workflow described in this article.
💬 Need Help?
If you need further assistance, open the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the platform and type human teammate to be connected with a member of our team.