What Is a Citation Scan?
A citation scan checks your business listings across directories and data sources to identify inconsistencies, missing entries, or errors in your Name, Address, and Phone number (NAP) data.
How to Navigate to Local Citations
Follow these steps to reach the Local Citations section:
- Log in to your Search Atlas account.
- In the left sidebar, click Local.
- From the expanded menu, click Local Citations.
This takes you directly to the Local Citations page, where you can initiate new scans and review existing citation data.
How to Initiate a Citation Scan
Once you are on the Local Citations page, follow these steps to run a scan:
- Confirm that the correct GBP project is selected. If you manage multiple locations, make sure the appropriate project is active before scanning.
- Look for the option to scan citations on the page and click it to initiate the scan.
- Wait for the scan to complete. Depending on the number of directories being checked, this may take a few moments. The page will update when results are ready.
Important: If no scan has been run before for your project, the citations panel may appear empty. Running your first scan populates the data for that location.
How to Review Your Citation Scan Results
After the scan completes, your results will display on the Local Citations page. Here is what to look for:
- Matched citations: Listings where your NAP data is consistent and accurate.
- Inconsistent citations: Listings where your business name, address, or phone number does not match your primary source of truth.
- Missing citations: Directories where your business has not yet been listed.
Click on any individual listing to open the detail view and review the specific data found for that citation.
Still Need Help?
If you run into any issues initiating a scan or interpreting your results, please reach out to our support team via the chat widget and we will be happy to assist you.