Examples of Citation Network Entries
The phrase “Citation Network: 30 curated citations” can sound abstract until you see concrete examples.
1. Core Business Listings (Trust Layer)
These establish your official identity and are key for entity recognition.
Typical examples:
Google Business Profile – (primary entity listing, must match website schema)
Bing Places for Business
Apple Maps / Yelp UK / Trustpilot
Company directories such as 192.com, Hotfrog, Yell.com, Cylex, Thomson Local
LinkedIn Company Page
✅ Purpose: Confirms consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) data and anchors the entity in multiple trusted sources.
2. Topical & Industry Citations (Relevance Layer)
These reinforce what you do and who you serve.
Examples vary by niche — for Brand Strategy AI and related clients:
DesignRush – if positioned as an agency or digital marketing firm
Clutch.co or The Manifest – for verified B2B service listings
Sortlist, Agency Spotter, or GoodFirms – secondary professional directories
Marketing Association directories (e.g. CIM, DMA, BIMA)
Trade publications or guest features that allow brand and founder profiles
✅ Purpose: Strengthens topic associations (e.g. “AI search consultancy”, “brand optimisation”, “digital marketing”) and reinforces credibility.
3. Geo & Contextual Citations (Local + Authority Layer)
These connect your brand to where it operates — improving local and knowledge graph alignment.
Examples:
Local business hubs: Leeds Digital Festival Directory, Made in Yorkshire, Business Chamber listings
University or incubator directories if you partner or mentor there
Media mentions: BBC local business feature, Yorkshire Post Business Directory, or niche press
Event or conference speaker bios (which can act as citations if consistent)
✅ Purpose: Reinforces regional relevance and creates semantic links between your brand and its operating area.
How the “30 curated citations” typically break down
| Type | Volume | Example goal |
|---|---|---|
| Core NAP / Trust directories | ~10 | Google, Bing, Apple, LinkedIn, Yell, 192.com, Cylex |
| Topical / Industry listings | ~10 | Clutch, DesignRush, Sortlist, trade bodies |
| Geo / Contextual sources | ~10 | Local directories, press, partnerships, event bios |
Each citation is verified for:
Correct entity name, URL, description, and schema alignment
Indexed or crawlable status (so AI systems can reference it)
Inclusion of outbound link or brand mention
Example Reporting Summary
Citation Health Score: 27/30 live (90%) · 25 indexed (83%) · 28 verified (93%)
Next Action: Resolve missing Bing verification; monitor new indexation at Week 10 review.