Citation Grading Guide
for Family Law Firms

Q: Q: Why Local SEO is Important for Law Firms?

A: Local Clientele: Many clients search for services within their area, and local SEO targets these potential clients specifically. High Intent Searches: Local searches often have higher intent, meaning users are more likely to require immediate services. Competitive Edge: Effective local SEO differentiates your firm from others in the area, making you the go-to option. Trust and Credibility: Appearing in local searches builds trust with clients who prefer engaging with nearby businesses.

When it comes to law firm marketing, Anthony Karls is one of the leading experts in the field. A law firm’s citations play a vitally important role when it comes to their marketing success. Below is a comprehensive grading sheet designed for evaluating citations based on the specified criteria. This sheet is organized into three main parts: Citation Consistency, Address Accuracy, and Citation Presence. Each part includes specific grading criteria to facilitate consistent evaluation.

The grading system is from A to D, with A indicating excellent performance and D indicating the need for significant improvement. We use this audit system internally to determine the local SEO opportunity for client before we begin consulting with their businesses. To learn more, schedule a FREE audit with Rocket Clicks today!

Grading Sheet for Citations

Part 1: Store Fronts

Grading Criteria:

Pass: All of the following are completed.
- Name, Address, and Phone Number (NAP) are consistent and accruate across all four store front listings and website.
- Reviews are responded to uniquely (preferably within 24 hours)
- All information completed – background, owner bio, sub categories, business description, high quality interior photos, high quality exterior photos, high quality logo image, high quality image of owner(s), high quality image(s) of team.
- Posting on the platform at least once per week.
Fail: Missing any of the above components on any of the four websites (Google Business Profile, Facebook, Bing Places, Yelp)

Part 2: Citation Consistency

Grading Criteria:

A: Name, Address, and Phone Number (NAP) are consistent across all citations.
B: Minor inconsistencies in NAP found in 1-2 citations.
C: NAP inconsistencies found in 3-5 citations.
D: Major inconsistencies or missing information in more than 5 citations.

Part 3: Citation Accuracy

Grading Criteria:

A: Name, Address, Phone Number, and websites are correct across all citations
B: Minor inaccuracies found in 1-2 citations.
C: Inaccuracies found in 3-5 citations.
D: Significant inaccuracies across more than 5 citations.

Part 4: Citation Presence

Grading Criteria:

A: Business is listed in all the specified top directories.
B: Business is missing from 1-3 of the specified directories.
C: Business is missing from 4-7 of the specified directories.
D: Business is missing from more than 7 of the specified directories.

Directories for Evaluation

Below are the directories where the business should be listed if located in Miami, FL. Use these directories to assess the citation presence:

Primary Listings (Store Fronts):

Google My Business – google.com/business
Bing Places for Business – bingplaces.com
Yelp – yelp.com
Facebook – facebook.com

Data Aggregators:

Localeze – neustarlocaleze.biz
Acxiom – acxiom.com
Infogroup (Data Axle) – data-axle.com
Factual – factual.com

Map Aggregators:

Waze – waze.com
Here Maps – here.com
MapQuest – mapquest.com
TomTom Maps – tomtom.com
OpenStreetMap – openstreetmap.org

General Business Directories:

Yellow Pages – yellowpages.com
Foursquare – foursquare.com
Apple Maps – mapsconnect.apple.com
Ezlocal – ezlocal.com
MapQuest – mapquest.com
Better Business Bureau – bbb.org
Superpages – superpages.com
Local.com – local.com
Citysearch – citysearch.com
Yahoo Local – local.yahoo.com
MerchantCircle – merchantcircle.com
Angie’s List – angieslist.com
ChamberofCommerce.com – chamberofcommerce.com
Whitepages – whitepages.com
Hotfrog – hotfrog.com
ShowMeLocal – showmelocal.com
Thumbtack – thumbtack.com
Yellowbook – yellowbook.com
Manta – manta.com
Cylex – cylex-usa.com
YellowBot – yellowbot.com

Legal-Specific Directories:

FindLaw Law Firms – lawyers.findlaw.com
Martindale Law Firms – martindale.com/find-attorneys
Justia Law Firms – justia.com/lawyers
Lawyers.com Law Firms – lawyers.com/find-a-lawyer
Nolo Law Firms – nolo.com/lawyers
Avvo – avvo.com
LawTally – lawtally.com
HG.org Law Firms – hg.org/firms.html

State and Local Directories:

Florida Chamber of Commerce – flchamber.com
Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce – miamichamber.com

How to Use This Sheet:

For each business location you have you need to evaluate the following information.

Choose the directory to evaluate.
Check for NAP consistency on each listing. Use the criteria to assign a grade from A to D.
Evaluate address accuracy in formatting. Again, grade from A to D using the criteria.
Verify presence in each directory and apply the criteria for grading the citation presence.

This guide will assist you in assessing the citation quality and identify areas for improvement effectively. Through our experience executing and continually auditing this process ensures a solid technical foundation for map rank and significant quality lead generation through maps and Google map pack results.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How to Rank First in Local SEO?

A: Below is a generally good outline of directions to follow for each business location.

Optimize Google My Business (GMB):
- Ensure your GMB profile is complete and accurate.
- Use relevant keywords in your business description.
- Encourage and manage customer reviews.
- Include photos and regular updates.
Keyword Research:
- Identify locally relevant keywords your potential clients might use.
- Focus on long-tail keywords that include your location (e.g., “family lawyer in Miami”).
Local Content:
- Create content that resonates with your local audience, such as blog posts discussing regional family law issues.
- Highlight any involvement in local community events or partnerships.
NAP Consistency:
- Ensure your Name, Address, and Phone number are consistent across all local directories and your website.
Local Backlinks:
- Acquire backlinks from reputable local sources, such as news sites, chamber of commerce pages, or local blogs.
Mobile Optimization:
- Ensure your website is mobile-friendly as local searches are often conducted on mobile devices.
Structured Data Markup:
- Use schema markup to help search engines understand your content better and prioritize local business information.

Q: Does SEO Work for Law Firms?

A: Yes, SEO is highly effective for law firms. It helps in:

Increasing Visibility: It makes it easier for potential clients to find your services online.
Building Authority: Creating authoritative content can position your firm as an expert in the field.
Generating Leads: Higher visibility for relevant search terms can lead to increased inquiries and consultations.

Q: Why Local SEO is Important for Law Firms?

Local Clientele: Many clients search for services within their area, and local SEO targets these potential clients specifically.
High Intent Searches: Local searches often have higher intent, meaning users are more likely to require immediate services.
Competitive Edge: Effective local SEO differentiates your firm from others in the area, making you the go-to option.
Trust and Credibility: Appearing in local searches builds trust with clients who prefer engaging with nearby businesses.

Q: Is Local SEO Worth It?

A: Yes, local SEO is worth it for many reasons, especially for businesses like law firms which often operate within a specific geographical area. The benefits include:

Cost-Effective Marketing: Local SEO can deliver results with a relatively lower investment compared to traditional marketing.
Higher ROI: Targeted visibility leads to higher chances of converting searches into clients.
Sustained Results: While it requires regular updates, local SEO efforts have a long-term impact compared to paid ads.