Citation building is the art (and science) of placing your business’s Name, Address, and Phone Number (NAP) consistently across the web. Think directories like Yelp, Google Business Profile, or obscure industry forums—any spot that can reference your brand. It might sound simple, but these mentions are like neon signs pointing search engines toward your business. When you have consistent citations, Google thinks, “This brand’s legit.” If they’re all over the place? Your SEO suffers, big time. Citation building doesn’t just help with rankings; it also establishes trust with customers. Nobody likes seeing mismatched phone numbers or addresses that lead to a dead end. It’s a credibility killer. Plus, local ranking algorithms heavily consider citation consistency—so if your competition’s doing it better, you’re basically handing them leads on a silver platter. Bottom line: keep those citations aligned and watch your local SEO skyrocket.