What is the fastest way to rank using SEO for sheffield businesses
Business owners in Sheffield are often told they need “backlinks” to rank higher on Google.
While backlinks do matter, for local SEO, something else often has a bigger impact: local citations.
What Is a Local Citation?
A local citation is any online mention of your business that includes:
Business name
Address
Phone number
Most commonly, these appear in business directories.
Unlike backlinks, citations don’t need to link directly to your website to add value.
Why Citations Matter More for Local Rankings
For local search results, Google prioritises:
Location relevance
Business legitimacy
Consistency across trusted sources
That’s why businesses with strong directory coverage often outperform competitors with more backlinks but weaker local signals.
Directories as Trust Anchors
UK business directories act as verification points for Google.
The more accurate, consistent citations your business has, the easier it is for Google to:
Trust your location
Rank you in map results
Show your business for “near me” searches
👉 This is why directory listings are often the fastest way to improve local rankings. Learn more here:
Click here to see ehy Sheffield businesses rank higher using directory submissions