How to Use Citation Scanner?

What is Citation Scanner?

Citation Scanner offers a quick way to uncover hundreds of local citation opportunities. You can use this tool to find local businesses that are not yet listed in popular or relevant directories and create citations for your clients. The tool scans directories and similar platforms to find out where any given business is listed, and where it should be but isn't, for example, Google My Business, Facebook, Yellow Pages, Map Quest, Tuugo, Brownbook, Hotels Combined and many more.

How to Use Citation Scanner?

From the TOOLS menu, under the Client Acquisition section, select Citation Scanner.



To start a new scan, click on the blue + button at the top right of the page and fill out the form. You can choose to do a scan for specific businesses or for specific keywords. Select the location and the niche/category that you want to scan for, and click on Schedule Report.



Note that a scan can take a few minutes to complete. You will receive an internal and email notification (if you selected email notification) once the scan is completed.

If you choose to scan for a specific business, on the results page you will be able to view a list of the directories where the business is listed and where it is not. You can then either select:

View listing, if a listing was found; or
Create listing and you will be directed to the relevant page of the directory where you can list the business.



If you choose to scan for specific keywords, on the results page you will be shown the Top 7 businesses (excluding ads) that are listed on Google Maps for the keywords.



Click on View Results next to each business, to view the directories where the business is listed and where it is not. You can then either select to View Listing or Create Listing.



Note that where the results indicate Site Problem, this means that we were unable to scan that specific directory at the time the scan occurred. This could be for various reasons such as the site being temporary unavailable.

Click on the three dot icon at the top right hand side of the results page and you will be given the option to Generate PDF Report or Export to CSV, so you can send the result of the scan to your prospect or client in the format of your choice.



Note that if you want to do a comparison of your business listings to those businesses that are listed in the Top 5 on Google Maps, you should use our Competitors Citations: What is Competitor Citations & How To Use It?

Updated on: 14/12/2021