NAP & Audits

How to Fix Incorrect Local Citations

Fixing citations is a process of establishing the correct data, gaining control of existing profiles, and documenting what changed. Creating replacement listings before dealing with the old profile can make the problem worse.

Reviewed for current provider information: September 2026
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Confirm the correct business identity

Freeze the current NAP and website details before touching any directory. If the business has multiple locations or practitioners, clearly define which entity each profile should represent.

Keep proof of address, phone ownership, and business identity available because some platforms may require verification.

Claim or access the existing profile

Use the platform's normal claim, edit, or support process. If credentials are unknown, recover the account rather than immediately creating a new profile.

For profiles created by a vendor, check whether account credentials were supplied in the original project report.

Correct, merge, or remove

Update incorrect fields, merge duplicates where a platform supports it, or request removal of obsolete profiles. Preserve legitimate historical information only where the platform and user experience call for it.

Document changes and dates because updates can take time to propagate.

Verify the live result

After the platform processes the change, revisit the public profile. Confirm the displayed name, address, phone, URL, and location association.

Re-audit after a few weeks if the business had widespread legacy data.