Author
JB

James Burfield

Founder, CitationHQ

25+ years in UK SEO. Founder of SEOBurf.

About James

James runs SEOBurf, a UK SEO consultancy in Somerset, and has spent 25 years working on organic search for businesses ranging from local trades to global brands. He built CitationHQ after watching local business owners lose evenings submitting the same details to the same UK directories over and over.

Citation building is unglamorous, repetitive, and genuinely moves local rankings when the details are consistent. CitationHQ is his team doing that work properly, by hand, so the business owner never has to open a directory signup form again.

Guides by James

Guide · 8 min read
How to submit your business to UK directories
A full walkthrough of listing your business on the UK directories that matter: which to do first, what each needs, and the mistakes that waste the effort.
Guide · 2 min read
What is Domain Rating?
Domain Rating (DR) measures how authoritative a website is on a 0–100 scale. Here's why DR matters for citations and how to pick the right directories.
Guide · 2 min read
What is NAP?
NAP stands for Name, Address and Phone number. Learn why NAP consistency across directories is critical for local search rankings.
Guide · 2 min read
Why citations matter for local SEO
Citations are one of the top UK local ranking factors. Here's why they move Google Maps rankings and how they build long-term local authority.
Guide · 5 min read
Are paid directory listings worth it?
Most paid directory upgrades buy you nothing in rankings. Here's what the paid tier actually gets you, and the few cases where it's worth the money.
Guide · 2 min read
What is a business citation?
A business citation is any online mention of your business name, address and phone number. Learn why citations are essential for UK local search rankings.
Guide · 4 min read
UK directories for plumbers
Which directories actually bring plumbing work, which regulator listings you need, and why emergency search makes citations worth more in this trade than most.
Guide · 2 min read
Why accuracy matters in your business listings
Wrong or inconsistent business details actively damage local search rankings, on top of losing you calls. Here's how to get it right first time.
Guide · 3 min read
UK directories for solicitors
The regulator listings that are non-negotiable, the legal directories that carry weight, and why a wrong detail costs a law firm more than most businesses.
Guide · 3 min read
UK directories for electricians
Part P scheme listings, the EV charging category worth claiming early, and which trade platforms actually pay for themselves for electrical contractors.

Blog posts by James