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What Is Yext, and How Does It Improve Local SEO?

Posted on June 3, 2025 in Industry Terms, Reviews & Reputation, Search Engine Marketing by Tom Hall

Achieving a high-ranking position on Google Local listings relies not only on your practice’s Google reviews, but also on how your practice’s contact information is displayed on various third-party directory sites. These listings are often referred to as “business citations” or “NAP” (business name, address, phone number). With the number of directory websites available, controlling your business citations (and making sure they are accurate and consistent) can quickly and easily become an overwhelming—but necessary—task. 

So the question remains: how exactly can you ensure your practice’s contact information is being presented properly throughout the Internet? At Rosemont Media, we partnered with Yext to resolve this issue for our clients. Yext is the leader in Digital Location Management software, and we are proud to offer expert citation management through this unique tool. We believe utilizing Yext is a “best practice” for a strong SEO strategy, so if your marketing company doesn’t offer a similar service, you might want to reconsider that partnership. 

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Why Consistent NAP Citations Matter for SEO

Search engines like Google rely on structured data across the web to validate your business’s credibility and local relevance. When your name, address, and phone number (NAP) are consistently displayed across hundreds of directories, it builds trust with both search engines and potential patients. On the other hand, even minor discrepancies—such as using “St.” instead of “Street”—can cause confusion and impact your visibility in local search results. 

Consistency also improves user experience. When someone finds your business through Yelp, Healthgrades, or Apple Maps, they expect accurate, up-to-date information. A single incorrect phone number could mean a lost lead, and worse, a damaged reputation. 

What Is Yext?

Yext is an industry-leading software tool designed to manage a business’s location-related information on a multitude of directory websites throughout the Internet. The key to business citation management is ensuring there are relevant, accurate listings in place for your business, and Yext is designed specifically for this purpose. 

“Yext has created a value proposition that’s hard to ignore as a business owner. If it is important for consumers to find your business online, Yext’s location management tool is a no-brainer.”

— Keith Humes, CEO Rosemont Media

Key Features of Yext and Why They Matter

Yext goes far beyond simply updating names and numbers. It offers an entire suite of tools that help manage and monitor your online presence across many platforms. Some standout features include: 

These features make Yext an all-in-one solution that supports both SEO and customer engagement initiatives for healthcare practices. 

How Does Yext Work?

Yext automatically audits active business directory listings, which can then be updated to replace inaccurate information as needed. Yext also identifies listing opportunities, enabling us to fill a void where no information previously existed. The Yext platform is at work for our clients 24/7, allowing for rapid correction of any issues that may be identified. 

How Yext Supports Local SEO for Dental Practices 

For dental practices, local visibility and strong dental SEO is essential—especially when potential patients search for specific treatments like “teeth whitening near me” or “emergency dentist in [city].” Yext helps ensure that your practice shows up with accurate and complete information when it matters most. With real-time updates and consistent NAP citations across platforms like Healthgrades®, Zocdoc, Yelp, and Google, Yext helps build trust and credibility with search engines and patients alike. 

Beyond contact details, Yext allows you to enhance your listings with important information like accepted insurance plans, new patient specials, and links to online appointment booking tools. This enriched content helps differentiate your practice in a competitive market and increases the likelihood of attracting clicks and conversions. 

Additionally, the ability to monitor and respond to reviews from dental-specific platforms ensures you maintain a positive reputation. Whether someone is researching routine cleanings or more complex procedures like dental implants or Invisalign®, Yext helps your practice make a strong, professional first impression online.

Why Plastic Surgeons Benefit from Yext’s Citation Management

Plastic surgery practices often rely heavily on their online presence to reach prospective patients who are researching highly personal and transformative procedures. Consistency and accuracy across listings aren’t just important—they’re critical to building trust in a field where reputation and professionalism are paramount. 

Yext empowers plastic surgeons to take full control of how their practice is presented on over 100 key platforms, including WebMD®, RealSelf®, Vitals®, and more. You can highlight your areas of specialty—such as rhinoplasty, breast augmentation, or mommy makeovers—by incorporating rich content and structured data directly into your listings. 

By also enabling practices to publish photos, procedure descriptions, and even embed links to before-and-after galleries, Yext creates a comprehensive digital footprint that enhances both plastic surgery SEO performance and user engagement. For plastic surgeons with satellite offices or out-of-town patients in particular, the ability to keep all location-specific information current and correct is invaluable for converting interest into consultation.

Yext vs. Aggregator-Based Citation Services

Not all citation tools are created equal. Some citation services may rely on data aggregators to distribute your business information. While this can be effective, it may also result in delayed updates and limited control. 

Yext, on the other hand, connects directly to each platform through proprietary integrations. This allows for: 

For busy medical and dental professionals, this means peace of mind and a more reliable online presence. 

Managing Multi-Doctor Practices with Practitioner Listings in Yext

Multi-doctor practices face unique challenges when it comes to citation management. Not only does each location need accurate listings, but individual providers must also be properly represented across platforms to ensure they appear in searches for their specialties. Yext offers a scalable solution by supporting both facility-level and practitioner-level listings under one roof. 

Through Yext’s practitioner listing management capabilities, each doctor in your practice can have their own set of structured data—complete with credentials, specialties, bios, appointment links, and review monitoring. This ensures that Dr. Smith, who specializes in periodontal treatments, and Dr. Jones, who focuses on cosmetic dentistry, are both discoverable to the right audience. 

Yext also helps eliminate duplicate or conflicting listings that can dilute your SEO strength. By keeping provider profiles synchronized across platforms, the system supports individual provider visibility while reinforcing your brand’s overall credibility and cohesion. For practices with frequent staffing changes or expansions, this feature streamlines what may otherwise be a logistical nightmare. 

What Are My Other Options for Citation Management?

Staying on top of your Google My Business account is a great way to get started with citation management, but there is much more to keep an eye on. Unless you have time to manually scour the Internet for mentions of your practice, we highly recommend conducting thorough research to find a reputable SEO provider that offers citation management via a platform like Yext. However, it is important to note that Yext provides users with an expansive reach and a partnership with Google that similar companies are unable to offer. Being aware of the types of services your SEO firm will actually be providing (and how effective their results have been for other medical or dental professionals) is crucial. Managing business citations is no small task… and you’ve got a busy practice to run! 

How Yext Helps Protect Your Online Reputation

In today’s digital world, first impressions often happen online—and your online reputation can significantly influence whether a prospective patient chooses your practice. Yext doesn’t just help you manage contact information; it also includes reputation management features that allow you to take control of how your brand is perceived. 

With Yext, you can: 

For healthcare providers, timely and professional review responses are crucial—both to build trust and to mitigate negative feedback. Yext enables practices to keep their reputations in check without the need to manually log in to dozens of platforms each day.

Debunking 5 Myths About Local SEO and Citation Tools

  1. Myth: “Once my Google Business Profile is updated, I’m good.”
    Truth: Google is just one of hundreds of places people might find you. Inconsistent third-party listings can still harm your rankings.
  2. Myth: “Free listings are enough.”
    Truth: Many free directories are outdated or rarely maintained. Yext ensures your information stays updated on high-authority platforms.
  3. Myth: “Manual citation building is better.”
    Truth: Manual work can be time-consuming, error-prone, and doesn’t scale well—especially for multi-location practices.
  4. Myth: “Yext is only for big businesses.”
    Truth: Small and medium practices benefit just as much—if not more—from accurate citations and increased local visibility.
  5. Myth: “It’s not worth the investment.”
    Truth: The ROI of being found by the right patient at the right time can’t be overstated. 

The Role of Structured Data and Enhanced Listings in Yext

Another valuable feature Yext offers is the ability to add enhanced content and structured data to your business listings. Instead of just listing your name and address, you can include rich, actionable information like: 

Yext’s use of schema.org markup helps search engines better understand your listing content, which can improve how your practice appears in local results and even boost your chances of being featured in rich results like answer boxes and map packs. 

For medical and dental professionals, this level of customization can make your listing more informative and appealing—potentially leading to higher click-through rates and improved patient acquisition. 

How Do Yext & Citation Management Fit Into the Big Picture of My Online Strategy?

Business citation management is a single (albeit very important) piece of effectively governing your Internet portfolio—a collection of all your digital assets, including your website, domain name, directory listings, social media profiles, Google Analytics and Search Console accounts, and much more. By managing all of your business citations with one tool—Yext—you know this information is controlled, secure, easy to access, and portable, all of which describe the end goal for your entire Internet portfolio. (For more information, check out our post on the importance of managing and controlling your Internet portfolio.) 

Is Yext a Smart Investment for Medical & Dental Practices?

If you’re debating the cost of Yext, consider the hidden costs of inaccuracy. One missed opportunity, misdirected call, or broken listing could mean a lost patient. 

With Yext, you can gain: 

For practices serious about visibility, reputation, and growth—Yext is an invaluable tool. 

Contact Rosemont Media

If you’d like to learn more about how Yext can benefit your medical or dental practice website, please contact Rosemont Media today to speak with one of our knowledgeable consultants. 

Editor’s note: The original version of this post was published on May 24, 2016. 

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