6 replies to this topic

[kalidust]

Looking to optimize a site that has multiple geographic targets, most of the states (and some cities within the states) in the southeastern US. The client has one location and provides services within the multiple states. Their web developer setup multiple subdomains, i.e. state.domain.com, city.domain.com, etc. All subdomains pull the information from the main site. Thru programming all subdomains changes one word (the location) based on the location listed in the subdomain. Otherwise all the content is duplicated across main and subdomains. We are looking to eliminate these subdomains or get unqiue content for each sub domain.

 

Once upon a time it was advisable to setup mutliple directories/pages for each geographic area. It is my understanding (with the changes in Google) that is no longer advisable. I've read the advisable thing to do is to setup a page within the site listing the client's service area.

 

Would appreciate input on recommendations for setting up a service area page that includes the targeted states and cities.

 

 

[qwerty]

You're most likely better off ditching the subdomains, unless there's actually something unique to say on each one, and if that's the case, it's going to be a ton of work. Obviously, if one subdomain only has a one-word difference with another, that's just pure spam.

 

I had a client years ago with something like 100 different geo-targeted domains, all of which were just mirrors of their main site -- not even a word-one difference, except in the domain names. They'd been in place for a long time, and they occasionally added new ones when they thought up a new domain name they wanted. I managed to convince them to stop linking out to the different sites from their page that listed the cities they covered, but they refused to take down the sites, insisting they got some search traffic. I don't work with them anymore

 

I've read the advisable thing to do is to setup a page within the site listing the client's service area.

Yeah, that's what I'd advise, unless there's something unique to say about certain locations. If they have more than one brick and mortar location, it might be beneficial to do a page (but not a subdomain) about each one, with directions on how to get there, staff bios, etc. (if staff bios are at all relevant to the business -- if you own two Wendy's franchises, I don't think I'm going to find the biographical information for the various assistant managers to be of much use in my quest for a chicken sandwich).

[kalidust]

With local search so relevant nowadays is it realisticly possbile for a business to get ranked in areas outside of their physical area? For example can a building contracting business here in Lafayette, LA who lists Nashville, TN as a service area get ranked when someone there in Nashville searches for "building contractors" (without querying "Lafayette LA Building Contractors")?

[Jill]

Not very easily. Probably safest to do it via Adwords and geotargeting.

[kalidust]

Can it be effective to utilitize directory listings?

[Jill]

Don't really know, IMO, if the directory page where you'll be listed shows up in the search results for your search phrase, then yeah. Otherwise, it's probably not all that helpful. (Just my opinion.)

[qwerty]

And general directories (especially the "SEO friendly" ones) don't seem to count for much anymore. Look for niche and local directories.