June 28th, 2024

When expanding your business to multiple locations, the SEO strategy you choose can make or break your online success. Some businesses think the best approach is to create separate websites for each location. While that sounds logical, it’s like managing multiple social media accounts for one brand—exhausting and often counterproductive. There’s a better way: focus on building one robust website with multiple location pages. This approach packs more punch for traffic, domain authority, and local SEO, without the headache of juggling multiple domains.

Why Multiple Websites Create More Problems Than Solutions

Imagine running a chain of coffee shops. Would you prefer to manage one central menu or individual menus for each location? If you said “one menu,” congratulations—you’ve already grasped why having multiple domains is a nightmare.

Managing multiple websites means dividing your resources, splitting your content efforts, and confusing search engines. Google thrives on clarity and authority. Splitting your business into separate domains dilutes both. Your SEO power gets scattered, and maintaining high-quality content across several sites becomes a Herculean task.

Instead, a single website allows you to consolidate all your SEO efforts in one place. This boosts your domain authority, enhances user experience, and simplifies content updates. Think of it as putting all your best players on one soccer team instead of spreading them across different squads.

The SEO Power of One Website

A unified website with multiple location pages creates a clear and authoritative structure for search engines to crawl. You’re essentially telling Google, “Hey, we’re one big, happy business family.”

Here’s how it works:

  1. Domain Authority Boost:
    When all your traffic flows to one website, your domain authority naturally increases. Google sees this as a sign of relevance and trustworthiness.
  2. Content Power:
    A single site means one blog, one FAQ section, and one resource hub. This keeps your content strategy focused and impactful.
  3. Backlink Benefits:
    Backlinks pointing to one website are far more powerful than links spread across multiple domains. It’s about quality over quantity.
  4. Simplified Analytics:
    Monitoring traffic, user behavior, and conversions becomes infinitely easier with one site. No more hopping between dashboards.

Structuring Your Website SEO for Multiple Locations

To maximize SEO for multiple locations, structure your website with dedicated pages for each place you operate. Each page should include:

  • Location-specific keywords
  • Accurate NAP (name, address, phone number) information
  • Unique content about services offered at that location
  • Customer reviews and testimonials
  • Embedded Google Maps

This approach satisfies both users and search engines. Visitors can easily find information about their nearest location, and Google knows exactly where to direct local traffic.

Local SEO: The Key to Multiple Location and SEO Success

Local SEO is the bread and butter of businesses with multiple locations. It ensures you rank high in search results for “near me” queries, like “best pizza near me” or “top-rated mechanic in [city].”

Here are some tips to optimize local SEO for each location:

  1. Claim Google Business Profiles:
    Create and manage a profile for each location. Keep Google Business Listing details accurate and consistent.
  2. Localised Content:
    Write blogs or updates relevant to each area. Think “5 Things to Do in Invercargill This Weekend.”
  3. Citations Matter:
    Ensure your business information is consistent across directories like Yelp, Yellow Pages, and TripAdvisor.
  4. Encourage Reviews:
    Ask happy customers to leave reviews on Google. Positive feedback boosts your rankings.

But What About Subdomains or Subdirectories?

Some business owners ask if subdomains (e.g., invercargill.back9.co.nz) are a good idea. While subdomains are better than separate websites, they still split your SEO power. Subdirectories (e.g., back9.co.nz/locations/invercargill) are the best option. They keep all your content under one domain, maximising authority and traffic.

Keeping Things Simple Pays Off

Building one website for multiple locations isn’t just good for SEO—it’s good for your sanity. You’ll save time, money, and effort while creating a better experience for your customers.

Google rewards clarity, authority, and relevance. By focusing your efforts on one well-structured website, you’re setting your business up for success in a competitive digital landscape.

So, leave the “one domain per location” strategy in the dustbin. Consolidate, optimize, and watch your traffic grow. Remember, less is more—except when it comes to coffee or website visitors. There, more is definitely better.

By sticking to a unified website approach, your SEO efforts will deliver better results. It’s time to simplify and let your online presence shine. If you need help navigating this process, the team at Back9 is here to make it happen. Let’s kick your multi-location SEO into high gear!

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