Localized Results

[epep]

I am optimizing my website for the (1) local, map-based search engines and (2) the general search queries that include references to cities, counties, etc. I'm trying to figure out which of these two tactics would be best. You're input would be appreciated.

To give a little more background, we're looking to target approximately 30 cities and 8 counties.

Option 1: Service Locations Page
Publish a page that contains all of our targeted cities and county names. Something to the effect of "we've serviced clients in [city1], [city2]... and [county1], [county2]... etc etc etc.

Option 2: Footer Include
Publish the above-referenced option on every page of content by adding the content that references the cities and counties to every page. More than likely, this content would be "below" our design, would be smaller text and would by no means be the focal point of the content. We could also tame this down and include these listings only on specific pages that we're targeting.

Option 3: Your Suggestions?

Your input is greatly appreciated.

EP

[pomra]

My vote would be for #1, but hopefully others can provide some additional information. Will information in a footer include be weighted as heavily?

[epep]

#1 is what I'm currently leaning towards. I'm afraid the large block of text coming off as spammy in the eyes of the search engines and detracting from the overall look and feel of the website.

Secondly, if the page is long enough, the search engines might not even get down to the text intended to help out the localized listings.

Lastly, our actual location is that which is most important to us. We presently have our actual, physical address on every page. I think the addition of all of these other cities might detract from our actual location.

I think I may have just answered my own question, but I would still like to hear from others if anyone has opinions on this topic. Thanks.

EP

[incrediblehelp]

You probably want to consider creating a page for each of your locations targeted with solid unique content on each page.

[Janna122003]

Use keyword suggestion first to know if localized keywords has high traffic.

[epep]

Originally Posted by incrediblehelp

You probably want to consider creating a page for each of your locations targeted with solid unique content on each page.

That's a great suggestion. I'll look into building the location-specific pages over the next couple of weeks. As we continue to do news publications, I'll add the specific locations of our clients to get the city and county name into the content pages. Thanks much for the suggestion, I hadn't even considered that!

EP

[epep]

Originally Posted by Janna122003

Use keyword suggestion first to know if localized keywords has high traffic.

This is the Google Keyword Suggestion tool I used:

https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal

Any other tools out there that seem to be more specific with regard to the actual amount of searching (rather than the bar charts provided by Google)?

I think this will come in handy when we're making the individualized pages for each locality, but I'm a firm believer that solid content is best even if they aren't high traffic keywords.

EP

[incrediblehelp]

Originally Posted by epep

This is the Google Keyword Suggestion tool I used:

https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal

Any other tools out there that seem to be more specific with regard to the actual amount of searching (rather than the bar charts provided by Google)?

I think this will come in handy when we're making the individualized pages for each locality, but I'm a firm believer that solid content is best even if they aren't high traffic keywords.

EP

Keyword services for professional search engine optimization and www.keyworddiscovery.com

[dom-casino]

Well, if you wanted to do better, just host your website within that particular country or region.

Get back links from good and relevant websites of your particular region, lets say, if UK, than .co.uk

Post in free classifieds submissions withing your country region this will hook up your rankings.

promote your website using your country name...

[epep]

Originally Posted by dom-casino

Well, if you wanted to do better, just host your website within that particular country or region.

Get back links from good and relevant websites of your particular region, lets say, if UK, than .co.uk

Post in free classifieds submissions withing your country region this will hook up your rankings.

promote your website using your country name...

Sorry, I'm looking to target counties, not countries. I would assume that much of the same logic applies, but the county locality is obviously a lot more focused than would be a country locality. Much the same though, getting outside links for "Dakota County Widgets" would help out with that specific localized content page. Thanks for the input.

EP