For some, understanding how to track rankings is already complicated. When you add multiple locations to the equation, it can seem mind-boggling. Thankfully, Google makes it easy to optimize each listing for every location that a company owns and track rankings for both organic searches and Google Maps searches. Track Right’s dashboard integrates seamlessly with your Google My Business account so that you can see everything in one place.
Google search results are different from local search results because of how local listings are displayed. Rather than getting a list of blue links in search results, users will see the Google Map Pack, also called the Google Local Map Pack. All of the businesses that match that search query will be listed here along with their contact information, photos, and website link. Since 46% of online searches have local intent, getting to the top spot in local packs is crucial.
Google Analytics is a free tool that can collect and interpret website data. Business owners can use that information to optimize their website and online listings to drive more traffic. This tool can be integrated into Track Right’s dashboard.
Local SEO for Multi-Locations
Google’s algorithm is very good at generating the results people want within a certain distance of them, but if you have more than one location within a user’s area, then they will compete against each other for top rankings in search engine results pages (SERP).
Multi-location SEO campaigns help local businesses with multiple locations get around this problem by differentiating between each page.
If you list each of your locations on your main service page, or your homepage, then your main page should have a general description of the services you offer. Then, list separate location page links either in the content or footer of your website so that users can click on them easily.
Generally, we need separate pages for each location. As well, you need to be sure that your Google My Business Profile is also up-to-date and accurate. If your website is optimized for local searches but your GMB profile isn’t, then your business isn’t getting as much traffic as it could.
Interior and Exterior Images
Geotagging the images for local relevance and optimizing your alt-text with local keywords serve a few purposes. If the image doesn’t load, the user can still see a description. Plus, using target location-based keywords in your web content is a great way to distinguish one location from another. Geo-tagging is NOT critical, but images are very important.
Other Critical Ranking Factors for Location Landing Pages
It is possible to track local rankings (Google Maps) in Trackright. By doing so, you can identify what is working and what isn’t. Other important elements that play a crucial role in the rankings of your landing pages are keywords, online reviews, and links.
Keywords
You should think about local optimization beyond Google My Business as a core focus in your SEO strategy. Beat your competitors with optimized local content. A search engine optimization strategy should start with keyword research to find out what keywords you should be integrating into your content. Create location-specific content targeted at your local audience that includes the name of the city or neighborhood that you’re located in. Use keywords in your title tags and content, as this is incredibly important.
Online Reviews
Many people trust online reviews as much as they trust a review from a close friend. Too often businesses don’t pay much attention to their online reviews or understand how they play a role in rankings. The more positive reviews your business has, the higher it will rank.
Responding to reviews is a great way to thank customers for praising what you do and what you sell. It’s also a great way to respond to negative reviews and try to get the customer back by offering a discount on their next visit or offering to talk with them privately.
These reviews show up under your business listing and can tell other consumers that you are the kind of business that treats your customers with respect and listens to what they say. If you run a business with multiple locations, then you can compare reviews and discover what makes some locations more competitive than others. Users may choose to visit one location over another if it has better reviews.
Links
Understanding backlinks is easier if you think about them like citations in a research paper. Your teachers always told you to use sources that were reputable. Google feels the same way about links. Backlinking to irrelevant websites with low-quality pages can hurt your ranking. Likewise, highly authoritative sources make great backlinks.
Getting other high-ranking businesses and ideally location-relevant links (like local newspapers, local businesses, etc) to link your page on their own website also improves your online visibility. There may be other businesses in your niche that you can reach out to and ask to link to a blog, video, or other content on your website.
Videos of the Property
For businesses with multiple locations – perhaps even dozens of them – it’s important to help your visitors identify your physical property. Short videos, about one or two minutes, can help users plan their visit and find yours among other businesses. Plus, videos get people excited! Whether they are coming in to eat, relax, learn, or spend, you can show them a unique customer experience awaits them at different locations.
How to Dominate Local Franchise SEO for Multi-Location Businesses
People love the convenience of tapping on a business address in Google and being redirected to a map that tells them how to get there. If you have a business and want to increase foot traffic, then consider placing an embedded map into your location pages. A dropped pin can tell Google where your location is and helps people find your physical location in a few taps.
Google Maps API is no longer free as of 2018. It charges websites $0.50 for every 1,000 page loads. However, high-traffic websites can get a $200 monthly credit.
How to Monitor Rankings for a Multi-Location Brand
Running a business is a lot of work, but running a business with multiple locations is more complex. If you want to monitor the rankings for a multi-location brand, Track Right can help. Get insights and generate reports from our easy-to-use dashboard.
A geogrid, also known as a local map rank tracker, shows how each location of a multi-location business is ranked in a particular geographical area. You can break down what specific elements are bringing down your ranking and what is increasing it.
Keyword research is critical. When people conduct a local search, they use terms they believe will get them the information they want. These terms are called “keywords,” and they play a huge role in your local SEO. Knowing how many locations are ranking for certain keywords allows you to make comparisons and data-driven decisions. You can also learn which keywords are performing better and incorporate them into your location-relevant content.
Businesses with multiple locations must refrain from using duplicate content on each individual location page. Even though it is a lot more work, creating multiple location pages is better in the long run. You will also rank lower in local search results if your site has low-quality pages, too many pop-ups, or a high bounce rate.
Claim Google Maps Listings for Every Location with Our Regional SEO Strategy
Each specific location will need its own listing to be optimized for SEO. This means ensuring that each of the details about your locations is accurate. Google My Business is crucial to local SEO success. The three most important elements in your profile are known as NAP – name, address, and phone number.
Make sure that the name and business category are accurate and consistent across all profiles for each location. This helps to avoid unfortunate situations when a customer thinks they are contacting one location but are contacting another instead. Clear up confusion, make it easier to track each location, and highlight differentiating features between various locations through individualized map listings for every location.
Fully Optimize Your Google Business Profile Listing
It is so important for every local business to optimize its GMB page. Most multi-location businesses, like restaurants and retail shops, ask about multi-location SEO since they don’t want their different locations competing against one another. Rather, they want all of their business locations to succeed. Track Right helps multiple location businesses and franchises to grow without competing against each other.
How to Create a Multi Location SEO Strategy?
Surely there must be some things that make each location stand out, so differentiate between your local pages by focusing on their differences. Is there a store location with longer or shorter business hours? Is there consistency in services across various locations, or do some have limited services?
Track Right can help you develop a data-driven local SEO strategy for optimizing location pages to increase their rankings in search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo.
Don’t Mix GMB Listing Types: Service Area Business, Storefront, and Hybrid
Business listings must be accurate and not go against Google’s guidelines, so it’s important for multi-location brands to know how to categorize themselves in their Google My Business profile. This is crucial to showing up in local searches. Whether you run your business from a single location, remotely, or through a hybrid setup of both, it’s important to accurately list where you are.
- You want to list your specific location if you have an in-person business looking to increase foot traffic.
- Remote or service area businesses are those that don’t have one singular, physical address. Instead, they may bring their own business to consumers in a certain area. Examples of these types of businesses are delivery companies and service professionals like plumbers, roofers, electricians, etc.
- Hybrid businesses do both. They may have a physical store location and they may also deliver. Some businesses meet remotely with clients over Zoom in addition to providing in-person consultations and services.
If you are a sole proprietor working out of your home, you probably don’t want to publicly list your address, but you also want to make your business visible so that it grows. What makes this process easier for a lot of people is to set up one Google My Business profile for their central office, and then list up to 20 service areas.
You would still need to verify your physical address, though, but this won’t show up in your GMB profile. It is only used by Google for verification purposes. Your listing will still only show the service area.
Use Schema Markup For Location-based SEO
It is hard for Google to keep up with every website. To help search engines find relevant content deep in your website, adding a sitemap can help increase your search engine rankings. You can submit your sitemap through Google Search Console even though it is not required since bots will eventually index your website.
However, providing a sitemap helps crawlers find locally relevant content throughout your website. When you add new location pages, it’s always good practice to submit an updated sitemap.
Start Your Free Trial With Track Right
Now that you have a better understanding of how geo-location rank tracking for multi-location businesses can help you in your digital marketing efforts, it’s time to see for yourself. Track Right offers a seven-day trial where you can set up and monitor your key performance indicators (KPI) and start tracking your individual locations.
You can use the results from your tracking reports to help you make better marketing decisions. Track Right also enables you to generate branded reports or schedule regular reporting. Start your free trial today.