/> Let me break this "multiple location SEO" thing down wholly based on my 10+ years managing local service businesses. Your situation is more common than you think.Reality Check: Understanding Local SearchYour competitor isn't winning because of doorway pages - they're winning despite them. Here's what's actually happening:Google's Local IntentIf someone searches "broken pipe repair" + city name, Google WANTS to show a dedicated page for that cityA direct match still carries weight in local queriesTheir pages match user intent perfectly, even if spammyThe Authority GameYour DR comparison is irrelevant for localFocus on your top 5 city pages where you have GMB listingsThese carry the authority for all location pagesMultiple Location SEO Strategy for 2024Based on managing 50+ service businesses, here's the proven approach:1. Hub & Spoke ModelMain service page as hubCity pages as spokesInternal linking between related servicesEach city page MUST link to main service2. Winning City Page Structure[Expertise Section] • Service overview • Unique city statistics/data • Emergency response time for area • Local team member highlight [Proof Section] • Reviews from that city • Recent jobs (with photos) • Local partnerships/certifications [Trust Section] • Service area map • Response time guarantees • Local phone number • GMB embed for nearest location 3. The 80/20 ImplementationFocus 80% effort on top 20% population citiesCreate super detailed pages for main service areasUse template for smaller cities BUT with:Unique intro paragraphReal job photos from areaActual customer testimonialLocal emergency response timeTechnical Implementation Guide1. URL Structure Best Practices/locations/[state]/[city]/[service] Example: /locations/minnesota/minneapolis/broken-pipe-repair 2. Internal Linking StrategyEvery city page links to 2-3 nearby city pagesAll pages link to main service hubUse proper anchor text variation3. Essential Schema Markup{ "@type": "Service", "areaServed": { "@type": "City", "name": "City Name" }, "provider": { "@type": "LocalBusiness", "name": "Business Name", "location": { "@type": "Place", "address": { "addressLocality": "City Name" } } } } Strategic Growth Plan1. Start with Your Core CitiesBuild detailed, unique pagesGet real reviewsAdd actual job photosCreate local resource content2. Methodical ExpansionAdd 5 new cities monthlyFocus on areas with actual jobsDocument real work in each areaBuild local citations naturally3. Content Enhancement ScheduleUpdate top 20% pages monthlyAdd new job photosFresh customer reviewsLocal news/events mentionsWhy This Approach Wins Long-Term1. SustainabilityGoogle updates target thin contentQuality signals compound over timeReal engagement metrics improve2. Conversion OptimizationDetailed pages convert betterLocal proof builds trustEmergency calls go to right team3. Business GrowthForces you to document real workBuilds actual local presenceCreates defensible positionsConclusionDon't chase their strategy. Build something that:Helps actual customersDocuments real workScales with your businessSurvives algorithm updatesRemember: It's not about ranking everywhere. It's about dominating where you actually want to work. | serpsherpa | Webmatrices
heroappliances a month ago
Continue reading

Just need to vent and maybe get some advice. I run an appliance repair business, been grinding for 4 years doing everything "right" according to SEO guides:

  • Unique content for each service page

  • Proper schema markup

  • Google Business Profile fully optimized

  • Building real local backlinks

  • Getting tons of genuine 5-star reviews

  • NAP consistency everywhere

Then I discover this competitor who's straight up DOMINATING every city in our state with clearly auto-generated pages. Like literally 1000+ pages following the same template:

/service-city-state  
/appliance-repair-[city]-[state]  
/emergency-repair-[city]-[state]

The worst part? Their content is basically identical for every city, just swapping city names. No unique info, no real value, just mass-produced BS. And Google LOVES it! They're ranking top 3 for every damn city.

Meanwhile, I'm here spending weeks writing unique content for each location, doing proper competitor and demographic research, adding actual local information... for what?

I checked in ahrefs - they built these pages 6 months ago and have been crushing it since. Same DA as me, similar backlink profile.

Am I missing something? Should I just give up and do what they're doing? Seems like Google rewards this crap while punishing those who follow their guidelines.

What would you do in my position? Keep grinding the "right" way or switch to mass location pages?

heroappliances a month ago
Continue reading

@digitaldave01 - That's the thing, though - they've been doing this multiple-location SEO strategy for 2+ years. Not a blip in rankings. Their doorway pages just keep performing better.

@marketingtyson - Their DR is actually lower than mine (28 vs my 32). That's what's killing me. And yeah, definitely something fishy with their backlinks. Shows only 50 in ahrefs but they rank everywhere.

@lawseopro - I actually did check traffic... that's the most frustrating part. Used Semrush - they're pulling serious numbers on those auto-generated pages. Like 300-500 visitors per city page monthly. Even their smallest city pages (populations < 10k) get 50+ visitors.

My questions keeping me up at night:

1. Is this actually "doorway pages" if they're providing a real service in those areas? They do have legit GMB profiles in 5 main cities.

2. For multiple location SEO, what's the real line between scale and spam? Like if I service an area, why shouldn't I have pages for each city?

3. Their pages all follow exact same template:

  • City name in title/h1

  • Same content but city swapped

  • Generic city info pulled from Wikipedia

  • Same images across all pages

  • Same service content word for word

HOW is this working in 2025? I have unique content, real location info, actual customer testimonials from each city... and I'm getting crushed.

My traffic in January is down 40% while they keep climbing. At what point do I just say screw it and copy their approach? Because right now my "white hat" strategy is killing my business.

serpsherpa a month ago
(current)

Let me break this "multiple location SEO" thing down wholly based on my 10+ years managing local service businesses. Your situation is more common than you think.

Reality Check: Understanding Local Search

Your competitor isn't winning because of doorway pages - they're winning despite them. Here's what's actually happening:

  1. Google's Local Intent

    • If someone searches "broken pipe repair" + city name, Google WANTS to show a dedicated page for that city

    • A direct match still carries weight in local queries

    • Their pages match user intent perfectly, even if spammy

  2. The Authority Game

    • Your DR comparison is irrelevant for local

    • Focus on your top 5 city pages where you have GMB listings

    • These carry the authority for all location pages

Multiple Location SEO Strategy for 2024

Based on managing 50+ service businesses, here's the proven approach:

1. Hub & Spoke Model

  • Main service page as hub

  • City pages as spokes

  • Internal linking between related services

  • Each city page MUST link to main service

2. Winning City Page Structure

[Expertise Section]
• Service overview
• Unique city statistics/data
• Emergency response time for area
• Local team member highlight

[Proof Section]
• Reviews from that city
• Recent jobs (with photos)
• Local partnerships/certifications

[Trust Section]
• Service area map
• Response time guarantees
• Local phone number
• GMB embed for nearest location

3. The 80/20 Implementation

  • Focus 80% effort on top 20% population cities

  • Create super detailed pages for main service areas

  • Use template for smaller cities BUT with:

    • Unique intro paragraph

    • Real job photos from area

    • Actual customer testimonial

    • Local emergency response time

Technical Implementation Guide

1. URL Structure Best Practices

/locations/[state]/[city]/[service]
Example: /locations/minnesota/minneapolis/broken-pipe-repair

2. Internal Linking Strategy

  • Every city page links to 2-3 nearby city pages

  • All pages link to main service hub

  • Use proper anchor text variation

3. Essential Schema Markup

{
  "@type": "Service",
  "areaServed": {
    "@type": "City",
    "name": "City Name"
  },
  "provider": {
    "@type": "LocalBusiness",
    "name": "Business Name",
    "location": {
      "@type": "Place",
      "address": {
        "addressLocality": "City Name"
      }
    }
  }
}

Strategic Growth Plan

1. Start with Your Core Cities

  • Build detailed, unique pages

  • Get real reviews

  • Add actual job photos

  • Create local resource content

2. Methodical Expansion

  • Add 5 new cities monthly

  • Focus on areas with actual jobs

  • Document real work in each area

  • Build local citations naturally

3. Content Enhancement Schedule

  • Update top 20% pages monthly

  • Add new job photos

  • Fresh customer reviews

  • Local news/events mentions

Why This Approach Wins Long-Term

1. Sustainability

  • Google updates target thin content

  • Quality signals compound over time

  • Real engagement metrics improve

2. Conversion Optimization

  • Detailed pages convert better

  • Local proof builds trust

  • Emergency calls go to right team

3. Business Growth

  • Forces you to document real work

  • Builds actual local presence

  • Creates defensible positions

Conclusion

Don't chase their strategy. Build something that:

  • Helps actual customers

  • Documents real work

  • Scales with your business

  • Survives algorithm updates

Remember: It's not about ranking everywhere. It's about dominating where you actually want to work.