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.<h3>Reality Check: Understanding Local Search</h3>Your competitor isn't winning because of doorway pages - they're winning despite them. Here's what's actually happening:<ol><li>Google's Local Intent<ul><li>If someone searches "broken pipe repair" + city name, Google WANTS to show a dedicated page for that city</li><li>A direct match still carries weight in local queries</li><li>Their pages match user intent perfectly, even if spammy</li></ul></li><li>The Authority Game<ul><li>Your DR comparison is irrelevant for local</li><li>Focus on your top 5 city pages where you have GMB listings</li><li>These carry the authority for all location pages</li></ul></li></ol><h3>Multiple Location SEO Strategy for 2024</h3>Based on managing 50+ service businesses, here's the proven approach:1. Hub & Spoke Model<ul><li>Main service page as hub</li><li>City pages as spokes</li><li>Internal linking between related services</li><li>Each city page MUST link to main service</li></ul>2. Winning City Page Structure<pre><code>[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 </code></pre>3. The 80/20 Implementation<ul><li>Focus 80% effort on top 20% population cities</li><li>Create super detailed pages for main service areas</li><li>Use template for smaller cities BUT with:<ul><li>Unique intro paragraph</li><li>Real job photos from area</li><li>Actual customer testimonial</li><li>Local emergency response time</li></ul></li></ul><h3>Technical Implementation Guide</h3>1. URL Structure Best Practices<pre><code>/locations/[state]/[city]/[service] Example: /locations/minnesota/minneapolis/broken-pipe-repair </code></pre>2. Internal Linking Strategy<ul><li>Every city page links to 2-3 nearby city pages</li><li>All pages link to main service hub</li><li>Use proper anchor text variation</li></ul>3. Essential Schema Markup<pre><code>{ "@type": "Service", "areaServed": { "@type": "City", "name": "City Name" }, "provider": { "@type": "LocalBusiness", "name": "Business Name", "location": { "@type": "Place", "address": { "addressLocality": "City Name" } } } } </code></pre><h3>Strategic Growth Plan</h3>1. Start with Your Core Cities<ul><li>Build detailed, unique pages</li><li>Get real reviews</li><li>Add actual job photos</li><li>Create local resource content</li></ul>2. Methodical Expansion<ul><li>Add 5 new cities monthly</li><li>Focus on areas with actual jobs</li><li>Document real work in each area</li><li>Build local citations naturally</li></ul>3. Content Enhancement Schedule<ul><li>Update top 20% pages monthly</li><li>Add new job photos</li><li>Fresh customer reviews</li><li>Local news/events mentions</li></ul><h3>Why This Approach Wins Long-Term</h3>1. Sustainability<ul><li>Google updates target thin content</li><li>Quality signals compound over time</li><li>Real engagement metrics improve</li></ul>2. Conversion Optimization<ul><li>Detailed pages convert better</li><li>Local proof builds trust</li><li>Emergency calls go to right team</li></ul>3. Business Growth<ul><li>Forces you to document real work</li><li>Builds actual local presence</li><li>Creates defensible positions</li></ul><h3>Conclusion</h3>Don't chase their strategy. Build something that:<ul><li>Helps actual customers</li><li>Documents real work</li><li>Scales with your business</li><li>Survives algorithm updates</li></ul>Remember: It's not about ranking everywhere. It's about dominating where you actually want to work. | serpsherpa

heroappliances 10 months ago

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?

Like ..

serpsherpa 10 months 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:

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
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.

Like ..