Location Pages & Embedded Maps

Started by CommanderCool3000, 08-16-2020, 06:12:50

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CommanderCool3000Topic starter

Hi, I'm working on my sites location pages and I have a few questions that I'm hoping someone might be able to help with.

We're doing pretty well in search results for our immediate local area which is fantastic, but we actually have the potential to service quite a large area - about 700 kms in total to the north & south up and down the coast. Out of a multitude of localities along this route, I've identified about 30 that we would like to target.

(Our GMB is set to cover that service area with no shopfront address.)

Firstly is that too many, and should I refine the list further?  Or is it fine to have 30 different location pages?

Also:

Embedded Google Maps
I started adding these to each location page but then came across the article below saying that google doesn't like this and may penalise it so I took them off.
Is this article correct and would it apply to a small business targeting 30 localities within a few hours drive of our base?  Perhaps this is more in regards to large businesses or dodgy sites trying to target thousands of locations as described in the article?  Or should I play it safe and leave out the embedded google maps in all except for our main contact page?

https://www.gobluemedia.com/blog/google-maps-seo-rankings/?fbclid=IwAR0c70OshsvEctVGWIByUUlOw-NlWXMQ6NhrD_WpRdROmJBB9-pxDzuVfRg


Meta Title & Description
Can meta title & meta description be mostly copy and pasted?  Can each location page (x 30) have the same meta title/description with only the location name different each time?

Unique Page Content
Can page content be partly copy/pasted or does it need to be 100% unique?
For example, could I have the majority of the first paragraph pretty much the same (with the location name changed) and then the second paragraph is info relevant to that particular locality?  I feel I might struggle to come up with unique copy for pretty much the same page 30 different times...

In terms of unique content, my plan is to use the location pages as a bit of a directory for other suppliers in our industry, (complimentary, not competition).  Describing the area and the other businesses that might be useful to clients or whom we have worked with in the past. I feel this might be deemed by google as useful content?  Is this a good way of going?

Thanks!
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brookeroberts7

What is an embedded map?
Google Maps has a "Share or embed map" feature that provides users with the map's HTML code so that they can insert it into their website's code. You can embed a map view image, a street view image, or even specific directions for a route.

A location page, also known as a local landing page, is a way to target long-tail, location-specific terms. These are most appropriate for service-area businesses and multi-location brick and mortars.


Lishmalinyjames

Google Maps has a "Share or embed map" feature that provides users with the map's HTML code so that they can insert it into their website's code. You can embed a map view image, a street view image, or even specific directions for a route.

dark404

#3
Having 30 different location pages should be fine if each page is targeting a specific locality. However, it's important to ensure that the content on each page is unique and relevant to that particular location.

Regarding embedded Google Maps, while the article you mentioned talks about potential penalties for using them, it's primarily focused on large businesses or websites trying to target a vast number of locations. Since you're targeting a specific set of localities within a few hours' drive of your base, it's unlikely that using embedded maps on your location pages would cause any issues. However, to play it safe, you could consider including them only on your main contact page.

For meta titles and descriptions, it's generally not recommended to copy and paste them across multiple pages. Ideally, each page should have unique meta titles and descriptions that accurately reflect the content of that particular page. However, you can follow a consistent format for these elements and include the location name to differentiate each page.

When it comes to page content, it's best to have as much unique content as possible. While you may reuse certain parts of the content, such as the first paragraph with the location name changed, try to make each page distinct by including information relevant to that specific locality. Adding a directory of other suppliers in your industry can be a useful addition to the page and should be seen positively by Google as long as it provides value to your visitors.

Overall, aim to create unique and relevant content for each location page while maintaining consistency in elements like meta titles and descriptions. Let me know if there's anything else I can assist you with!