One of my local business clients is looking to target the surrounding cities near their location. They are based in City A and have a location page optimized for City A, but they also want to attract leads from neighboring cities such as B, C, and D. For example, if they are a dentist in Chesterfield, VA, they want to rank not only for "Dentist in Chesterfield, VA" but also for Chester, VA and Bellwood, VA. How should I approach this? Is it advisable to create a location page for a neighboring city where the business is not physically located?
It is generally advisable to create separate location pages for neighboring cities, even if your business is not physically located there, to target those areas. This approach helps you attract leads from surrounding locations and expand your reach.
Here’s how you can approach this:
- Target Keywords for Each City: Research relevant keywords for each city (e.g., “Dentist in Chesterfield, VA”, “Dentist in Chester, VA”, “Dentist in Bellwood, VA”). Use tools like Google Keyword Planner or SEMrush to identify high-volume and low-competition keywords.
- Create Dedicated Location Pages: Develop unique location pages for each city you want to target. Ensure these pages include relevant information about your business, services, and contact details specific to that location.
- Optimize Pages for Local SEO: Optimize each location page with the identified keywords for that city. This includes incorporating keywords in the title tag, meta descriptions, headings, and body content.
- Utilize Local Citations: Ensure your business is listed on local directories like Google My Business, Yelp, and Yellow Pages, with consistent information across all platforms.
- Build Local Backlinks: Acquire backlinks from relevant local websites, blogs, and online directories to improve your local search engine ranking.
- Track Performance and Adjust: Monitor the performance of each location page using Google Analytics or other tracking tools. Analyze the data and adjust your strategy based on the results.
By implementing these strategies, you can effectively target neighboring cities and attract new customers from those areas. Remember, consistency and high-quality content are key to success in local SEO.