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Yoast Local SEO Multiple Locations

Sets up one WordPress site to publish unique, structured pages for each physical branch while sharing consistent business data and schema across locations.

Many businesses create one generic contact page for all branches instead of separate location pages, missing the chance to rank each branch locally.

Key points

  • Enable multiple locations in Yoast Local SEO settings to activate per-branch pages.
  • Set a primary location, typically your headquarters, to anchor shared business data, a critical step in local SEO for multiple locations.
  • Create a dedicated location page for each branch with unique, city-specific content.
  • Build a locations hub page that lists all branches and links to each full location page.

Three branches, three location pages

A coffee chain with three branches used Yoast Local SEO to create separate pages for each location, a core location SEO tactic. Each page included unique neighbourhood content and specific opening hours. The hub page listed all branches. Within two months, each page ranked in the top three for its city's coffee search, and overall organic traffic from local queries increased by 40%.

Three common mistakes with multiple locations

  • One contact page for all Using a single contact page for every branch instead of separate location pages prevents each branch from ranking locally and confuses search engines. Create separate location pages for each branch.
  • Duplicate content across pages Copying the same text and only swapping the city name reduces local relevance and can be seen as thin content. Write unique content for each location.
  • No primary location set Forgetting to set a primary location can create inconsistent schema and NAP data across branches. Always designate a primary location in the plugin settings.

Three essential elements for a location page

  • Core NAP data Each location page must include the branch's name, address, phone number, and opening hours. This NAP data is crucial for local search visibility.
  • Unique local content Write original content for each page that reflects the specific city or area, such as local events. Avoid duplicating content across pages.
  • Location-specific schema Yoast Local SEO uses structured data to help search engines understand location-specific information. For local SEO help, ensure schema is properly configured.

Common questions

What is local SEO in digital marketing?

Local SEO optimises a business's online presence to appear in search results for queries tied to a specific place, such as a city or neighbourhood.

How does local SEO differ from general SEO?

Local SEO differs from national SEO in that it targets location-specific queries like 'near me', while national SEO focuses on broader, non-location-specific searches.

Sources

  1. Yoast Help: How to set a primary location in Local SEO Explains how to designate a primary location in the plugin settings.
  2. Yoast: Local landing pages and how to create them Guide on creating effective local landing pages for each branch.
  3. Search Engine Journal: The Complete Guide To Local SEO For Multiple Locations Comprehensive overview of strategies for multi-location local SEO.
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