Which is the better Naming Scheme for "Subdirectory" for Local City Landing Pages?

Campbell Mcarthur · Apr 29, 2015

Looking for some insight from Local Search Experts on URL Format for City Pages

Good afternoon on and all,

I was wondering if I could please get some input from some of the local Search experts on this forum on what would be the best way to structure the URL String for Local City Landing pages in order to make them the most helpful to searchers and also to help prevent them from appearing too spammy to Google.

I would like some honest opinions if any of you think these URL String Examples would be deemed "Over Optimize" in regards to Pigeon and the other recent algorithm changes?

Here is my website and I will be making the "Areas We Serve" accessible site wide.

My website> www.pcmedicsoncall.com/

For my local business, I provide Same Day Onsite Computer Services in Wilmington, NC and Surrounding Townships and I cater to busy people and business professionals and provide them with a "Personalized" Concierge Same Day Service and I am a Service ONLY not a Drop OFF Computer Repair Shop.

Here are URL Examples which do you think would fair better having the City/State/ Service or would it be better the other way around with having Service/City/state ?

Example #1
/areas-we-serve/porters-neck-nc-onsite-computer-services/

Example #2
/areas-we-serve/onsite-computer-services-porters-neck-nc/

Example #3
/areas-we-serve/computer-repair-porters-neck-nc/

Another question please:

Some time ago I had gotten opinions on creating a Local City Page for the City that my Business is Located in which is WILMINGTON, NC and many of you said that it cannot hurt and it would probably help increase my local visibility. Well, after a year later, to this day despite the fact that google has indeed indexed this page, it does not show up in local search results even when checking PAGE 10 it is NOWHERE in the search results even when checking from 3 towns away or by means of using a proxy.

Should this page be removed in light of what I stated above???

Here is the page that I am referring to. www.pcmedicsoncall.com/computer-repair-wilmington-nc/

Thank you everyone.

-Cam

joedillon68 · Apr 29, 2015

Re: Looking for some insight from Local Search Experts on URL Format for City Pages

Hi Campbell:

We use a combo approach where we use city and state for our URL:
http://www.equitablemediation.com/bridgewater-nj

Then we use more detailed info in our Title Tag:
Divorce Mediation Bridgewater - Equitable Mediation Bridgewater NJ 08807

We also have some content on our page that is key phase specific around divorce and mediation

And we use schema markup.

I guess I feel if we cover all the bases in one way or another, we have the best chance at local success. So far, it has seemed to work as we regularly show up in the map pack so that's good!

Take Care,
Joe

Campbell Mcarthur · Apr 29, 2015

Re: Looking for some insight from Local Search Experts on URL Format for City Pages

Hey Joe and thank you for your input.

is anyone else of the mindset that it safer to not include the service in the URL out of concern for over optimization penalty or possible future one?

I tell you, I have been doing SEO for 7 years now and quite honestly google has become an internet dictator to such an extent that I am unsure on what is or not safe to do these days out of fear of being penalized to some extent or another.

Anyone else care to weigh in on the MILLION DOLLAR Local City Pages URL structure/dilemma?

Campbell Mcarthur · Apr 30, 2015

Which is the better Naming Scheme for "Subdirectory" for Local City Landing Pages?

OK, after much debate I have come down to 2 choices for naming of my sub-directory/ parent page for my local city landing pages.

I would like some opinions from the local search gurus on what you feel would be best in terms usability and future proofing.

I use wordpress so there are limitations to what I can and cannot do here in terms of Parent/Child page structuring and also I need to take into acccount the URL Length so that it wont get cut off.

I own a local computer repair business in Wilmington, NC and I only provide OnSite Services.

Here is a link to my website: http://www.pcmedicsoncall.com

Here are the 2 choices that I have narrowed it down to.

The Parent Page will be an overview of the Onsite Services that I provide and it will have links on it to the individual City Pages

URL Structure Examples: (Which do you think is better and why?)

NOTE: I have provided the local town with the highest charachter count so that you could see if the URL string may end up being to long and get cut off going with Example #1

Example #1
/onsite-computer-services/wrightsville-beach-nc/<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w

unctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w

oNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w

ontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w

ontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]-->

Example #2
/areas-we-serve/wrightsville-beach-nc/<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w

unctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w

oNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w

ontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w

ontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]-->

BTW.. as apoint of interest, I am the Owner/Developer of the website and I designed the Silo Site Architecture and the website is already built out with individual service pages that I will link to from each individual City Landing Page (Please have a look at the site Architecture)

Thank you.

-Cam

Linda Buquet · May 1, 2015

Re: Which is the better Naming Scheme for "Subdirectory" for Local City Landing Pages

Hi Campbell,

Moved your last post which you posted as a new thread into this one because it was all for help on the same site. PLUS moved to thread from general discussion to the help section since it's not a general Q and is a post for help on a specific listing.

Carpal is screaming. Can't post any more tonight. Hopefully someone will give you feedback tomorrow.

Campbell Mcarthur · May 3, 2015

Re: Which is the better Naming Scheme for "Subdirectory" for Local City Landing Pages

Good afternoon and happy Sunday,

Linda, considering that no one has bothered replying to my thread, would you mind sharing your opinion with me in regards to the question that I asked in the comment above your last post? I would appreciate it immensely and look forward to hearing your thoughts on this.

Thank you Linda.

-Cam

Linda Buquet · May 3, 2015

Re: Which is the better Naming Scheme for "Subdirectory" for Local City Landing Pages

Sorry Cam, not my specialty and carpal still killing so can't type much.

But I'd get rid of most of that and just have domain/city like Joe said.

I think /areas-we-serve/porters-neck-nc-onsite-computer-services/
looks too long and spammy. And could trip a filter and looks like KW stuffing.

For example Roto-Rooter ranks pretty well with tons of locations throughout US. Their URL structure is just: rotorooter DOT com/cleveland/

Campbell Mcarthur · May 3, 2015

Re: Which is the better Naming Scheme for "Subdirectory" for Local City Landing Pages

Thank you for replying back to me Linda I truly appreciate it. Yes, I have hesitated up till now because of this very fear of the URL Structure being spammy or becoming such in Google eyes in the not so distant future.

For the USER in mind, having the "Service" and City/State in the URL is definitely in their best interest but despite this obvious truth, at the end of the day, google cares not one wit about the USER they only care about their Agenda and their bottom line and doing what is in GOOGLE best interest. To me, that is a dictator not an asset to the online community or common end user.

Once again, I appreciate you taking the time to reply back to me.

Thank you.

-Cam

Linda Buquet · May 3, 2015

Re: Which is the better Naming Scheme for "Subdirectory" for Local City Landing Pages

I don't think having the "Service" and City/State in the URL is helping the user at all.
I think you are trying to get "Service" and City/State in the URL to help you rank.

But the main thing you need to rank is "Service" and City/State in the title tag, H1, image alt and all of that. Don't think it's necessary or advised to stuff all that into a URL.

I think the page title is the main thing the user will look at not a big long URL string.

Pinkape404 · May 4, 2015

Re: Looking for some insight from Local Search Experts on URL Format for City Pages

Great thread! to the op - I see your creative / marketing strategy vis-a-via the "onsite" and "concierge" style of services - that's great! But when searching for a computer repair service, these are not the parameters I am initially looking for. I'm sure many of us would jump on it as a deciding factor between you and Botch Job Computer Repairs, but id do some research into keywords. Also now that I'm putting on my marketing hat I'd like to suggest that you cross market and tap into the search for new computers and possibly sell them or use it as a marketing strategy to convince user that their "ole toaster oven may still have some juice in it - on demand tune up, spend the savings on your girlfriend".

CodyBaird · May 10, 2015

Re: Looking for some insight from Local Search Experts on URL Format for City Pages

Cam I will let you take a peak at how I do this. These examples are for single location business. There are additional considerations for multi location.

Domain.com/state/city/service

Try this instead:
Yoursite.com/nc/wrightsville-beach/onsite-computer-service

I'm not guessing this is a structure that i have used for years in many cities and industries.

It is based on the way google indexes folders. You don't want a geo and service in a folder, separate them.

Here is one client to look at if everyone that reads this would please not bounce around from page to page (pogosticking) and mess up our on page analytics.

Safamilydentalcare.com

CodyBaird · May 10, 2015

Re: Looking for some insight from Local Search Experts on URL Format for City Pages

One more point that may go unsaid - /areas-we-serve/ is redundant and a waste of 55 (mobile) 70 (desktop) characters that will be visible. Get to the point even with urls and page titles putting the most important geo and service data first.

Which is the better Naming Scheme for "Subdirectory" for Local City Landing Pages?

Campbell Mcarthur

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joedillon68

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Campbell Mcarthur

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Campbell Mcarthur

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Linda Buquet

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Campbell Mcarthur

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Linda Buquet

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Campbell Mcarthur

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Linda Buquet

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Pinkape404

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CodyBaird

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