2 sites or one sites: 2 locations

[BobGW]

Hello,

I have a dog training client who is offering services in 2 separate locations. We're looking to be first in the non-local search results and also rank well in google places.

Would it be better to go for 2 separate sites or one site and try to rank for 2 different locations with one site?

There's both local and standard search results when we type in our keywords.

Thanks!

[EGOL]

I would build one site and make it really good.  Use it to dominate one location and shoot for the second with a couple of pages.

Only go for two sites if the single site attack fails.

[DesignbysoapLtd]

Completely agree - just go for the one site so you can maximise your efforts creating one powerful domain. This also means you don't have to worry about duplicating content or creating high quality content for two different sites.

[wojkwasi]

Agree with Egol & John - also, create unique & interesting content for each of the location pages

[BobGW]

OK. I just want to make sure you guys have been able to rank locally for 2 locations. I tried to do this in one of my sites and we can't get up to where we should be with our 2nd location (based on our metrics) with that site.

Also, he's got the exact match domains for both of the two locations' main keywords

(city)dogtraining.com

[MiriamEllis]

Hi Bob,

While I'm not sure while you've not had success with this type of work with your other website, it's definitely possible to rank highly for two locations with one website. Be sure you are following best practices for onsite Local optimization and adhering carefully to the Google Places Quality Guidelines, which are here:

http://support.google.com/places/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=107528

You will need to build reviews, citations and, possibly, links separately for both locations as well as creating great, unique copy for both locations.

*You probably already know this, but just in case you don't, I'll mention that it is essential that you're using 2 different phone numbers for the 2 locations, in addition to the unique addresses. It occurs to me to mention this, because I talk to many Local SEO clients who think they should be redirecting to a single phone number and this hinders there ability to create two unique NAPs.

Hope this helps!

Miriam

[BobGW]

Miriam,

This is making more sense. But how do we show 2 NAPs on one website. Do we have a page on our site for the 2nd location and list a separate NAP there than on our general contact us?

Also, if there is only one office (like my friends who own a center that trains in california and utah both and don't have an office in california anymore), then how does the NAPs work there?

I assume all of this effects the non-local SERP listings as well as the Google Places listings, and that's why we haven't been able to move up in two locations in the non-Places results.

Thanks again!