Google + / Local for Business. How to SEO ?... Done the basic but no real change.

[PeteC12]

Hi All,

We have set up all of our Google local for business pages which are verified and these link to the relevant branch pages on our website. The branch pages also link back to the relevant google local page. We only appear for one category on the google local pages and we have also done a large number of citations (NAP) across all locations and the text used in each of the google pages is keyword rich and we mention the city in there as well to localise it.

We have a few google + likes and we have used hootsuite to publish the same content across some of the google local pages which links back to our website blog , we are not appearing in local search whereas our competitors seem to be appear for all their branches.

Is there any fundamental tips or things we need to do to def. get up on the rankings.. Or any good articles worth reading ?.. I've had a look but can't seem to see anything relating a google local business bible..

thanks

Pete

[donsilvernail]

How Long has it been since you completed these tasks? What is the url?

[PeteC12]

Hi ,

It's been a good few months since these tasks have been completed.  They just have never ranked particularly well . At example of one of my branch google local for business listings is http://goo.gl/Ta9blZ

the category it's listed under is tool rental service.

Thanks

pete

[ClaytonJ]

Have you embedded any of the Google maps on to your website as well? Just like NAP, Google loves cross references and embedding should help improve rank.

[PeteC12]

Hi John

yes all of our branch pahe's have embedded google maps aswell and nap is consistany between  branch page ,google local page and citations

thanks

Pete

[donsilvernail]

I just checked out many of the branches for your business doing some google searches. some things of notice are titles being to long, breadcrumbs not showing destination page in search results ex(its says "back to tools" not the branch page you are on) Try using long tail keywords, most of your keywords in title tags are broad such (access platform hire) try adding more local or region based to start with. You may just have competition issues with your keywords, being the optimizations are so young. The page you have posted using the  open site explorer tool is showing a page authority of 1 with no links pointed to it. The page is very young. You may just need time for your strategy to develop. Keep building links to your branch pages not just the main domain. In time things will turn around. Make sure you use google web master tools and check the queries under search analytic s for keyword opportunities.

[PeteC12]

Many thanks Donald,

Yes, the branch pages are only 8 months old or so . I will take a look at the things you have suggested. Good point regarding the back to tools link , I could change that to be more localized depending on what branch you are on. The title tags should be picking up the city name in there as well but I will investigate.

My citations go to the main tool page as oppose to the branch pages. I guess , i should link them to the branch page instead or a mixture of both.

Many Thanks

Pete

[MiriamEllis]

Hi Peter,

I recommend you do a quick run-through of this post:

https://moz.com/blog/troubleshooting-local-ranking-failures

[PeteC12]

HI Miriam,

Many thanks for the article link. I will take a read

thanks

Pete

[MiriamEllis]

Sure, Pete. One thing ... obviously, we've had a shift in emphasis toward the user-as-centroid vs. the industry centroids mentioned in the above blog post. Thought I should mention.

[PeteC12]

Many thanks Miriam,

Pete