Company with different branches: Generic Keywords & Localized Keywords: Best practise?

[Cesare.Marchetti]

INITIAL SITUATION: We offer a branded product/service in different cities. We have different contact pages for every city (—> basically just a form and a map, i.e. 100% SHALLOW).

GOAL:
We would like to rank for the branded keyword only (—> more generic search intent) but as well as for branded keyword + cities (—> more transactional search intent) combinations.

REMARK: It would make little sense in my opinion to develop the individual contact pages (for every city) to „full“ pages with real content as there isn’t really specific content for the differenct cities to add.

OPTIONS:
1)

• HOME page: target for the branded keyword
• CONTACT pages (one for each city): target for the branded keyword + city name

• HOME page: target for the branded keyword + all the city names
• CONTACT pages (one for each city): : NO keyword targeting at all

• HOME page: target for the branded keyword + different city names
• CONTACT pages (one for each city): target for the branded keyword + city name
• Add CANONICAL tag to main page ???!!!???

What is best practise? What would you recommend? Is there another solution? I really would like to know your opinion.

Thanks a lot for your hints in advance.
Cheers,
CesareBearbeiten

[JoyHawkins]

I just wanted to clarify, what do you mean by main page? Are you talking about the homepage of the site?

[Cesare.Marchetti]

exactly. i mean the homepage

[MiriamEllis]

Hey Cesare,

Ideally, what you want is:

1. A strong homepage that gives an overview of your company

2. A strong page for each of your core services offerings

3. A strong page for each of your branches.

Your "Contact Us" pages can and should have unique, strong content on them with a bit of effort, and as these are your landing pages for your branches, no effort should be spared here. What can go on these pages? Please read: https://moz.com/blog/overcoming-your-fear-of-local-landing-pages and then let me know if you have any further questions.