Should (and could) a nation wide store compete on local terms?

[BeytzNet]

For example:

Can I create a page per each store with it's location including a map? Would it assist in local results?
Are there any other ways to "push" local results for a nation wide site?

Random example:
For a computer store selling computers:
"buy computers NJ"
"buy computers Boston"

Thanks

[dotfly]

I can tell you from my experiences within Google Germany: a friend of mine is SEO for the domain vlh.de

They are targeting every interested user who has questions and/or needs help with their taxes... although they are operating nationwide, this is a local business because they are seeking for help or assistance within an acceptable range of their residence. (You do not need to understand german to see waht they`ve built within their site structure)

The local pages they`ve created look similar but they have several variations and they are all listed in the local search. They also focused on local keywords and the development of the site looks brilliant... so just go ahead with your idea, it can help you to be found within the local search BUT keep in mind the avoid duplicate content...

[MiriamEllis]

Hi Beytznet,

Some questions:

1. Is your national business virtual (like an e-commerce website) or does it have actual, physical locations where face-to-face business is transacted with customers?

2. If you have physical locations, does each have a unique address, not shared by any other business?

3. Does each physical location have its own local area code phone number?

Some advice:

If you do have staffed physical locations at which in-person transactions happen at unique addresses with unique local phone numbers, then you qualify for inclusion in Google's local index. Think of a chain store like Whole Foods. It has a corporate website, but also has a local listing for each of its locations. This would be the model any such chain would follow.

Appearing the local results will depend first on the fact that Google already shows local results for your queries. If Google doesn't already provide a local pack of results for your queries, there is no way to prompt them to do so. If Google does show local results for your desired queries, then you must pursue high rankings via a variety of efforts including, but not limited to:

1. Running a strong, excellent website that works to build authority

2. Creating a unique landing page on the website for each of your physical stores, with the complete name, address, phone, preferably encoded in Schema markup

3. Creating a violation-free Google+ Local page for each of your stores and linking each listing to its respective landing page on the website

4. Creating citations for each of the stores on third party local business directories.

5. Earning reviews

6. Earning links, doing social outreach, video marketing etc.

If you do not meet all of the requirements I've mentioned, you do not qualify. You can read the complete Google Places Quality Guidelines here: https://support.google.com/places/answer/107528?hl=en

Hope this helps!