- Set up each location properly: Install Yoast Local SEO, add all business locations, and configure unique details like addresses, phone numbers, opening hours, and Google Maps links.
- Create location-specific landing pages: Each location should have its own page with NAP details, services, local images, testimonials, and meta optimization to target the right audience.
- Optimize metadata and structured data: Use Yoast Local SEO to manage meta titles, descriptions, and schema markup for each location to improve search visibility and appear in rich results.
- Encourage and manage customer reviews: Actively collect, respond to, and monitor reviews for each location to boost rankings and build trust with local customers.
- Produce unique, location-focused content: Blog posts, service pages, and FAQs should be tailored for each location to avoid duplicate content and engage local audiences.
- Monitor and update performance regularly: Track traffic, rankings, click-throughs, and conversions, and keep location pages updated with new services, images, promotions, and holiday hours.
Juggling SEO for a business with a few locations can be a real headache—way trickier than just handling one spot. The good news? The Yoast Local SEO plugin has some great features to make it a breeze. We’re going to dive into the Yoast Local SEO feature to show you how to optimize your local visibility across multiple locations and improve your search rankings.
What Is Yoast Local SEO and Why Does It Matter?
Yoast Local SEO is an extension of the popular Yoast SEO plugin that focuses on improving your website’s performance in local search results. While traditional SEO targets broader searches, local SEO helps potential customers find your business when they search for services near them. For multi-location businesses, this is crucial because each location has its own audience and search patterns.
The plugin helps you:
- Optimize Google My Business listings
- Add structured data (schema) to each location
- Manage location-specific SEO elements like addresses, phone numbers, and opening hours
Without a tool like Yoast, manually optimizing multiple locations can be tedious and prone to errors.
How Does Local SEO Work for Multiple Locations?
When a user searches for a service near them, search engines aim to provide the most relevant local results. For businesses with multiple locations, each location must be optimized separately. This includes:
- NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number) consistency
- Location-specific landing pages
- Accurate business hours
- Localized content and meta data
Understanding how to do local SEO for multiple locations is essential because each location has its own audience and search patterns. Proper optimization ensures that Google shows the right location to the right users, improving visibility and increasing the likelihood of conversions.
Failing to optimize each location properly can lead to poor rankings or duplicate content issues. Yoast Local SEO helps address these challenges by providing a centralized system to manage all your locations efficiently.
Setting Up Yoast Local SEO for Multiple Locations
Before diving into optimization, you need to set up the plugin correctly. Follow these steps:
1. Install and Activate the Plugin
Yoast Local SEO is an add-on for the standard Yoast SEO plugin. Ensure you have the main plugin installed first. Then, purchase, install, and activate the Local SEO extension.
2. Add Your Locations
Once activated, you can start adding each location:
- Go to Local SEO > Locations in your WordPress dashboard
- Click Add New Location
- Enter the business name, address, phone number, and other essential details
- Optionally, include store images, logos, and service descriptions
3. Configure Location-Specific Settings
Each location allows you to:
- Set unique opening hours
- Add location-specific keywords
- Link to Google Maps
Properly filling out these fields ensures your listings are complete and ready for search engines.
How to Create Location Landing Pages
A common mistake for multi-location businesses is using one generic page for all locations. Google prefers unique content for each location. Here’s how to do it effectively:
- Create a separate page for each business location
- Include NAP details, services, and a brief introduction to the location
- Add local images and testimonials if available
- Embed a Google Map for each location
- Use Yoast Local SEO’s meta box to optimize each page for local search terms
Why Location Landing Pages Matter
Location landing pages help Google understand where your business operates and make it easier for customers to find the right store. They also allow you to target keywords like “plumber in [city]” or “best pizza near [neighborhood].”
Optimizing Metadata for Multiple Locations
Yoast Local SEO makes it easy to handle meta titles and descriptions for multiple locations. Here are best practices:
- Include the city or neighborhood in both the title and description
- Keep meta titles under 60 characters for search engine visibility
- Meta descriptions should be concise, around 150–160 characters, with clear calls-to-action
- Avoid duplicate meta titles across locations
Using Structured Data and Schema
Structured data helps search engines understand your business information better. Yoast Local SEO automatically adds schema for each location, including:
- Business type
- Address
- Phone number
- Opening hours
- Geo-coordinates
This helps your business appear in rich results, such as Google Maps listings and knowledge panels.
Managing Reviews and Ratings
Online reviews play a significant role in local SEO. Yoast Local SEO integrates review information for each location, but you should also:
- Encourage customers to leave reviews on Google My Business
- Respond promptly to reviews, both positive and negative
- Monitor review platforms for consistent quality and accuracy
Positive reviews boost local rankings and help potential customers trust your brand.
Tips for Multi-Location SEO Content
Content for multiple locations should feel unique and relevant. Consider:
- Blog posts highlighting local events or news per location
- Service pages tailored to the needs of each area
- Customer testimonials specific to the city or neighborhood
- Frequently asked questions about each location
Avoid duplicating content across locations. Google can penalize duplicate pages, and it reduces the value of your SEO efforts.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even with Yoast Local SEO, businesses make mistakes that hurt their local rankings:
- Using one page for all locations instead of separate landing pages
- Inconsistent NAP information across sites and directories
- Neglecting meta titles and descriptions for each location
- Not embedding maps or adding local images
- Ignoring reviews or failing to respond to them
By addressing these mistakes, you can improve visibility and provide a better experience for customers searching locally.
How to Track Local SEO Performance
Measuring success is critical. Use tools like Google Analytics, Google Search Console, and local rank tracking tools to monitor:
- Traffic to each location’s landing page
- Search rankings for location-specific keywords
- Click-through rates on meta descriptions
- Conversions from local search users
Yoast Local SEO helps with on-page optimization, but tracking performance ensures your strategy is effective across all locations.
Advanced Features in Yoast Local SEO
For businesses with multiple locations, advanced features can save time and improve results:
- Bulk Editing Locations: Quickly update details across multiple locations
- Internal Linking Suggestions: Link location pages to relevant blog posts or services
- Local SEO Analysis: Yoast provides scores and recommendations for each page
- Integration with Google Maps: Automatically embed maps for each location
These tools make managing multiple locations much easier than doing everything manually.
How Often Should You Update Location Pages?
Keeping your location pages current is essential:
- Update opening hours during holidays or seasonal changes
- Add new services or promotions
- Refresh images and testimonials to reflect recent activity
- Monitor and update schema information when changes occur
Regular updates keep both customers and search engines informed, which can positively impact rankings.
Wrapping It Up
Using Yoast Local SEO effectively for multiple locations means creating unique landing pages for each location, optimizing metadata and structured data, encouraging and managing customer reviews, and regularly updating and monitoring performance. Multi-location SEO doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
With the right setup and ongoing management, Yoast Local SEO can help your business appear prominently in local searches, attract more customers, and grow your online presence.
