Showing up Google’s Local Pack and Google Maps is the ultimate prize for most businesses. For many years, using high-quality local SEO services to secure top search positions has been a tried-and-true method for building a brand and securing customers. But what if a business wants to reach customers in another city where they don’t have a physical presence? If targeting consumers in other areas is your goal, creating city pages can deliver the results you’re seeking. And while this strategy won’t get you a higher placement in the Local Pack, you can compete in organic search results for long-tail keyword phrases.
Why Using City Pages in a Local SEO Strategy Matters
But what constitutes a city page? A city page is simply a page on your website that’s been optimized for products and services in a particular geographical location. In local SEO terms, a city page strategy involves creating multiple pages on your website for specific cities where potential customers live or work. As an example, let’s say you’re an accomplished litigation attorney who wants to reach clients beyond your own city (where your office is physically located).
In fact, many businesses do not want to limit their customer base to their city or town. However, Google does use distance as one of its three primary search ranking factors (along with relevance and prominence). We discussed strategies to integrate local SEO into a website before, and even demonstrated the use of city pages. Let’s discuss this strategy more in-depth.
How We Use City Pages to Improve Search Visibility
Over the past six months we’ve been creating city pages for Rocks Digital that are focused on digital marketing agency + [city name]. In doing so, we’ve taken the number one organic position for three cities away from agencies that have their physical offices located in those specific cities. We’ve also moved into the first page of organic search for a few others. And while we are not taking the Local Pack spot since we are not physically located in those cities, we appear in organic search results. The city names we have targeted are redacted intentionally. After all, we don’t want those agencies taking their spots back. 🙂
Of course, our clients also benefit from this strategy, and often outcompete more geographically relevant businesses for their primary industry keywords. Take our Texas allergist client above, who secured a high placement for “Celina allergy doctor.” Although they are located in a nearby city that potential patients are willing to drive to, Google typically would not prioritize them in search results for “Celina.” With the creation of a city page, it optimizes the relevance and prominence metrics enough to be displayed.
Optimized City Pages Can Deliver SEO Results
One reason why SEO-optimized location pages matter for local businesses is the ability to integrate primary product or service keywords along with the address, phone number, map embed (etc.) for the business. City pages can also benefit from this approach, weaving in relevant keywords that show Google that your page meets the searcher’s request.
As seen above, a local SEO client in the urgent care and wellness niche got a top organic listing for a nearby city. This city page demonstrates all the main elements you need to integrate, offering a comprehensive overview of their urgent care services, a relevant title tag, clear meta description, internal links, no duplicate content—and a focus on a single city. If you’re considering hiring search engine optimization services, verify that the agency includes optimized city pages as part of a strategy to reach beyond your city.
Access Top-Rated Local SEO Services for Businesses
At Rocks Digital, we help businesses increase search visibility and secure more customers with personalized local SEO solutions across North Texas, East Texas and throughout the United States. For help with a new website, content writing, SEO and more, speak with our team today. Call (214) 989-7549 or request a website evaluation now.
