Optimizing 2 identical sites for different States
-
We have 2 websites that are about 99% similar in content, the only difference being the references to the State (CO and IN) and location information. Any recommendations on meta information or other ways to make sure we are not penalized for duplicate content? Thanks in advance!
-
Meghan,
The main focus should be around having as much original content in the sites as possible. If you create future content, don't duplicate that content too, be creative and unique when writing about the same topic. Put different ideas into it, make one 5 Tips and other 9 Tips so to speak or How To and Things to Know twists. Applying a lot of what Jeff mentioned above will be beneficial as well. Those were all great points! All the best in your launches!
Patrick
-
Meghan -
This is a pretty common occurrence with companies that have locations in different areas... especially if the ownership is slightly different.
What I would do is add as much unique content to each site, including:
- Photographs of each location, inside, outside, merchandise.
- Directions to the location from different areas. For example, for the Colorado location, give driving directions from DIA (airport), downtown Denver, Boulder, Grand Junction and Colorado Springs.
- Customer testimonials that are unique to each location.
- Local resources in each area. For example, if the location sells picture frames, put together a list of photographers in the area who are able to create amazing, award-winning images to fill those frames. Get images from those photographers to add to the site, and testimonials, etc. Another example might be if the location is a hotel or motel... you could list the "must see" attractions, restaurants around the business.
- Try to make sure your page names are different. Instead of /about-us/ or /about.html for the "About page" name this page /about-Denver-Colorado-businessname/ and /about-Indiana-Business-Name/ to keep page names as different as possible.
- Use a slightly different methodology for Title and Description tags as well.
- If possible, use different image names, sizes and alt-tag description for the images in the navigation and throughout the two different sites.
- Consider using RDFa microtagging to keep the sites Name, Address, Phone # information (NAP) separate and distinct.
- Consider using different Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Pinterst pages to keep things separate.
- Consider using different hosting providers to keep the C-blocks as separate as you can. You could try hosting one site in Indiana and one in Colorado, or just use two different hosting companies.
Hope this helps!
-- Jeff
Got a burning SEO question?
Subscribe to Moz Pro to gain full access to Q&A, answer questions, and ask your own.
Browse Questions
Explore more categories
-
Moz Tools
Chat with the community about the Moz tools.
-
SEO Tactics
Discuss the SEO process with fellow marketers
-
Community
Discuss industry events, jobs, and news!
-
Digital Marketing
Chat about tactics outside of SEO
-
Research & Trends
Dive into research and trends in the search industry.
-
Support
Connect on product support and feature requests.
Related Questions
-
Right hand side Google Local profile image pulling from 3rd party site
Hello! When googling our company's name, the Google Local profile comes up on the right hand side with the reviews, address, phone number, etc. Those are all fine but the main photo being used is not the one specified in the Google My Business profile but it seems to be pulling from a 3rd party site that recently added a link and an image to our website. Why is this happening and can we specify the image that shows up? Your help will be very much appreciated!!!
Image & Video Optimization | | uniseo10 -
Is having a Video important for SEO or is it the time-on-site that's important?
Assuming it's a relevant video, is having a video on your landing page considered a good SEO tactic in and of itself? Meaning, when google crawls the page, will they say "good job, there's a video here." Or is having a video on your landing page something that helps you improve on other ranking factors like increased time on site? So, it would not be the video itself google "likes" but rather the increased User Experience factors that went up. (Crossing my fingers I explained this well enough) Thanks for any input, Ruben
Image & Video Optimization | | KempRugeLawGroup0 -
Is getting listed on local directories useful for an online web site?
I recently came across Yext. Seems like a convenient service to get listed on local directories. Why I thought this would be useful are the backlinks, not necessary local searches. Are link juice good enough to justify spending the time to get listed? And what about getting listed on BBB.org?
Image & Video Optimization | | huisjames0 -
Feedback on this site
Can I get some feedback on this site's seo efforts? I would like to know what they are doing right and what can be improved, especially the ones under the Locations menu. Link
Image & Video Optimization | | Atomicx0 -
Finding Resources for Content Marketing with a Difference?
We have been creating written content for a client over the last year with great success. Locating websites across the internet to publish our articles was not difficult, just a little time consuming. Now we have decided to take this a step further by creating a comic strip for the same client. The only problem is, we are having great difficulty finding a site that would be suitable for publishing this content. Its not an infographic, or slideshow, or video and its not a written article. The usual search operators are no good as this is our first attempt and REAL comic geeks are so serious about the art im scared we'd be pulled apart. Does anyone know of any resources which would publish this type of visual content? Thanks for your help! Hayley
Image & Video Optimization | | Silkstream0 -
Video Optimization (micro data)
Hello, people. I have a questions regarding on Video Optimization using microformat. As you all know, Google, Yahoo and Bing now support Schema. I want to use microdata or micro format to add explanation for my video. I am wondering now... that Schema has "VideoObject" micro data. Also Google support "facebook share" for video. Which one should I use for my video? Can anyone tell me difference between above two? HELP PEOPLE~! PLEASE!
Image & Video Optimization | | Artience0 -
Optimizing Google Places
Hey everyone, Trying to improve my Google Places page for the Pet Medical Center of Las Vegas but am having trouble knowing where to start. There doesn't seem to be a whole lot that can be customized. Maybe I am missing something. http://maps.google.com/maps/place?hl=en&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&biw=1370&bih=718&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=pet+medical+center+of+las+vegas&fb=1&gl=us&hq=pet+medical+center+of&hnear=0x80beb782a4f57dd1:0x3accd5e6d5b379a3,Las+Vegas,+NV&cid=13431404354265657899 Does the small description act like the SERP in Google searches? Trying to rank for Vet Las Vegas. Any ideas?
Image & Video Optimization | | PMC-3120870