SEO Location Pages - ALT Image Tag Question

[SarahCollins]

Hello Guru's,

I have a Hire Website whereby you can rent products online.

I have created different Location pages for these which are in essence the same pages  page but with different location specific urls, title tags  , on page content etc etc. This helps me to rank for local search.

These location pages also display 20 products per page.

My question is  Should I make the ALT IMAGE TEXT location specific for each of the 20 products  . Example -  Steam Cleaner Rental in "location" or should I only amend a few of the Atl Image Texts to be location specific.

I don't want to come accross as spammy in google eyes but I also don't want to be seen as having duplicate content , images etc etc

What do you think ?

thanks

Sarah.

[SarahCollins]

I have approx. 1500 products which can be hired from 80
locations so what I have done it first split the products up into approximately 20
categories and then 8 to 10 subcategories per category and then have 80 location pages for each Category and sub category.

Each location page also have a Google Business Local listing
as well.

So , yes there is some degree of duplication as I have 20
categories x 80 cities and then least 8 Sub Categories per category x 80 cities

I have written unique content for the more popular cities on the category and sub category landing pages etc but as you can see, it would take me
years to write complete unique content everywhere… My site is currently 50K plus pages.

I can’t see any other way of doing it ?

[littlesthobo]

If you have several duplicate pages (with the exception of location), I do think you run the risk of being penalised for duplicate content.

Does each local area actually have a branch or is it all run from one location, with all the additioanl pages being written to garner the local belief that the service exists as a 'local service'?  I've seen businesses do this and it doesn;t feel right to me.  I agree with the previous poster that you'd be better building a national brand that services different parts of the country rather than making it look like you are a network of branches.

If your client does have several branches/franchises, I'd be tempted to make every page unique and about that local service.  Use images specific to each location and title and alt tag accordingly.

[BlueprintMarketing]

if you need a real expert to write your content and you do to pull this off  my recommendation would be somebody like James Agate he is a content genius and here's his website & information.

http://skyrocketseo.co.uk/

http://linkbuilding.tv/linkbuilding/james-agate-garrett-french-talk-link-prospecting/

[BlueprintMarketing]

Hello Sarah,

I honestly think MS you made that content 100% original and very different from any of the words used to describe the exact same product you are describing prior Google may come down hard on you.

Alt image text is anchor text for images think of it like that. There is probably even know you used different words to describe the same products a lot of similar words which Google's   algorithm is able to pick up hopefully you did not just spend the content.

What you really want to do today is create a brand and have that brand rank all over the United States. I know it sounds a huge task and believe me it is but you're using location specific URLs on top of selling the same product, not trying to scare you I'm trying to get you to focus on one domain for these things.

If you do have the exact same image and you put the same anchor text and it or even Medea data yes they could be construed as duplicate content or the fact is if you posted these sites on the same hosting company or hosting account you most likely could share an IP block you needed a new C block IP address for each website or you will be caught by Google very quickly.

I think there's nothing really wrong with what you did unless you spun the content.

advice to you is billed one website and try these as well but focus on that one site that has great on page SEO using lots schemas and list the places where you work naturally in the content and that would mean creating a lot of content. I think if you go for strong site that will keep up with the national index you will fare the best. As Google places is extremely strong 90% of search in certain cases Dependent on what you are selling.

I am going to speak with a friend of mine regarding this and if they can convince me different which I don't believe they can I will let you know but seriously think of one good site for it the entire United States and Google likes Brands with the work you're putting in rewriting all these you can do a lot more with one website.

I hope I have been of help and I really hope I did not rain on your parade.

Respectfully,

Thomas Von Zickell