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So, do you have any content, other than the one homepage, that is the same for both offices?   I would think there will be a need for some such content - maybe a general "About The Firm" page, or other details that are going to be the same for both offices, and would also create duplicate issues beyond just the blog.

If so, is it too late for you to consider a single navigation, with a top level page for both Boston and Atlanta, and then subpages for each that can be optimized for your local terms?

Regarding duplicate content, you are correct that Google has stated that there isn't a penalty, you just will only get the version of a page that is most appropriate.   So if someone is searching from Atlanta, they will most likely get the Atlanta version of the blog.

Will you have some blog posts that only are relevant (or are most relevant) for one location or the other?  If so, duplicating a portion of pages is probably safer than 100% duplication.

I would absolutely create individual landing pages for each location.   This should be part of your foundation, and will best allow you to promote the brick and mortar locations, both on the site and via directories.

As for the 2nd part of your question, I think you are asking if you should then use the homepage title tag to go after general keywords that could lead to ecommerce sales?   If so, my gut says that you should leave the homepage as is, and create new subpages for non-local long tail words.   That said, all pages of the site should include info about all 3 cities, so you are not looking at an either/or situation.

Can you create a Suite number?   For example, turn "Suite 101" into 101A and 101B.  Or if there are no suites, just make one up.

You should check with the mail delivery person and/or post office, but in general this should not be a problem (as long as you don't abuse it, and create thousands of suites in 1 room building).

I've worked with medical practices and other businesses who have used this technique.

To clarify, are all of your locations part of the same company, and are you looking for the ability to segment the locations  or look at all of them as a whole?

I don't know of such a tool, but I've been looking using Google APIs to develop tools along these lines.

If I'm understanding Google correctly, we can use a single descriptor as part of a business name, and to do so, you use the following format in the business name field:

Business Name - Descriptor

Is this correct?   If so, is it not compatible with MOZ Local?  I used the format above, and MOZ seems to see the descriptor as part of the business name, and won't let me verify.   Is the best approach to using a descriptor to get verified first, then add it?   Or will that mess other things up?

"Any platform not on the above list, you would need to manage manually."   -- Miriam, can you give an example of other platforms?   I thought the point of Moz Local is that the aggregators you submit to will eventually reach pretty much any directory out there, as the info propagates through the local search ecosystem?

Assuming you are a local business, and the real reason is pigeon (vs. this just being coincidental timing), then the first thing to do is make sure your Google+ Local page is optimized, with a consistent Name/Address/Phone number.   Also, make certain that your categories are accurate.    (There was an article this morning about Expedia being improperly displayed as a Hotel due to improper category.)

Beyond that , other early analysis of Pigeon stresses the increases importance of local directories.  So, focus on making sure your NAP info is consistent across the web, and that you optimize your listings on all directories.

Agreed, this will often work.   We'll usually check with the post office or delivery person directly to make sure there will be no issues.

First, I'd say it is quite normal for your homepage to outrank interior pages, even when the interior page is much more specifically optimized for the term.   Here are some thoughts:

1. Make sure there is a link straight to the Cooking section above the fold on the homepage
2. Do you have sitelinks yet in your Google results?  If so, you can demote any that are less relevant...  and make sure to leave the cooking/baking sitelinks in place.  https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/47334?hl=en
3. I would focus on adding content in the cooking section.   Beyond posts about specific classes, can you come up with a new page or 2 of general cooking content to add each month?
4. Overall, it appears the site is very new.   A steady flow of new content to the categories, along with the effects of time, should get you the results you are looking for.

Thanks!   This is what I figured, just wanted to make sure before we start making changes.

What if the geo info is part of the name, including in the sign on the front of their building, all marketing materials, and kept consistent in all listings?    Or would I risk confusing Google and screwing things up, especially with the colon prior to the location info?

I have a client who has several locations for their business.

The company and the original location have one name - let's call it "National Clinic".  Then, they have a series of urgent care clinics, named with the structure "National Clinic Urgent Care:  Main St." and "National Clinic Urgent Care:  Central Plaza".   The

When I'm creating my directory listings, for the urgent care locations, which option would you use for the name?

a) National Clinic
b)  National Clinic Urgent Care
c)  National Clinic Urgent Care:  Main St.

If this were me (or my client), I would focus on claiming and taking over the Google Local page.  While that can be a complicated process, and communicating with Google can be slow, if you keep at it they will eventually help you get control of the page.   Can you share the Google page that is causing the issues?

Thanks.   I submitted a feature request:

https://seomoz.zendesk.com/entries/49105990-Make-email-address-an-optional-field-for-Moz-Local

Overall, I think a combination of all 4 of your ideas will help tremendously.

How about using a tagline to get the message across?    If the client is opposed to changing the official brand tagline, even an unofficial "Title tag tagline" would allow you to build on your title tag suggestion.   Such as:

page-name | World-wide Cheese | HCM

Another thought - is it possible to list multiple addresses around the world, or at least several around the U.S.?  Listing Sales offices or distribution centers would help send the right signals.

On the schema side of things, some possible helpers:

• http://schema.org/isicV4 if you have an SIC code that distinguishes you as more than a local business.
• http://schema.org/brand - identifying the geo term inside the brand tag seems like a good idea.
• Also, I'd avoid using any of the schema that are specific to http://schema.org/LocalBusiness, such as opening hours or payment

Thanks for your help.   While we are on the topic, any idea why it is required?   I'd love it if there was a "Moz Local Light" that submitted to only the sites that do not require an email.   That would be helpful for medical practices, as well as for any other business that prefers not to use (or at least publish) an email address.

I agree, they should.   But you  might be surprised at the number of medical practices that simply do not have a knowledgeable security advisor.

Agreed, this is precisely the option I recommend...    at the same time, I'm trying to be creative about alternatives.   In some cases, the issue is NOT keeping the email secure, as required by HIPAA, but the ability to respond in a timely fashion.   The autoresponder should handle this issue, but not all clients understand.

I work with medical practices, who due to HIPAA do not want to publish an email address in listings.

Would it cause a problem if I just submitted a non-working address (like noreply@client.com) that is not set up at all, so any email sent there would just bounce?

Obviously, one option is to use a HIPAA compliant email account, but there are other considerations (timeliness of responses related to clinical issues, for example) that make it less than ideal for a many medical practices to publish a public email address of any sort.

I'm interested in any options or solutions that could allow me to use Moz Local (which requires an email address) for businesses with HIPAA concerns.

Ira

In answering questions about the speed of MOZ Local, I've seen this a few times:

"The time it takes our partners to update the listing really depends on whether or not they have an API. If they do have an API, the listing will be updated pretty much immediately."

Can someone provide a list of which Partners have an API, and which do not?

Thanks for the answer...   just to clarify, we will definitely get rid of the duplicate content.   The question is if the individual location pages should be maindomain.com/location 1, maindomain.com/location2, etc., or if maindomain.com/locations should point to location1.com, location2.com, etc.

I'm taking over a site with multiple domains that are almost entirely duplicate content.  The business has a main site, then 5 different location sites with unique domain names, a slightly different homepage, then exact duplicate for the rest of the site.

Should I get rid of the individual location domains entirely, and just 301 redirect to pages on my main domain?  Or might it be worth keeping a unique microsite online at each of the location domains (with one general location page on the main url, then the location-specific info on the microsite)?

Currently, some of the location domains rank better than the main one, and in other areas the main one outranks the location domain.