Welcome to the Q&A Forum

God bless you for answering my question! LOL.. it's been a bit of an ordeal getting a basic assessment from a different set of eyes on this question. Thank you. : D

Sure, I do my keyword research  and have been very detailed on my previous postings about my skill set and abilities to the sum of 300+ words but that had proven to yield an unsatisfactory result getting a straight answer on this particular question on two separate Threads that I started so I figured that I would just act like a layman and see if it would work out better instead explaining with so much detail this go around.

I Guess, I am too long in the tooth?

Here are the other threads

http://www.seomoz.org/q/url-question-and-advice-on-site-architecture

http://www.seomoz.org/q/geo-target-location-in-your-url-structure

and here as well

http://www.seomoz.org/q/need-very-urgent-advice-on-wedsite-migration-questions-please

Thank you for the extra set of eyes on this question Alan as the search landscape has changed so much and I am doing a Company re-branding and need to get this right without the possibility of google slapping me later down the road despite the fact that I do nothing but quality white hat SEO and always have.

Just don't need the aggravation Ya know?

Sincerely,

Marshall Thompson

Hey guys/gals

I have tried asking this very specific question 3-4 times already and some how my specific question seems to be getting side tracked and my very specif question pertaining to my URL structure keeps getting bypassed and overlooked.

I am wondering about if this URL structure would become a possible issue in the somewhat near future with GOOGLE considering what I have seen go down in the SEO world the past 2 years.

Does this URL Structure  look SPAMMY?

http://www.pcmedicsoncall.com/computer-repair/laptop-repair/

www.pcmedicsoncall.com/computer-repair/laptop-repair/laptop-screen-repair/

Below is a Screen shot of the Site which I designed where I have created a SILO Site Architecture. .....PLEASE... Look at the Picture

Thank you

Marshall

SEOMOZ-PC-MEDICS-ON-CALL-1.jpg

Thank you once again Thomas but I do understand S.E.O and the many variables involved in it already.

I am more on the lines of advanced level to be more precise, just not on the UBER Level advanced stage. Not discounting the solid recommendations that you gave but my question is specific to URL structure pertaining to my Silo Site Architecture that I designed and formulated through keyword research and knowing m industry, not on how to understand and learn SEO.

Can someone please look at my initial post and read it and give me feedback on my specifc questions?

Thank you for your detailed reply again Thomas.

Thesis / Genesis -  I have a developers license for both and headway and woo themes and many others. Personally, I prefer Thesis because their support forum is white glove and it literally takes me an hour to get my question or questions addressed. Genesis, is a great framework and I have spent a lot of time developing with Genesis however, when it takes 48 - 72hrs to get a basic question answered on the forum and at times, (many in the past) they will stone wall you saying this xyz question falls beyond the scope of our support which in actual fact was a basic CSS or PHP question so that to me is counter productive to getting anything done when you end up waiting 3 days to get an answer!

Think of it as Thesis Support is a trip to the Spa while Genesis Support is like a trip to the YMCA.

What is your opinion specifically on how this URL below looks?  I think it looks like $^^&$ and very spammy as is. But hey, I am over analytical so it could just be me! never the less I would value and appreciate your opinion please Thomas

www.pcmedicsoncall.com/computer-repair/laptop-repair/

I have entertained the thought on changing the "Computer Repair" Silo Theme to "Computer Service" do to the overly spammy URL structure but that would be a pity seeing how I would get the most strength from having "Computer Repair" in the Mast Head seeing how it gets 823,000 Local Monthly Searches and Computer Service gets 246,000.

Using COMPUTER SERVICE  as the SILO  - Updated Screen Shot Below

www.pcmedicsoncall.com/computer-services/laptop-repair/

Quick question: would this below be practical

www.pcmedicsoncall.com/computer-repair/laptop/

COMPUTER-SERVICE-SILO-THEME.png

Good morning one and all,

i have a specific question pertaining to my Domain Migration Website URL structure.

I have a computer repair business that I am re branding and my question at this point is centrally focused on how to best handle my URL naming structure that will best suite my needs for my the Search Engines and also my customers UX while not looking SPAMMY

I am a web developer and SEO and I am building a SILO Site Architecture in WordPress using Pages (not Posts) so no discussion is need on the Permalink structure.

I am attaching several Images below of Screen Shots of the new site that I have designed so that you may look at them and see the Silo Architecture Layout in action for the most part.

OK, here we go. Looking at the Silo Mast Head, we can see that the following Main Menu items each represent a specific Silo Theme

Silo Theme # 1  -       COMPUTER REPAIR

Silo Theme # 2  -       VIRUS REMOVAL

Silo Theme # 3  -       PHONE REPAIR

Silo Theme # 4  -       NETWORKING

Silo Theme # 5  -       DATA RECOVERY

My specific question is, if /computer-repair/ is a main silo theme (WP -Parent Page) and /laptop-repair/ is a (Child Page) of Computer Repair is the following example below (the actual URL string) going to 'trigger' a SPAM signal to either the user or GOOGLE or both??

URL String:

http://www.pcmedicsoncall.com/computer-repair/laptop-repair/

Here's another example with the VIRUS REMOVAL SILO

http://www.pcmedicsoncall.com/virus-removal/malware-removal/

Seeing how computer repair is the main silo theme that cannot be changed in the URL Structure (it can) but I wont change it seeing how COMPUTER REPAIR is the single largest keyword phrase used by individuals when they are looking for computer repair.

Secondly, - LAPTOP REPAIR is also a Keyword Phrase that that has HIGH search queries that I am trying to rank for and that too (ideally) should also  not changed!

How do I deal with this situation? Or, am I seeing this in a overly paranoid way?

I currently have the site allowing only my IP Address so I am afraid that the screen shots below is all that I can do on this in lieu of actually visiting the Site

Currently, I have my URL Structure where Wilmington NC immediately follows the targeted keyword phrase for the Silo Theme like below

http://www.pcmedicsoncall.com/virus-removal-wilmington-nc/malware-removal/

The example above, - including the location after the keyword phrase does look much more attractive and breaks it up so it does not read SPAMMY and it will help with SEO but yet another problem exists using the location after the keyword phrase which I explain in detail Below.

---

On top of doing a complete re-branding Domain Change I am actually going to be relocating myself and my business to Charlotte, NC at the end of the summer so I have serious doubts if using Wilmington NC within the URL structure would be a wise idea considering that I will be relocating and an internal 301 Redirect on a Newly Migrated site 2-3 months after the initial site migration and site setup may have some negative impact and confuse Google and compound the situation thus much further despite the fact that it would immediately help me bounce back up with my rankings after the migration process.

Thoughts a suggestions on both explained scenarios please?

I have asked this specif question once already but obviously people do not read my very detailed and well thought out questions. This can also be viewed here>http://www.seomoz.org/q/need-very-urgent-advice-on-wedsite-migration-questions-please#reply_150847>

Thank you

Sincerely,

Marshall Thompson

SEOMOZ-PC-MEDICS-ON-CALL-1.jpg SEOMOZ-PC-MEDICS-ON-CALL1.jpg

Thanks for the very well thought out reply. I do appreciate the great deal of effort that you have extended towards me on my behalf.

Some how this got a little lost, I am using WordPress Pages/Child Pages for the Silo Site Structure not "Categories" utilizing the WordPress Post scheme. Posts will be only used on the Blog section of the site and nowhere else.

OK, lets say I ditch the Geo Targeted location after the Keyword Phase in my Main Silo Theme. Which creates yet another dilemma,  The Phrase Computer Repair as well as Laptop Repair are 2 of the most high trafficked and targeted search phrases used when people are searching to get the desktop or laptop repaired. So, how do I balance this below without it looking spammy seeing how computer repair I am not going to change in the silo slug and I am also targeting Laptop Repair as well?  Is the URL Below going to be perceived or viewed as SPAMMY by the search engines?

http://www.pcmedicsoncall.com/computer-repair/laptop-repair/

Curious, why are you claiming that adding your location is a BAD thing? If anything it helps GOOGLE as well as users know that you are a local business and it does indeed help your rankings. I having been doing this with the location in my URL for 5 1/2 years now and I can attest that you are wrong on your opinion. Sorry but that is true.

You also asked why do this ?

http://www.pcmedicsoncall.com/virus-removal**/malware-removal**"

Simply put, Malware Removal is a "Variant" of a Virus and deserves it's own page which of course keeps people searching for Malware Removal coming to my site and it also allows me to focus on the topic at hand which is "Malware"  which is a variant of a Virus and does not fall into the Primary Classification of Virus.

Also too, this represents and targets focused keyword research and focused reading without diluting the topic and search criteria at hand. It also provides  yet another page for my website and prevents me from writing a combined page of Virus and Malware Removal that would end up being 700 words long that people with computer repair problems don't give a damn about reading. I have tried for years to take the educational approach with customers in my business with my website page copy and to tell you the truth, no of them want to learn anything and they choose to remaining ignorant and stay a victim as with just about all people that use computers in society. Regretfully, this is very true!

Hi Dana and good evening  : )

Thank you for that. I appreciate your   view point  and have taken this into consideration.

Logically, yes I absolutely expect some fall out from this situation  seeing how I will be reducing the on page word count to about half. So, in many instances (just about all) going from 600 -700 words per page of content to around 400 is definitely going to effect the outcome of my rankings which I am expecting...naturally.

I am actually torn whether or not if it is even worth the B.S involved migrating the site seeing how I am drastically changing so much at one given time and reducing on page word count by half. I am a realist and a strategist and the only reason why I don't just start over is because why not salvage what I can out of years of hard work?

The Search landscape has changed so much in the past 2 years I really don't know how long it would take a new site with the perfect site architecture and every other on page and site SEO Factor  be 110% to get on the front page of GOOGLE again?

I know that there are many variables involved primarily the  online competition for local computer repair shops (if you would call that competition) from a SEO factor but, as a example and an actual fact, 4 years ago when I built the website I started with 30 pages of well written content and I was on the Front page of GOOGLE in 4 weeks time No B.S!

I seriously doubt that would be the case these days. Thoughts?

A far as migrating from  Joomla to WordPress? That is a piece of cake and not to worry about that my dear.

I would still like to hear some thoughts on the 301 Redirect for the GEO Targeted Location in regards to my questions in the initial post above please.

Good afternoon,

I am in the middle of re branding my Computer Repair Business that has been established for the past 5 years now and does very well in GOOGLE for all things computer repair search related queries.

I have a done tons of research on the Migration process and all elements involved for the past month now and I have been doing SEO for the past 5 years and am quite knowledgeable and very fluent with search engine optimization.

I have a bit of a unique situation going on in my particular instance. Not only am I re branding the business and trying to maintain my GOOGLE rankings trying to pull this off  at the busiest time of the year (summer months) but I am also going to be physically relocating my business after the busy (Summer Season) from my current location of Wilmington, NC to Charlotte, NC.

Yes, I do understand that Winter would have been the best (time) to do all of this massive changing around but, my hand is forced and this is being done out of necessity for monetary survival purposes and I really have no choice in the matter currently!

With that said here is my dilemma.

I am setting up a SILO Site Architecture using the "Thesis Framework" and WordPress which will be an improvement by 5 fold of what I have in my current well established JOOMLA site that has done very well in GOOGLE Search these past 5 years (all first page results) for anything (Computer Repair) related in Wilmington, NC.

So, I am trying run damage control on this situation and I have a number of questions that need a strategic well thought out answer from a different perspective on this matter.

301 Redirect question:

I want to include my geo targeted location in my URL String as it has served me well in the pass however, seeing how I am going to be Physically relocating myself and the business to Charlotte, NC from my current location of Wilmington, NC after the summer months what will I need to take into consideration with this situation in regards to the 301 redirect?

_ "If I include my current location (Wilmington NC) in the destination (New Domain) URL string for any given 301 redirect from my existing website to the new website and then physically move to another city 3 months later is this setting myself up for a BIG Failure??"_

Seeing how I have no idea of how this technically works with GOOGLE as far as how long this (migration process) takes to Fully complete where the OLD domain completely drops off and everything is Fully passed over to the New Domain in terms leaving the 301 Re directs in place on the Old Domain Server.

How long does this process usually take with GOOGLE?

Information that you should know:

• This is my First Experience doing a Site Migration!
• The NEW DOMAIN is on a Different Server and IP
• I will be performing 301 Redirects on a Page to Page Basis!
• I DO plan on keeping the Old Domain Server Account online for  4 months after the migration process.
• Both OLD and NEW domains are on HOST GATOR (separate accounts)
• I am Migrating from JOOMLA to WordPress
• I am using the Thesis Framework for the new WordPress site (New Domain)
• I have created and established a well thought out SILO Site Architecture for the (NEW DOMAIN) using Parent and Child Pages in WordPress (not posts) supported by many hours of keyword research for my SILO Themes
• I am changing My Existing /computer-repair.hml URL Structure to  WordPress **/computer-repair/ ** remember.. (using WP - Pages) not posts!
• I am re branding my Company business from Community Computer Repair to PC Medics On Call
• I am  reducing my on page Content because it is too long in the Tooth for my customer base and although the search engines love it, in it's current state (long winded and well written) it is having a negative effect on the people that actually pay my bills (my customers) but my new Site Hierarchical Structure will rectify a lot of the negative fall out from this change that would otherwise kill me in the search rankings from doing this.
• In addition to being an proficient SEO I am also a developer and a coder.
• The New Domain is Currently ALLOWING only my IP Address while I sort this out and until I complete the new site structure and get the content and ON Page done.

For the Destination Domain URL Structure, is including my current City (Wilmington NC) going to be an issue with the 301 Redirects seeing how I am moving to Charlotte NC around September?

Having the Geo Targeted City in my URL Structure will help offset some of the damage caused by the changes that I need to make.

Plus, the URL looks less spammy looking at the examples below when icluding location after the keyword phrase

**Example -1   -  ** VIRUS REMOVAL SILO

With GEO Targeted Location after Keyword

http://www.pcmedicsoncall.com/virus-removal-wilmington-nc/malware-removal/

Without - GEO Targeted Location after Keyword

http://www.pcmedicsoncall.com/virus-removal/malware-removal

** Example -2 -**   COMPUTER REPAIR SILO

With GEO Targeted Location after Keyword

http://www.pcmedicsoncall.com/computer-repair-wilmington-nc/laptop-repair/

Without - GEO Targeted Location after Keyword

http://www.pcmedicsoncall.com/computer-repair/laptop-repair/

As far as the potential problems with icluding the Wilmington NC in the Targeted URL destination for the 301 Redirect and then changing my Actual City location for the business 2 1/2 - 3 months later is this going to be an issue?

Pertaining to the 301 redirect question above, how exactly would I handle this if I used Wilmington, NC after the Keyword when I initiate the 301 Redirect to the site? Can I later change this in the  OLD Domain .htaccess 3 months later to reflect the Charlotte Location and also do the necessary 301 Redirect in the NEW DOMAIN to reflect the permanent move?

I hope I have not confused this any by the way that I am asking?

Here is a screen shot of the NEW DOMAIN layout for the Links below and above.

NOTE: Currently, ALL Silo Menu Themes have -  wilmington-nc/ incorporated after the targeted Keyword

http://www.pcmedicsoncall.com/virus-removal-wilmington-nc/malware-removal/

http://www.pcmedicsoncall.com/virus-removal/malware-removal

SEOMOZ-PC-MEDICS-ON-CALL-1.jpg SEOMOZ-PC-MEDICS-ON-CALL1.jpg

Hello everyone at SEOMOZ     

I have a question if you would be as kind as to inform me of which direction that I should take on this matter would be the more desirable approach for my seo strategy

I have been using my location in my URL structure since I started doing SEO 5 years ago and I have always benefited from including my city in the URL.

My question is, since the SEO landscape has change so drastically over the past 2 years and the Search Engines have become much more end user friendly and list suggestions for users as they type would it be more beneficial in 2013 to have the "Keyword" before or after the Geo Targeted Location in the URL structure?

I own a computer repair business for the past 6 years now and I know that when i check to see where I am ranking for a particular keyword phrase such as "Computer Repair" GOOGLE detects my location and provides suggestions as I start typing out "Computer Repair" for the search query.

One of the suggestions is "Computer Repair Wilmington NC" so I am starting to wonder if placing the Geo Targeted City after the Keyword  would be the wiser choice instead of before it like a couple of years ago?

Working Example:

Here is a site that I am building out right now to re-brand my business.

Currently I have one of the Silo Category Slugs set as seen below using the Location before the Keyword

The First Example has the Geo Target Location before the Keyword and looks more natural to visitors on the site (at least to me) however I'm afraid that I may be shooting myself in the foot not placing the keyword before the Target Location? But if I do that, It does not read or flow fluently to the average looker so kinda confused and torn on how to deal with this>!

FIRST EXAMPLE: Location Before Keyword

Silo Parent Category  = "Computer Repair"

http://www.pcmedicsoncall.com/wilmington-nc-computer-repair/

Silo Child Category  =  "Laptop"

http://www.pcmedicsoncall.com/wilmington-nc-computer-repair/laptop-repair/

Silo Grand Child Category  =  "LCD Replacement"

http://www.pcmedicsoncall.com/wilmington-nc-computer-repair/laptop/lcd-screen-replacement/

**SECOND EXAMPLE: ** Keyword Before Location

Silo Parent Category  = "Computer Repair"

http://www.pcmedicsoncall.com/computer-repair-wilmington-nc/

Silo Child Category  =  "Laptop"

http://www.pcmedicsoncall.com/computer-repair-wilmington-nc/laptop-repair/

Silo Grand Child Category  =  "LCD Replacement"

http://www.pcmedicsoncall.com/computer-repair-wilmington-nc/laptop-repair/lcd-screen-replacement/

Which would be the more favorable of the 2 examples that I have given please?

Keyword before or After the Geo Targeted Location?

thank you

Good afternoon Jeremy and it's nice to meet you!

Thank you for your response to my question but I feel that I have mislead you with my screen shot as I had not added the sidebar yet so I guess that I might have sent the wrong signal due to the partially illustrated intent.  Sorry about that...

Jeremy, I agree with you that looking at the existing Navigation Menu "Categories" are very to the point and they are all very high searched for key words in my business and there would be no confusion with my potential customers finding exactly what they need. - Currently as is, my site is very to the point of what I do to both the END USER as well as the Search Engines.

But, back to my Specif question on the (existing) "Computer Repair"  category in the Main Nav Menu  vs  using "Computer Service" in its place.

I have a couple of concerns with this situation which are legitimate ones.

If I use "Computer Repair" as one of the main Themes in the Silo "Main Nav Menu" I will be forced to use "Desktop Repair" to classify Computer Repair in my Sidebar Navigation and that is a problem for a couple of Reasons!

1st Problem - The Majority of People that need Computer Repair do indeed have a desktop computer. However, when people think of getting their Desktop Computer repaired they view it as just Computer Repair and DO NOT search for (repair desktop computer) because they DO NOT classify their DESKTOP as one would classify ( Laptop Repair , Tablet Repair or Phone Repair) because HISTORICALLY  a DESKTOP is just a computer and it was not until laptops, netbooks, tablets, etc came about where there was a need for an actual CLASSIFICATION system.

However, case in Point - (even still) today, 95% of the WORLD thinks and Searches for Computer Repair when their Desktop is broken or has a virus or whatever the case may be.

This is backed up by the Numbers taken directly from GOOGLE Keyword Tool as shown below.

"Computer Repair"  =  823,000 Monthly Local Searches

-Desktop Repair  =  12,100   Monthly Local Searches

2nd Problem -  Desktop Repair only Gets 12,100   Monthly Local Searches and derivatives of Desktop Repair related searches get about the same or in most cases, they get significantly less queries  than the very LAME 12,100 Monthly Searches!

3rd Problem - Potential semantic URL Structure problem ( may look SPAMMY) considering that I GEO Target my Business Location in my URL Structures

So I am taking multiple things into account here because as we all know, one decision will directly affect 1 or multiple elements which has the potential for disaster in instances such as this.

As far as the Migration Process Site design content creation, 301 Redirects on Page level and all of that other jazz, I have that under wraps because I have done extensive research for weeks now on migrating. Plus I am also a coder and am trained and educated on the Server side of things and have been doing web mastering, site development and SEO for 5 1/2 years now and have been working with computers for 32 years on top of that.

I would like a strategical view point for this complex dilemma from some other eyes and view points on this matter so I can exchange some ideas and have an intellectual and strategic discussion on this matter in terms of advanced seo and site structure.

Here is one Updated Screen shot with the Sidebar Nav in place. Please keep in mind this site is online but blocked to the outside world with the exception of my IP Address. So in short we are looking at  place holders and nothing is set in stone yet as I am currently trying to figure out the best way to go with the Silo Site Structure, Proper Semantic URL Mapping, etc etc.

Please do interpret this as an advanced SEO Strategy Planning question from someone who has very advanced skill sets and has been developing with WordPress for 2 1/2 years now exclusively.

As technical and challenging as you can get with your responses, I can interpret just fine and handle that. :  D

P.S ..  I know how to build out the Silo Site Architecture and am also coding a SPECIFIC Sidebar Nav Menu for Each Silo Theme (Category) that will reflect and stay EXACTLY on Point with the Information Architecture of that Specific Silo Theme.

I have only one Problem that I need counsel on and that is.... would it be more advantageous to use "Computer Repair" or  "Computer Service" in the Silo Mast Head (Main Nav) ? Please re-read my first post in addition to this post and help me go in the direction that would be most strategically correct taking all other factors into consideration.

Cam

PC-MEDICS-Screen-Shot-YELLOW-HOVER.png

God bless you for answering my question! LOL.. it's been a bit of an ordeal getting a basic assessment from a different set of eyes on this question. Thank you. : D

Sure, I do my keyword research  and have been very detailed on my previous postings about my skill set and abilities to the sum of 300+ words but that had proven to yield an unsatisfactory result getting a straight answer on this particular question on two separate Threads that I started so I figured that I would just act like a layman and see if it would work out better instead explaining with so much detail this go around.

I Guess, I am too long in the tooth?

Here are the other threads

http://www.seomoz.org/q/url-question-and-advice-on-site-architecture

http://www.seomoz.org/q/geo-target-location-in-your-url-structure

and here as well

http://www.seomoz.org/q/need-very-urgent-advice-on-wedsite-migration-questions-please

Thank you for the extra set of eyes on this question Alan as the search landscape has changed so much and I am doing a Company re-branding and need to get this right without the possibility of google slapping me later down the road despite the fact that I do nothing but quality white hat SEO and always have.

Just don't need the aggravation Ya know?

Sincerely,

Marshall Thompson