Whether you need a change of scenery or your industry is oversaturated, thousands of businesses face the struggle of adjusting their online presence for a new location.
When you move locations, it’s essential that you don’t lose website rankings. Keep in mind, you probably won’t be on page one immediately. However, there are adjustments to your website that, if done correctly, can help smooth the transition to optimizing your online presence in a new location.
I recommend hiring a search engine optimization professional to help with the process. However, if it’s not in your budget, the following are basic methods to transition to your new area.
How do I optimize my SEO when I change business locations?
1. Change Location Information on Your Website
Changing your location information should be done differently depending on your type of business. For brick and mortar or service-oriented businesses, create a new contact page before you leave your current location. Include a “Coming Soon” message on the contact page so customers know they can’t visit your location yet.
For remote businesses, create a separate contact page as well. However, you do not need a “Coming Soon” message. Instead, alert customers that you are only available via phone and email until your moving date.
In every type of business, you should have a separate contact page with your new location to improve SEO. Doing so ensures that you won’t lose rankings for your current town. You’ll also be marketing for your new location.
2. Change Contact Information on Your Google Business Page
Every company needs a Google Business page. Not only can a Google Business page increase your rankings, it also provides the opportunity to display important information like business hours, services, products, about us, reviews, and posts.
If your business is service oriented, you can set your location as “Service Areas”, rather than an address. Just like the additional contact page, add the service area location before you move.
For brick and mortar businesses, you’ll have to wait to change your Google Business page until you move.
3. Change Your Directory Listings
Changing your directory listings can be tedious. Directory listings include Angie’s List, Yelp, Yellow Pages, White Pages, and many others. What makes the process tedious? You need a sentence or two about this is a pain in the butt.
Instead of reviewing every location individually, I recommend paying for Moz Local Business services. They will audit and adjust your directory information according to your Google Business or Facebook page.
4. Change Your Website’s Meta Titles
As a business owner, you probably had an SEO professional customize meta titles to fit your location. Don’t forget to adjust your meta titles when you move!
For example, I recently made the decision to serve Portland. My homepage meta title was previously “Bend, Oregon SEO and Website Design | Get Global Marketing”. Now, my meta title is “Portland and Bend SEO and Website Design | Get Global Marketing”. Make this change before your move. It will take time for Google to index your site for the new title.
5. Change Your Website’s Structured Data
Structured data “is a standardized format for providing information about a page and classifying the page content,” Google Developers. The tool helps Google understand what the content on your page means. When you change locations, you need to change your structured data.
WP SEO Structured Data Schema plugin for WordPress, allows digital marketers to easily insert structured data into the site. I purchased the Pro version to help clients with multiple locations and services. The tool has proven beneficial for me to help improve client’s rankings.
Moving business locations can be exciting! Marketing the change can seem daunting. To make sure the job is done correctly, it’s best to hire a SEO professional. If you need help with SEO in Portland or Central Oregon, contact the team at Get Global Marketing at (541) 706-9442.
Get Global Marketing. Get Page One.