An SEO glossary of terms every marketer should know in 2026
A practical, current glossary covering the essential SEO terminology every marketer should be comfortable with, from foundational concepts to 2026-specific terms.
6 min read
A multi-location business faces a specific SEO challenge distinct from a single-location business: each location needs to rank for its own local searches, without the locations cannibalising each other's visibility or diluting the site's overall local relevance signals.
Why a single combined locations page is not enough
A searcher looking for a specific area's branch searches with that specific location in mind — a combined page listing every branch briefly cannot compete for that specific, local intent the way a dedicated, fully-detailed page for that exact location can.
What each location page needs
- A unique, dedicated URL for each location.
- Location-specific address, phone number, hours and, ideally, some genuinely unique local content or detail.
- LocalBusiness structured data with accurate, location-specific detail.
- A genuine embedded map for that specific location, not a generic company-wide map.
Every location deserves to compete for its own local searches on its own merits — a shared, generic page asks Google to guess which specific branch a searcher actually wants.
Avoiding self-cannibalisation between locations
If two locations are close together and both target very similar, overlapping search terms, ensure each page's content is genuinely distinct — different staff, slightly different services, or genuinely unique local detail — rather than a template with only the address swapped, which risks both duplicate content and the scaled content abuse pattern at a small scale.
Google Business Profile for every location
Each location needs its own separate, individually verified Google Business Profile — see our local SEO for multiple locations guide for the detailed setup process and ongoing management approach.
Frequently asked questions
How many locations does a business need before this becomes worth the effort?
Even two locations benefit from dedicated pages and separate Business Profiles — the effort scales with location count, but the underlying principle applies from the very first additional location.
Should location pages use a subdirectory structure (/locations/city-name/)?
This is a common, sensible approach that keeps location pages organised under a clear site hierarchy, supporting both usability and structured internal linking.
Can franchise locations with different owners still follow this structure?
Yes, and it is often even more important in a franchise context, since each location may have genuinely distinct hours, staff or services worth reflecting accurately on its own dedicated page.
If you manage a multi-location business's SEO, talk to our team for a structure review.
The takeaway
Build a dedicated page for every location, no matter how similar they seem — a shared 'locations' list page cannot compete for the specific local searches each individual branch needs to win.
Written by Fibvo — Bengaluru and Erode, India — working with clients in other time zones. Questions, or think we have it wrong? Tell us.
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