Dumb SEO Questions

(Entry was posted by James Simmonds on this post in the Dumb SEO Questions community on Facebook, 04/17/2014).

What do you know about the value of giving and receiving reviews from local businesses pages?

Qustions 1: Hi Jim, We currently have two websites which both rank fairly well with identical keywords for our local business (don`t ask). Nonetheless I am fairly sure that we are breaking google guidelines and would now like to merge these two sites. What would be best practice? 301 redirects to relevant pages? Might it better to just get rid of the second website rather than merging it. The website I want to merge is over 8 years old and was replaced with our new website. There is a possibility that it has some not entirely kosher links pointing to it. 

#localseo  

Question 2: There have been a lot of changes in the way google approaches local business over the past 6 months and possibly also where it takes its local signals from. One of the changes is the ability to post reviews from your business page. I have recently posted a review including pictures from our business page for our VW dealer who was ranked 6th in the local listings. One day later this dealer was ranked 1 with the keywords `VW Hannover` I checked this on different devices and was not logged into google. What do you know about the value of giving and receiving reviews from local businesses pages? I have my own theories but would be very interested in your views. ?
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YOUR ANSWERS

Selected answers from the Dumb SEO Questions Facebook & G+ community.

  • James Simmonds: Qustions 1: Hi Jim, We currently have two websites which both rank fairly well with identical keywords for our local business (don't ask). Nonetheless I am fairly sure that we are breaking google guidelines and would now like to merge these two sites. What would be best practice? 301 redirects to relevant pages? Might it better to just get rid of the second website rather than merging it. The website I want to merge is over 8 years old and was replaced with our new website. There is a possibility that it has some not entirely kosher links pointing to it. ;

    #localseo  ;

    Question 2: There have been a lot of changes in the way google approaches local business over the past 6 months and possibly also where it takes its local signals from. One of the changes is the ability to post reviews from your business page. I have recently posted a review including pictures from our business page for our VW dealer who was ranked 6th in the local listings. One day later this dealer was ranked 1 with the keywords 'VW Hannover' I checked this on different devices and was not logged into google. What do you know about the value of giving and receiving reviews from local businesses pages? I have my own theories but would be very interested in your views. ;
  • Mat Jobe: On Question 1, a 301 redirect would be the way to go. But unless the old website brings lots of traffic, I would probably just shut it down. Any current or future penalty could potentially be passed through the redirect to your new site.
  • James Simmonds: Hi Mat, thank you for your reply and I tend to agree even though it hurts. It does not bring in a lot of traffic but than again local sites rarely do. If the team answers this question I would certainly be interested in their view. ;

View original question in the Dumb SEO Questions community on Facebook, 04/17/2014).

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