If your Texas business serves customers across several cities—like Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, or smaller hubs such as Round Rock, Plano, and Waco—your SEO strategy must scale. This guide shows you how to do keyword research for multiple locations the right way, with proven keyword research methods, examples, and a repeatable process Prodigy Code uses for Texas SMBs. You’ll walk away ready to conduct keyword research that drives local traffic and real conversions.
The Basics of Keyword Research for Multiple Locations
Multi-location keyword research aligns your services with how people in different Texas markets search. It merges local SEO, content strategy, and technical SEO audits to decide which phrases to target for each city, suburb, or service area page, and how to structure your website for maximum visibility and conversions.
Why Multi‑Location Keyword Research Matters
- Captures localized demand: Texans in Dallas may search differently from those in San Antonio.
- Improves relevance: Aligns on-page SEO (title, H1, meta description) with city-specific phrases.
- Builds authority: Proper internal linking and structured content silos help Google understand each city’s topical authority.
- Boosts conversions: Tailored copy, local testimonials, and unique offers per city improve user experience and conversion rates.
- Supports ads and analytics: Shared keyword clusters power PPC, landing pages, and GA4 reporting by location.
Step‑by‑Step Process: How to Conduct Keyword Research for Multiple Locations
1) Define service areas and priorities
- List primary cities and suburbs (e.g., Houston → Katy, Sugar Land; Austin → Round Rock, Cedar Park).
- Map revenue potential and competition per city; prioritize top 5–10 for the first wave.
2) Build your seed keyword list
- Start with core services: “HVAC repair,” “family law attorney,” “managed IT services,” “fence installation,” “coworking space.”
- Add modifiers: city names, “near me,” “open now,” “24/7,” Spanish variants if relevant (e.g., “abogado de familia Houston”).
3) Expand with keyword research methods
- Use Google Autocomplete, People Also Ask, and related searches.
- Check Google Search Console for existing queries by landing page.
- Leverage Google Ads Keyword Planner for volume and cost signals.
- Review competitors’ title tags, H1s, and internal linking in each city.
4) Classify by intent and cluster
- Separate service (transactional) from info (educational) topics.
- Create clusters: one primary keyword per city page + 3–6 secondary keywords and semantically related terms.
5) Evaluate difficulty and opportunity
- Manually inspect SERPs in a Texas context (use location-specific search or a clean browser).
- Look for intent alignment, local packs, and content gaps you can own.
6) Assign keywords to pages
- Build a scalable URL pattern: /city/service/ or /services/service-city/.
- Each city page targets one primary and multiple secondary keywords; avoid cannibalization.
7) Optimize on-page elements
- Unique titles, H1s, meta descriptions, and headers per location.
- Local elements: NAP, embedded map, local reviews, neighborhood references.
- Technical: fast site speed, Core Web Vitals, mobile-first responsive design, schema markup (LocalBusiness, Service), secure HTTPS, clean sitemap and robots.txt.
8) Strengthen off‑page signals
- Google Business Profile per location with UTM tracking, categories, Services/Products, and Q&A.
- Citations: consistent NAP via local directories and Texas chambers/associations.
- Local backlinks: sponsorships, local news, and community partnerships.
9) Measure and iterate
- GA4 events and goals by location, call tracking with dynamic number insertion.
- Rank tracking by city; monitor conversions and adjust keywords quarterly.
- Test with A/B testing on landing pages; refine conversion optimization.
Keyword Research Methods and Tools
- Search engine features: Autocomplete, People Also Ask, related searches.
- First‑party data: Google Search Console queries, site search logs, CRM tickets.
- Ads intelligence: Google Ads Keyword Planner, search terms reports.
- Competitor review: titles, meta descriptions, internal links, content depth, schema markup.
- Geo‑intent modifiers: “near me,” “best,” “cost,” “same day,” “bilingual,” “veteran‑owned.”
- Technical SEO audits to ensure indexability and crawl budget are not blocking multi‑city pages.
- Content ops: topic clustering, internal linking, and editorial calendar per city.
Standards and guidelines worth knowing:
Texas Keyword Research Examples
Example 1: San Antonio HVAC Contractor
Primary: “AC repair San Antonio”
Secondary cluster: “emergency AC repair San Antonio,” “same‑day HVAC service,” “air conditioner installation San Antonio,” “furnace repair near me.”
Content notes: Emphasize summer heat, service areas like Alamo Heights and Stone Oak, after‑hours availability, and financing options. Add LocalBusiness schema, service area schema, and reviews; track calls with UTM+call tracking.
Example 2: Austin Coffee Shop Chain (3 locations)
Primary (per location): “coffee shop Austin [district name]”
Secondary: “best latte Austin,” “coworking coffee space Austin,” “open late coffee Austin,” bilingual terms for neighborhoods with Spanish-speaking audiences.
Content notes: Separate pages for Downtown, Mueller, and South Lamar with unique menus, parking tips, and event calendars. Add internal links from a “Find a Location” hub; optimize Google Business Profiles with photos and posts.
How Prodigy Code Helps Texas Businesses
Prodigy Code is a Texas‑based web development and digital marketing partner for small and mid‑sized businesses. We build multi‑location SEO programs that integrate technical SEO, content marketing, conversion optimization, and WordPress development.
Our services for multi‑location SEO
- Keyword strategy and clustering by city and service
- Information architecture and URL mapping at scale
- High‑performance WordPress development with responsive design, Core Web Vitals optimization, and WCAG‑aware accessibility
- Location page templates and landing pages with conversion‑focused UX
- Technical SEO audits, schema markup, internal linking, and sitemaps
- Google Business Profile optimization and citation building
- Analytics setup (GA4, Search Console), call tracking, and dashboards
- Content operations and ongoing A/B testing for CRO
We tailor strategies for diverse niches: legal, healthcare, home services, SaaS, professional services, restaurants, and e‑commerce (WooCommerce, Shopify).
Pricing Factors for Multi‑Location SEO in Texas
- Number of locations and service pages to build/refresh
- Competitive pressure by metro (Houston and Dallas often require deeper content and link building versus smaller cities)
- Current site health: technical debt, site speed, WordPress theme, hosting, and security (SSL/HTTPS)
- Content volume: unique copy, local assets, imagery, bilingual content
- Tracking and reporting needs: call tracking, CRM integration, custom dashboards
Typical Texas SMBs invest a starter package for 1–3 locations and scale as results prove out. Request a proposal tailored to your markets and growth goals.
Actionable Checklist: Multi‑Location Keyword Research
- List all cities/ZIPs served; prioritize top 5–10 by revenue potential.
- Build seed keywords per service; add city and “near me” modifiers.
- Pull ideas from Autocomplete, People Also Ask, and GSC.
- Cluster keywords by intent and city; select 1 primary + 3–6 secondary per page.
- Map URLs and create on‑page templates (titles, H1s, H2s, FAQs).
- Add local elements: NAP, map, reviews, service areas, unique offers.
- Implement schema markup and ensure fast, mobile‑first performance.
- Create/optimize Google Business Profiles for each location.
- Build citations and local backlinks; track with UTM parameters.
- Set up GA4 + Search Console, call tracking; iterate quarterly.
Comparison: Custom Website vs Template Website
| Aspect | Custom Website (Prodigy Code) | Template Website |
|---|---|---|
| Local SEO Structure | Built‑in multi‑location architecture, scalable URL patterns, internal linking silos | Often rigid; harder to scale clean location silos |
| Performance | Core Web Vitals optimized, lean code, CDN, image optimization | Theme bloat can slow pages; impacts rankings and UX |
| Accessibility | WCAG‑aware components and QA process | Variable; requires extra work to meet standards |
| Conversion Optimization | Custom layouts, CRO testing, localized CTAs, analytics wiring | Generic blocks; limited A/B testing flexibility |
| Ownership & Flexibility | Full control; integrates WordPress development and custom blocks | Constrained by theme updates and plugin conflicts |
| Time to Market | Longer upfront, faster scale later | Faster start, slower when scaling multi‑location SEO |
Ready to grow across Texas?
Whether you’re expanding from San Antonio to Austin or opening new locations around DFW and Houston, Prodigy Code can architect your multi‑location SEO from research to results. Let’s map your cities, build the content, and launch a high‑performance website that converts.
FAQ
What is the best way to conduct keyword research for multiple locations in Texas?
Start by listing your priority cities, build seed keywords per service, then expand with Autocomplete, People Also Ask, Search Console, and Google Ads Keyword Planner. Cluster keywords by intent and city, choose one primary keyword per page plus 3–6 secondary terms, and align on-page elements, schema, and internal links. Validate against local SERPs in each Texas market and iterate quarterly.
How many location pages should I create, and what keywords go on each?
Create one core location page per city or neighborhood you serve where there is demand and a meaningful service presence. Each page targets one primary keyword (e.g., “roof repair Dallas”) supported by 3–6 secondary keywords (e.g., “emergency roof repair Dallas,” “hail damage repair”). Avoid duplicating the same primary across multiple pages to prevent cannibalization.
Do I need separate Google Business Profiles and citations for each Texas location?
Yes. Each physical location needs its own Google Business Profile and consistent NAP citations. Use unique local page URLs, UTM parameters, and location‑specific content. Service‑area businesses without storefronts should configure service areas correctly and still maintain location‑relevant pages for major metros.
How much does multi‑location keyword research and SEO cost in Texas?
Budgets vary by market competition, number of locations, and current site health. Texas SMBs commonly start with an initial research and architecture engagement, followed by monthly content, technical SEO, and off‑page work. Contact Prodigy Code for a proposal tailored to your cities and growth targets.