Creating a Location-based Search Application
Working closely with our in-house SEO team puts IP’s development team in a leading position when it comes to generating search-accessible localised content that works.
Recently we were asked to create a location search facility for a company offering virtual offices across the UK. We present this as an example of an approach with wider applications, for example ATMs, schools, or indeed any type of business with with multiple offices, branches and stores.
Creating a Location-based Search Application
Example Project: Voxclever
Voxclever provide telephony, IT support and virtual offices to businesses across the UK. Intelligent Positioning identified an opportunity to harness this network of offices to drive traffic to the Voxclever website through local-level searches.
Intelligent Positioning created a bespoke locator service for “Voxclever-enabled” locations, to be seamlessly integrated into the company’s website. This included the following key features:
- Simple, intuitive search facility. Using Google Maps Geolocation API allows users to search for a location in a free-form manner. Towns, postcodes, streets or areas can be entered.
- Map-based visualisation of results. Using Google Maps allows users to see results in a familiar format and explore nearby alternatives. The example above illustrates the London virtual office page.
- Search engine accessible content. Results pages, area pages and individual site pages all have search friendly URLs (e.g. http://www.voxclever.com/virtual-office/locations/london-covent-garden), allowing them to be easily indexed and linked to.
- Search engine optimised content. The structure of location pages was designed to follow best practices from the start with unique content written for all pages. Additional automated content was generated based on relatively complex structure.
- Automated approach. When new offices are added, relevant pages are automatically created on site, making administration quick and simple.
The addition of unique, localised content allows the site to perform well for searches on any of the voxclever locations, such as “Guildford Virtual office” or “Marble Arch IT Support”.
Tags: geolocator application