A Complete Guide from the Local SEO Techs at One Sky Media

If you want your business to show up at the top of Google for searches in multiple cities, townships, or counties, your Google My Business (GMB) — now called Google Business Profile (GBP) — must be built appropriately, optimized, and consistently maintained. At One Sky Media, we help clients across Pennsylvania and beyond build high-ranking, high-converting Google Business Profiles that dominate local search results.

Below, we outline the exact steps you must take — along with the steps we handle for you — to help your Google listing rank in multiple geographic markets.

Why Your Google Business Profile Is the #1 Driver of Local Leads

When people search phrases like:

  • “landscaper near me”
  • “towing company Philadelphia”
  • “gutter installation Lancaster PA”

Google pulls results primarily from Google Business Profiles. Ranking near the top gets you:

  • More phone calls
  • More website visits
  • More map-direction requests
  • More leads
  • More revenue

If you serve multiple towns or counties, your listing requires a more strategic setup to rank across all your service areas — not just your hometown.

Below is the blueprint of everything required to rise toward the top of Google’s Local Pack across multiple areas.

  1. Verify & Fully Complete Your Google Business Profile

Google rewards completeness. Your profile must contain:

  • Full legal business name (no keyword stuffing)
  • Primary and secondary categories
  • Detailed services list
  • Service areas (cities, townships, counties) Maximum 20
  • Business description
  • Business hours
  • Phone number
  • Website URL
  • Appointment link (if applicable)
  • Products (optional but very powerful)
  • High-quality logo & photos
  • A strong cover photo

A profile that is 100% complete consistently ranks higher than partially completed competitors.

  1. Ensure Absolute NAP Accuracy Across the Web

NAP = Name, Address, Phone Number
Google cross-checks these across the internet.

If your business information is inconsistent, Google reduces your ranking visibility.

Check your NAP is correct on:

  • Yelp
  • Apple Maps
  • Bing
  • Local directories
  • Industry-specific directories
  • Your website
  • Social media profiles

Consistency = trust, and trust drives rankings.

  1. Add All Your Service Areas (Without Overdoing It)

If you serve 10–50+ geographic areas, Google allows you to list multiple service zones (Maximum 20).

However:

  • Adding too few areas limits visibility
  • Adding too many areas can dilute rankings

Only input the optimal combination of service cities, townships, and counties so Google understands where you truly operate.

  1. Publish Geo-Targeted Posts Every Week

Most businesses never post on Google Business.

Posting frequently tells Google:

“This business is active, legitimate, and serving real customers.”

Each post should include:

  • Your service
  • Your target location
  • A short call-to-action
  • A photo
  • A link to your website

Include SEO-rich posts like:

  • “Tree Mulching in Radnor, PA – Available This Week!”
  • “Heavy Duty Towing in Wayne County – Call Now!”

This builds geographical relevance across multiple markets.

  1. Upload New Geo-Relevant Photos Every Month

Google loves new photos — especially photos tagged with geographic data.

We recommend:

  • Jobsite photos
  • Before/after photos
  • Team photos
  • Service trucks/equipment
  • Office photos
  • Branded images

The more location-relevant images you upload, the better your profile performs.

  1. Build Location-Optimized Service Pages on Your Website

Your Google Business listing becomes significantly stronger when linked to a website with dedicated service-area pages.

One Sky Media creates SEO-optimized pages such as:

  • “Computer Diagnostics in Philadelphia, PA”
  • “Gutter Installation in York, PA”
  • “Tree Mulching in Radnor Township”
  • “Heavy Duty Towing in Wayne County, PA”

These pages are the backbone of successful multi-city rankings.

Google uses them to validate:

  • Your service area
  • Your authority
  • Your local relevance
  • Your business legitimacy

Without these pages, your GBP can only rank strongly in your primary city.

  1. Generate Continuous 5-Star Google Reviews

Your ranking increases dramatically with consistent positive reviews.

Google evaluates:

  • Review quantity
  • Review frequency
  • Review content
  • Review keywords (e.g., city, service, technician name)

  1. Respond to All Reviews Promptly

Google checks how often the business owner responds.

Responding to:

  • Positive reviews
  • Neutral reviews
  • Negative reviews

…shows Google that you care about customers, which directly impacts local ranking strength.

  1. Build Local Backlinks for Each Target Geo Area

A strong ranking strategy includes:

  • Local business associations
  • Chamber of Commerce
  • Neighborhood business directories
  • Local sponsorships
  • Local press releases
  • Town-specific citations

The more locally relevant links pointing to your website, the stronger your GBP ranks in those areas.

  1. Maintain Ongoing Optimization (Google Checks Activity!)

Google doesn’t “set it and forget it.”

Your profile must be:

  • Updated
  • Active
  • Posted to
  • Reviewed
  • Photo refreshed
  • Connected to strong landing pages

Ranking in multiple cities requires weekly effort, not a one-time setup.

Together, all of these points create the ranking power needed to climb to the top of the Google Map Pack in all the areas you serve.