I have a store and a PHP website with around 30 pages that I'm happy with.  We are opening up 4 more stores and want each to have a near identical website but store customisation (phone, address, email etc etc).

I wanted to explain my plan, which I can do, but wanted to see if this was a bad idea...

Create a sub domain for each store.  Keep all the existing pages as the generic content.  Each subdomain which just include each of the existing pages but have another small php include in each subdomain for variable data. eg

*************

mygenericfile1.php:

echo "my tel is " . $mytel;

*************

store1info.php:

$mytel = "123456";

*************

myactualwebpage.php:

include store1info.php:

include mygenericfile1.php;

*************

I can get this to work and  the above is just a sketch, but is this approach going to cause me any problems?  I could put the store variable data in mysql but that seems effectively the same way, just a different place to store it.

Thanks in advance

 

@PPMark - why do you need separate websites?

If the content is going to be almost the same on each it would be far simpler to just create a page for each store with all the contact info, opening times etc.

Google likes this sort of arrangement and so will your customers.

Duplicating everything could easily affect the ranking of the primary site so don't do it.

What you can do is set up a Chain GBP. This will give you immediate local visibility with links back to the corporate site.

Thank you.  No, each store will have it's own content throughout the site and it varies between stores.  There's about 95% generic but a number of items on each page is specific to that store.  Each store has around 20 pages each with 10+ variable data on each page.

Edited December 2, 20241 yr by PPMark

I'd still just have the one site with location pages.

Your proposal is going to cause you more problems than it's worth.

But if you really want to have a set of subdomains make each site totally independent. This is where WordPress multisite would work really well for you.

A central DB with a common theme and plugins but the content of each site is unique to the location. Do not under any circumstances duplicate the content except where it's about the business, privacy, legal, returns etc.

But the best method is still to have a single site with breadth and depth. Google will then boost everything across all locations. Which is simpler than trying to rank lots of duplicate websites.

Unless of course Google isn't part of your marketing plan.

Ok, thank you, I will investigate your suggestions further.

Each store will act more of a standalone for the local area.  The prices, services and some customisations to the local market will be on each page.  Each store will be submitted in its own right to google maps.

Each would be a local website so I would want some in town1 to find the business in town1 only either google search of more likely google maps.  What they then see are the main services but the page with variable data for the local area and relevant to them.

Edited December 2, 20241 yr by PPMark

+1 to what @fisicx on the risks of cannibalisation here.

Are the stores going to be under the same franchise/brand? And are customers able to order products/services online?

2 minutes ago, Jogeta316 said:

+1 to what @fisicx on the risks of cannibalisation here.

Are the stores going to be under the same franchise/brand? And are customers able to order products/services online?

There will be one section for online ordering (they'll all point to the same place) but that is a small part of the business.  Bulk will be via email or in store.

Yes, a franchise is the closest idea and branded the same.

I see!

With that being the case I'd approach it how fisicx suggested.

If I'm a customer and I want a product that my local branch doesn't have then I'll go elsewhere for it - but if a salesperson can see what I want in the warehouse/another store, and can get it to me; you've made a sale.

With there being an online component to the business I'd give the product database fields for physical location. Something out of stock everywhere except location 'C' could still be sold to customers via the website then, and stores could track down items.

In-store pickups as a delivery option would work too - but you'll need to explain to your client that they'll have to be diligent with stock-takes!

If the logistics of that kind of inventory management aren't possible, and folks can create accounts, then you could capture their local branch at sign up and have the website only show products available there?

It's more of a services business rather than products.  Think of it like a restaurant franchised.  People will want to know they're on the website for their local business.  The language used will be specific to that location but a lot of the content will be generic.  The online ordering will be <5% and they can all go to the same place for that as it is delivered.

Even more reason to just have a single site with location pages.

If location A offers 6 services you list them on the page with links back to each service page.

If location B offers 8 services you list them on the page with links back to each service page.

The services pages can then link to the locations where you can get those services.

If there are services not provided at locations A and B but are available at C you can say this on the page. Someone may be willing to pay the additional fees to get the workers from C to come to A or B.

Key to everything is the GBP for each location or service area.

If properly planned and structured and fully integrated with your GBP the website will do really well. But you do need to plan. It's very easy to get this wrong.

Thank you, I'll work on this.

Sorry, new to all of this!  So, I have almost a single page for each location with bespoke content and these can be in each subdomain and a contact page again in each sub domain.  I then populate this page with various links to a single core, generic page for each service.  I like to have the email and tel at the top of every page though, so how would that work out as when the user is on a generic page, I want them to have their 'local' email/tel?  Maybe some sort of php session that knows the location and show the relevant content and also adapts the contact page?  If so, what do I show when the google search takes them directly to a services page and not via a location?

 

So, I had to order some photos last week from Snappy snaps so is a good example.  https://www.snappysnaps.co.uk/

Their website leads you to select a store.  If you choose one, say https://www.snappysnaps.co.uk/lincoln/ all their services page are within that store eg

https://www.snappysnaps.co.uk/lincoln/personalised-gifts

That means presumably they're repeating the services pages over and over again for each store.  Is that the 'bad idea' you mention above?  This idea was my original idea of setting it up or maybe there's a difference I can't see.

Edited December 3, 20241 yr by PPMark

5 hours ago, PPMark said:

Thank you, I'll work on this.

Sorry, new to all of this!  So, I have almost a single page for each location with bespoke content and these can be in each subdomain and a contact page again in each sub domain.

Do NOT create subdomains. Just create a page on the main site for each location. On that page you have the contact details and a contact form. Keep it really simple. If you want different header content that's simple to do - but not with session variables - Google doesn't like these.

As long as all your internal linking is good each location page will rank. Except of course you really want to put all your efforts in to a GBP for each location. They will get you far nor leads than the website.

If this all now to you maybe get some help as it's not a simple thing to create.

Thank you.  Technically I can create it how I want (within reason!) - I've been learning all the way and can certainly do what you suggest.  It's the best approach that I'm not sure about but I hear what you are saying and will go down that route.

So, someone goes to location-A site then goes to generic-service-page-1, how do I show the location-A contact on the top of generic-service-page-1 if I haven't carried over some sort of session to tell it which tel/email to show?  I can do it with a session or post/get etc? Same for knowing which location contact page to link to after visiting various generic pages?

Edited December 3, 20241 yr by PPMark

You don't have a generic service page.

On the page for location A you list the services at that location along with their contact details and ideally pictures of the staff.

For each service you link to a page describing that service. Also on the page you list the location where that service is provided.

Now comes the clever part. When the service is provided you write a blog post about the customer, location, service provided and any additional information. Over time this will build up a huge corpus of indexable content. With categorisions and cross linking this will really boost your ranking across the whole service area.

When you ask for a review from the customer you post this on the location GBP. On the location pages you add in a Google feed to display the reviews.

It's all about marketing.

Using session variables won't work if cookies are blocked (and most of them are).

On 12/4/2024 at 8:51 AM, fisicx said:

You don't have a generic service page.

On the page for location A you list the services at that location along with their contact details and ideally pictures of the staff.

For each service you link to a page describing that service. Also on the page you list the location where that service is provided.

Now comes the clever part. When the service is provided you write a blog post about the customer, location, service provided and any additional information. Over time this will build up a huge corpus of indexable content. With categorisions and cross linking this will really boost your ranking across the whole service area.

When you ask for a review from the customer you post this on the location GBP. On the location pages you add in a Google feed to display the reviews.

It's all about marketing.

Using session variables won't work if cookies are blocked (and most of them are).

Apologies and I've only just seen this.  Your approach sounds sensible, thank you.

1 hour ago, PPMark said:

Apologies and I've only just seen this.  Your approach sounds sensible, thank you.

If you are using wordpress or some other CMS, building a site that does all the above is really simple and more importantly - totally free.