Nathan Gesner - It really does nothing for us - it's only for cataloging within the AR system. For me, it's habit and I can find my posts easier that way if I'm searching for one to send the link to a client.

I always thought it was an AR thing....

I use this feature at times, but have no clue whether it really adds anything at all to the equation.

I use this feature all the time.  Not sure about the affects with SEO.  Maybe our leader Bob Stewart can weigh in on this one.

I think it's only useful to AR for sorting.

It used to do very well on the SERPS when localism was around. I don't think AR pays attention to the local rankings anymore and rather leave it up to bloggers to SEO their own posts. 

So I did a search in google NOT using an incognito window based on the theory that Google remembers where I have been and the connections I have- so it should show up on the SERPS- 

I first searched for: cody park county wyoming local real estate 

Nothing showed up in the first 10 pages of google for anything on AR. 

So then I searched for: wellington palm beach county florida local real estate ( since i have been blogging with those categories since 2007) and still, nothing from AR in the first ten pages. 

Use the AR platform to amplify your work on your private blog channels. Not the other way around. If you want to be hyper local, do the video, blogging, write that narrative and label your images to push the bots to your own back yard media streams. AR is an enhancement, a rebroadcast tool to extend your reach and frequency but not the corner stone of your SEO. Not anymore.

Nathan I'm just not sure about this anymore. I"m glad you brought it up as I still do link market reports etc to hyper local spots. It would be good to get an explanation of how it works now after all the changes.  Does it have value or not?

Before, Active Rain had a search link for State, county and cities. I think it is gone now. Back then, the consumer could click on say Active Rain NH page, see the top 2 agents on top and then a list of leaders in points. THIS is where points mattered. Then they could search blogs in each by clicking the link for city, county or state. Those links appear to be gone or are they just buried?

   It's helpful to categorize and sort out your posts.  But does it help for SEO?  Probably not.  

Hi Nathan -- this is above my pay grade but I'll check back to see the responses from others.  Good question.   

Great question - I have always posted local posts into a hyper local category thinking that it helped SEO - guess not.  Hey - an extra minute back in my life! 

Yes Lets hear some input here Nathan

It's a why not for me but I can't verify the results.

I use this feature but have no idea about the real impact.

Going to need the advice of a more techie savvy individual than me!

I do believe it gives you one more category to get rated as I see it show up when I searching for topics in my blogs.

I'm certainly no SEO expert, but I always set this info for all of my posts, Nathan Gesner  I have no info/proof to offer you that it is helpful to do, but for the little time it takes me to do it ... I opt to take the chance that it does and it helps others find me/my posts/my services.    

Gene  

I believe it is only for AR.  The content of your post, key words and long-tail phrases will help with your SEO.

It's an AR feature not a SE feature

Good question.   I don't think it does much these days.

The state, county, city and community pages are still here and can be found from a link on front page. this means the search engines find all of those pages. When u post to a hyper community your article will show up on the state, county, city and community pages. This helps the search engine narrow down what/where your post is about plus you have an additional 4 links from ar to your post.  does it help? Probably.

I don't know; I've always used them Nathan Gesner 

I think that they help.

Writing hyper local posts can help, but how it's classified on here doesn't really matter for SEO.  It's just a way to catalogue or organize the posts on here.

It's definitely an AR thing..what you say Bob Stewart ?

So the jury is still out of the room and waiting .

 I use it and throw a penny in the wishing well, and I wish you well.

I use it, and at one time I think it helped but not sure it does anything anymore. Perhaps Bob Stewart can voice his opinion. I'm not sure a reader would come to AR and search that way or even if they can.

We have always preached becoming the Google of your marketplace, and we have seen several instances of agents across the country, who are so well informed via their blog that they are the first place many look for local info.  A

Just for AR I believe.  Either way it's a good way to locate certain post. Will watch your replies.

Reading with keen interest; great question

Figure it was just a AR thing.

I use them often

Internal use only.

Probably no impact

OK, now I'm completely confused on which boxes to check when I write a blog post.

Not sure about SEO. I think it's more of an internal search.

I have always put my market reports into State,City, County and neighborhood for the public to find them.  It works, there are more views on them,

I can not tell me how many times I got calls if a certain restaurant is open and how much pet vaccinations. I'm not sure those calls help my business, people simply pick up the information they need and ignore the rest. We became marketing blind. I do not blame them. 

No idea.

I'm dont agree that it's just for AR use. If AR is using lat/long coordinates in your posts (shouldnt be hard to verify inspecting the source) the search engines can use this information to "place" the community. 

My testing has shown if 'HYPER LOCAL' granularity going lower than city, the blog disappears into oblivion.

Keeping at city level with reinforcing key words and title will get the best outcome. Now, it is possible changes have been made in AR. I suggest posting 2 structured blogs using hyper-local and city level and monitor to the results.

Nathan Gesner - I have my Google Alert - and I do see the alerts from Google for specific area market reports!

I would say it can't hurt.