Share Your Proven Methods Local SEO

This is just a general post topic based on the biggest question in local SEO, does anyone have a true tested method for ranking a local service based business that services several zip codes??

Anything from your approach to organic, to lesser known details like what type of backlinks do you build to rank the organic pages, and etc.

Thoughts of helping myself but also others searching for this general topic.

I usually only work with clients who service a single zip code, however I had a project-based client a couple of years ago who serviced multiple zip codes. His approach to ranking in these different areas was the following:

1. The owner created multiple service pages for each locations. Each page was relatively the same, though some of them were pretty unique when compared to the blatantly copy and pasted pages.
2. Each page targeted "area+service" keywords. So for instance, one page would be "Los Angeles Plumbing Service" and the other page would be "San Bernardino Plumbing Service".
3. I wasn't hired to build citations on that website, though if I recall correctly, the site was listed in your usual business directories (e.g., Google MyBusiness). I forgot if the business owner bulk location management or not for each location.
4. I don't like discussing my link building strategies, though a part of my strategy involved relying on directory links. However, I've never seen much of a ranking boost from free or paid directory links. This might be due to the fact that they were almost certainly high OBL pages, which I often attribute to a bass boat with too many holes in it.

While, again, I haven't had to work with clients who served multiple areas, I have seen similar strategies employed by competitors of my clients in the past.

I've built a lead gen site in the same manner as steps 1 -2 and it ranked in low comp areas very quickly with just a Facebook link. Yellow Pages indexes fast, but with so many OBL it provides very nil effect in passing benefit.

Directory submissions, Local citation submissions, Making sure all client's info on every listing is accurate (same phone format, email, address, etc), Purchasing/Obtaining niche-relevant guest posts, Apply to HARO (Help a reporter out) and receive daily topics people are looking for info about - if they reach out to you use client's website, Buying link-building packages on BHW marketplace

To hit multiple areas has to do with site structure and content built in links.