Part 3: Ensuring SEO & discoverability across multiple domains
In this third and final installment of our blog series, we’ll explore how to improve search engine optimization (SEO) and discoverability across multiple domains in ArcGIS Hub. From metadata management to social sharing previews, small tweaks can have a big impact on how your content is indexed and shared.
Make metadata work for you
The first step to improving visibility is making sure your content is easy for search engines to understand. ArcGIS Hub gives you control over several key pieces of metadata.
Optimize page titles and summaries
- Site title: Keep it clear and concise. This becomes the title tag in search engines.
- Description: Use this field to describe the purpose of the site or the types of content it contains. It often appears as the meta description.
Good Example:
- Title: "Open Data for the City of Springfield"
- Description: "Explore datasets, dashboards, and interactive maps shared by the City of Springfield’s departments."
Set Custom Thumbnails
Visual cues help your site stand out. This is especially true when shared on social platforms. Be sure to upload a high-quality thumbnail image that represents the site’s content or brand.
Understand Open Graph behavior in ArcGIS Hub
While ArcGIS Hub doesn’t let you configure Open Graph tags directly, it does automatically generate them using your:
- Site title
- Site Description
- Logo
This metadata controls how your site appears in platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. To influence this:
- Always complete the title, summary, and logo fields
- Test how your site previews by sharing the link on a private Slack channel or using tools like Facebook Sharing Debugger
Make the Most of the Sitemap
ArcGIS Hub automatically generates a sitemap.xml file for each site. This is a roadmap that search engines use to crawl your site efficiently.
Best Practices:
- Submit your sitemap to tools like Google Search Console or Bing Webmaster Tools
- Make sure pages you want indexed aren’t hidden behind authentication
- Avoid "dead ends" - link out from every page to help search bots crawl your site more effectively
Avoid SEO Pitfalls
As your Hub ecosystem grows, so does the risk of duplicate or hard-to-find content. Here are a few traps to avoid:
Avoid Duplicate Pages Across Domains
Don’t copy and paste the same content to multiple Hub sites. This can confuse search engines and dilute your rankings.
Do this instead: Create one canonical source and link to it from other sites.
Avoid Inconsistent Naming
Avoid cryptic URLs or mismatched branding between pages. Consistency helps both users and search engines navigate your domain ecosystem.
Avoid Broken Links After Rebranding
If you change a site’s name or domain, set up redirects to prevent link rot. This is especially for pages that are already indexed or shared publicly.
Test Your Site’s Visibility
There are a few free tools that can help you audit and enhance discoverability:
Use these to test load speed, metadata, and mobile responsiveness - all of which affect your SEO ranking.
Conclusion: Be Findable, Not Just Functional
Your ArcGIS Hub sites are only as valuable as they are discoverable. By taking a few intentional steps from optimizing metadata to testing how your sites show up in search, you’ll ensure your work reaches the audience it’s intended for.
We hope you enjoyed this series!
Roadmap to success
