Google shows different search results based on the user’s location, even with identical search queries. Thus localizing your search results is a vital part of your SEO strategy to make sure you are creating content that matches the search intent of the local market.
By switching your search location, you can optimize your international SEO efforts for different audiences, boosting visibility, enhancing user experience, and driving targeted traffic to your website.
To change your location on Google Search, go to Google Search Settings, click “Search settings,” select “Other setting” then “Language & region,” and finally choose your preferred “Result regions” by selecting your desired location from the list.
How to Change Location on Google Search in 5 steps
To change your location in Google Search, you can use the “Settings” option by following these steps:
Step 1: Go to Google Search Settings
To begin, open Google Search in a web browser. Go to the Google homepage. Once you’re on the main search page, look for the “Settings” option situated in the bottom-right corner of the page. Click on this to open the Settings menu.
Step 2: Click “Search settings”
In the Settings menu, locate the “Search settings” option. Click on this, and it will take you to a new page with various search preferences.
Step 3: Select “Other setting” then “Language & region”
Select “Other setting” in the left section, then click on “Language & region”.
Step 4: Select “Result regions”
On this page, you have the options to choose what are the display language, result language and result region.
Step 5: Choose the preferred “Result regions”
A pop-up box will appear with a list of locations. You can filter by country. Choose the location that you want to access, click “Confirm”, and it will be applied to your search settings.
Then, you can just go back to Google Search and conduct a search.
How to see Google search results for other locations?
Apart from changing the setting directly, there are some other ways to view results from other locations as if you are in a different country.
Here’s how to search from a different location in other ways:
Using Google’s Advanced Search
Google’s Advanced Search option allows you to select a specific region for your search results.
- Go to Google’s homepage and click on ‘Settings’ at the bottom right corner of the page.
- Click on ‘Advanced Search’.
- Scroll down and find the field named ‘Region for Search Results’.
- Choose the country from the drop-down menu and then click on ‘Advanced Search’.
Localise search query by specifying the location
You can localise search results by specifying the location in your search query on Google. This is especially useful when looking for local businesses or services.
For example, if you’re searching for “pizza restaurants”, you could specify a location by typing “pizza restaurants in New York” or “pizza restaurants near Times Square”. Google will then prioritize results that are relevant to the specified location.
However, please note that this method has limitations when it comes to broader or less tangible queries. For instance, if you’re trying to understand the general sentiment or trends in a specific location (like “popular movies in France”), simply specifying the location in the query might not yield accurate results.
Google’s algorithms take into account various other factors (like your IP address) in addition to the search query when generating results.
Use Chrome Extensions or Third Party Tools
Another way to localise your Google search results is by using Chrome extensions or third party tools.
These tools allow you to perform a localised search on Google in just one click without changing your Google Setting every time. This is particularly useful if you need to analyse the results of multiple countires.
My favourite SERP location changer would be SEO Search Simulator by Nightwatch. It allows you to simulate search queries from any country and in any language without the need for VPN.
Conclusion
In conclusion, localising your Google search results can greatly enhance the accuracy and relevance of your search. By specifying a location in your search query or using third party tools, you can easily access localised information and results that are tailored to your needs.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that these methods have their limitations and may not always provide accurate results for broader or less tangible queries.
As such, it’s always a good idea to cross-reference your results with other sources and use multiple methods to ensure the most accurate and comprehensive understanding of the topic at hand.
