Local SEO Strategy

Guys,

In regards to local SEO, does Google automatically localize you by location? For example, I reside in LA. When I type in "car repairs", will I get local LA results only? And this is regardless of whether I am logged into my gmail account or not.

Some insight here would be great.

Thanks!

It's called geo location. I don't think there is anything we can do to alter the results.

Great question zee007,

Google attempts (using a variety of factors) to determine a searcher's location to deliver the most relevant results.

Note that here, http://support.google.com/websearch/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=179386

Google attempts to automatically determine your location based on either an IP address, the Google toolbar or by the (user controlled) location specifier on the SERP page.

In February of this year, Google rolled out the Venice update which attempts to provide more detailed localized search results using the above factors. You can read more about it at the link below.

http://www.seomoz.org/blog/understand-and-rock-the-google-venice-update

So it would seem that whether you are logged in or out of your account (assuming that the location is still set), it wouldn't matter and you would still receive localized results. If Google is able to successfully use your IP address to determine your location, it may also not matter if you change the location settings. Although I can see the IP address method not being accurate either.

Hope that helps,

Shawn

Heres2TheCrazy1's said:

I have noticed that google does consider where you are at. If I am in Salina ,KS and type in auto repair without Salina or Kansas it brings up Auto Repair shops in Salina and surrouning area.

Click to expand...

Agreed. Google does geo-targeting and does look up results based on your location. However, you can turn off geo-targeting feature

zee007 said:

Guys,

In regards to local SEO, does Google automatically localize you by location? For example, I reside in LA. When I type in "car repairs", will I get local LA results only? And this is regardless of whether I am logged into my gmail account or not.

Some insight here would be great.

Thanks!

Click to expand...

Well, What happens is that if the user, for instance, types the phrase ?car repairs? and he/she has the location set to a specific city (in this case I assume it?s Los Angeles), then she/he will be shown local results. Also, if somebody is using their mobile phone for such a query they will be shown the local results based on the GPS location for their phone.

Nonetheless, if they do not have any location set on their computer or the GPS deactivated in their phone, they will probably be shown national results. Yet, it is good to say that every now and then local results will be shown on a computer based on the IP address that it has if no location has been chosen.
I hope this helps.