Location Vs. Typing

[iivgi]

Hi all,

I wonder

I am NOT located in Dallas and i type in Google : buy groceries online dallas

Is it the same like someone in Dallas that will type: buy groceries online

Lets say the two persons open a new incognito window and their history no effects the resoults

Thank you

ivgi

[MiriamEllis]

Hi Ivgi,

Good question. In Local SEO, what you're describing is typically similar but not always exactly the same. There are 2 ways to typically get local results delivered to you by Google.

1. Typing in a keyword Google judges to have local intent and then matches to the location of your device. So, if you're in Dallas and search for 'grocery store', then Google will show you local grocery stores near you.

2. Typing in a keyword+geo term (Dallas) so that you are signalling to Google that you want results specific to that location. It doesn't have to be the location you're in. After all, someone located in Dallas may be looking for a hotel room in San Diego and by including 'San Dieogo' in their search term, they are signalling to Google that they want local results for a different city - not for the city in which their currently located.

You can do some testing of this and you will see that Google will show similar results for both types of queries, though there are typically some minor ranking differences. For example the searcher in Dallas who doesn't include 'Dallas' in his search term may see slight variations in which businesses are ranking where in the local pack of results than the searcher does who is including 'Dallas' in his search term, but isn't actually located in Dallas. The differences are typically slight.

You can also test this out by using Google's search refinement tools to set your location to different cities and perform searches. Again, you may see some slight differences than when you aren't setting your location, but they are slight.

I've explained the above because I'm not sure whether the sample search term you've included in your post is your actual search term. I've explained how Local works, but, all this being said, your sample search is not typically going to bring up Local results, because of the inclusion of  'online' in your query. That is telling Google that you don't care if a business is in Dallas or not. You want to buy something online.

In that case, then, no, you are unlikely to get the same kinds of results for the two different queries. 'Buy Groceries Online Dallas' is likely telling Google you want results from Dallas-based virtual businesses that sell groceries on the Internet, whereas 'Buy Groceries Online" is almost certain to return you generic, national results, regardless of where you are located. There may be some Dallas results included, but I would predict that there would be national ones as well.

The best way for you to research this is to perform your own varied searches for whatever your real search term is. Hope this helps!

[iivgi]

Hi Miriam,

Thank you very much for this detailed answer.

You made some very interesting points here, made me think

What i am looking for are businesses that provides online Local grocery services ( shopping and delivery) for DFW area (Dallas Forth Worth)

Can you suggest the best way to type it?

And after that - what i should find is, if this is the way most if the people will search in Google

For their local online grocery shopping & delivery company

Thank you again

ivgi