One of the fundamental truths about SEO is that no two Google searches are the same.
The logic behind it is simple, things you’ve Googled, read and watched are stored[1] for at least three months[2] before your Web & App Activity is deleted, if at all.
This, together with data on devices you use as well as places you go – both in terms of location history and the current IP – lets Google deliver personalized results. While this is convenient, you end up in the infamous “filter bubble”. [3][4]
In a world of highly customized SERPs on the one hand, and a host of ranking signals for local search Google uses[5] in its algorithms on the other, pulling relevant ranking data is as challenging as it gets.
Luckily, there are a bunch of ways to pop the filter bubble, targeting the one thing that seems to be dominating personalized search – location.
Not only does it determine what users see in search results, but it also helps business owners address the issue of inconsistent SERP performance across their service areas.
The thing is, doing your local SEO homework doesn’t stop at continuous content improvement and link building, targeted specifically for local search. Poor performance can still be an issue – one that is oftentimes attributed to not having enough of a customer base in a certain location. Therefore, the problem can only be diagnosed by checking SERPs for the entirety of the geographical area covered.
Without further ado, let’s look at how you can fetch rankings for different locations manually and using designated tools – all from the comfort of your home.
Country-level search
First off, decide on