New Zealand rankings - Is Google taking city into account now?

[David_Buckingham]

I've just noticed over the last 24 hours that Google New Zealand seems to be taking city into account with the search results - when I search from Christchurch - I get CHCH companies and Auckland results when searching from Auckland.

I would like to rank my client nationally - any tips? Has anyone else noticed this?

I need to be the top of Google for my keyword throughout the country. Any articles that could help?

Kind regards,

David

[Aleyda]

Hi David, Even if users search for a generic, non-geotargeted keyword, in dependence of the type of keyword (potential local businesses or services), user's history, location, intend, etc. Google can end-up geotargeting it and provide users with a blended or maps type of results too. If this is the case you're talking, then what Brian's commented above would be the right way to go: If your business is relevant and has presence nationwide create optimized, relevant landing pages for each of your cities starting with the most important ones, those you look to attract traffic with (featuring specific information about your business or services for them, and if you have physical presence in each one of them, then your address and phone, creating if possible additional presence for each one in Google+ for businesses too). Thanks!

[AAttias]

Google is definitely taking your location into account when delivering you search results.

As every Google user is going to get different result I don't think there is any point targeting a national keyword because everyone's search results will be based on the area they are searching from. My advice and this is something that has worked for us is to create unique pages for the areas you would like to be found for. As far as I am aware Google considers 'local' to be a 30 mile radius. So I would say pick the biggest towns/cities in every 30 mile radius and create a separate web page for them. For example, one page for Christchurch, one page for Auckland etc.