What it is

Location-Based Tracking allows you to control where Google is searched from when tracking a keyword.

In each keyword’s settings, you can define:

The Google region (e.g., google.com, google.co.uk, google.ca)
The Language
A specific Search Location (country, state, city, or ZIP/postal code)

This tells Keyword.com to simulate the search from that selected location when collecting ranking data.

Why it matters

Google search results change based on location, especially for keywords with local intent (e.g., “dentist”, “plumber”, “SEO agency”).

Without setting the correct location:

Rankings may not reflect your actual target market
Local businesses may see misleading results
Competitive analysis may be inaccurate

Location-Based Tracking ensures your rankings reflect where your customers are searching from, not just a generic national result.

How it works

When a Search Location is added:

Keyword.com performs the query from that specific geographic location
Rankings are collected based on that local result set
The ranking history is tied to that exact location

You can track from:

Country level
State/province level
City level
ZIP/postal code level

Each location behaves as an independent tracking configuration.

If you track the same keyword in multiple cities, each location will have its own ranking history and metrics.

Google Region vs Language vs Search Location

These three settings work together but control different things:

1. Google Region

Determines the Google domain being queried.

Examples:

google.com
google.co.uk
google.ca

This affects:

Capital city-level result sets
Regulatory/local variations
SERP feature layout

2. Language

Defines the interface language used for the search query.

This impacts:

Language-based SERP variations
International tracking scenarios

3. Search Location (City / ZIP / Geo)

Overrides the broad regional query and forces Google to return results as if searched from a specific geographic point.

Examples:

Toronto, ON
New York, NY
SW1A 1AA (UK postal code)

This is most important for:

Local businesses
Multi-location companies
Agencies managing franchise SEO

Default (no explicit Search Location)

If no Search Location is entered, Keyword.com uses the capital city of the chosen Google region as the default point of origin to ensure consistency.

Example:

selecting google.co.uk without a city will return results consistent with London, United Kingdom rather than an undefined national aggregate.

This approach provides reproducible results across accounts and projects while still reflecting region-specific SERP patterns. Documented location controls live in the keyword settings.

Broad vs City-Level tracking behaviour

Broad (region-level) tracking

Performed when you select a Google region and do not set a specific city/postal code (default = region capital).
Produces regionally consistent rankings tied to the capital-city seed point.
Best for national brands, eCommerce, or queries without local intent.

City / ZIP-level tracking

Performed when you set a specific city or postal code.
Produces localised rankings that can differ significantly from the region-level (capital) results.
More relevant for local businesses, franchises, and multi-location clients.

City / ZIP-Level tracking

If a city or postal code is entered:

Rankings are collected from that exact location
Local pack behavior becomes highly relevant
Results may differ significantly from national rankings

Best for:

Local service businesses
Brick-and-mortar stores
Franchise or multi-branch brands

When to use city or zip targeting

Use city/ZIP targeting when:

The keyword has local intent (e.g., “dentist near me”)
Rankings vary significantly by geography
You serve customers in a specific metro area
You manage multiple physical locations

Avoid overusing city-level targeting for:

Broad informational keywords
National brand queries
Non-location-dependent terms

Important note on Search Volume (MSV)

Even when you set a city or ZIP-level Search Location, the Monthly Search Volume (MSV) returned is still based on country-level data for the selected Google region

This means: