Google personalizes search results based on your location. This means if you’re in the United States, you usually won’t see results that are more relevant to someone in Ethiopia.
However you may sometimes want to see results from other countries. For example:
- An SEO expert may want to see how their pages perform globally.
- A researcher in one country may need contextual search results from another
This is where they hit a roadblock.
We’ll teach you reliable, easy-to-use methods to check Google search results in countries other than the one you're searching from.
Why localized Google Search results matter
Google’s search results differ based on your location, language preferences, and search history. For businesses targeting multiple regions, understanding these differences is essential for effectively reaching your audience and optimizing your content.
Google aims to provide the most relevant results based on who is searching and where they are searching from.
Here is the search engine results page (SERP) of someone searching from the Netherlands:
But if you were to search in Austria, you'd see this SERP for the same keyword:
Localized search results mean that:
- A person in Vienna searching for "best coffee shop" will see completely different results than someone in Amsterdam due to Google’s emphasis on geographic relevance
- A search for "digital marketing agency" in Germany may prioritize German-based companies, even if an international agency is more established globally
- When using your mobile device, you may see different rankings than on desktop, as Google prioritizes mobile-friendly websites for smartphone searches
Personalization extends beyond location. Google also considers language settings, past search behavior, and even local legal restrictions when displaying results. For instance, GDPR regulations in the EU impact which sites can track data, potentially affecting ad targeting and ranking visibility.
Why businesses must optimize content for multiple locations
Ignoring localization costs you traffic and conversions from international audiences. To rank well in different regions, you should:
- Use region-specific keywords aligned with local search trends.
- Implement hreflang tags directing visitors to the correct regional website.
- Develop localized content with cultural nuances for better engagement.
- Acquire backlinks from local sources to boost authority in each market.
Without these steps, you risk losing visibility to competitors with better local SEO strategies.
Leveraging local SERP data for competitive insights
Monitoring localized search data provides valuable insights into:
- Market trends – Identify high-demand local keywords.
- Competitor strategies – Understanding which companies dominate local rankings and why.
- Ad performance – Tracking how PPC campaigns perform across different regions.
Using proxies and scraper APIs enables you to collect SERP data at scale without triggering anti-bot protections, enabling real-time SEO and advertising strategy adjustments.
Why localized Google search results matter
Google’s search results are not one-size-fits-all. They are dynamically adjusted based on location, language, and browsing behavior, meaning that two people searching for the same keyword in different regions can see completely different results. If your business operates in multiple markets, understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring your content reaches the right audience.
How localized search results impact your audience
Google prioritizes results relevant to people searching in specific regions. Key considerations include:
- Geographic relevance – A search for "best pizza restaurant" will return different results in New York, London, and Tokyo.
- Language preferences – Google serves content based on language settings, making it essential to optimize for multilingual audiences.
- Search trends by region – Some keywords are more popular in one location than another. For example, "Black Friday deals" is common in the U.S., while "Singles’ Day discounts" dominates in China.
Failing to account for these differences can mean losing out on valuable traffic from key regions.
Why you should optimize for multiple locations
To maximize your search presence internationally, optimize content per target market by:
- Using location-specific keywords matching local behavior.
- Creating culturally relevant localized content.
- Implementing hreflang tags for correct language display.
- Building local backlinks to strengthen regional domain authority.
Fine-tuning your SEO strategy for local intent boosts rankings and attracts relevant traffic.
Monitoring local SERP data for market trends and competitor insights
Tracking local search engine results can provide valuable insights into:
- Market demand – Identify trending keywords and topics in different regions.
- Competitor strategies – See which brands dominate local searches and analyze their content.
- Advertising trends – Track how PPC ads differ by location and spot opportunities for targeted ad campaigns.
By using proxies and scraper APIs, you can gather accurate, location-specific search data without triggering Google’s anti-bot measures. This allows you to adjust your SEO strategy in real time and stay ahead of the competition in multiple markets.
Understanding why Google Search results vary by location
Google's search results aren’t the same everywhere. Depending on where you’re searching from, what language you use, and your browsing history, search rankings can look completely different. If you're monitoring SERPs globally, understanding these variations is key to making informed SEO decisions.
Factors that influence Google Search results
Several factors contribute to localized search variations, including:
- Location – Google prioritizes geographically relevant results. A search for "best coffee shop" in New York will differ from the same search in London.
- Language settings – Google personalizes results based on your language preferences.
- Search history and personalization – Google tailors results based on previous searches and interactions.
- Device type – Mobile and desktop searches often return different results, with Google prioritizing mobile-friendly websites for searches made on smartphones.
Broader regional influences also play a role.
Why simulating searches from different locations accurately matters
To get a true picture of search rankings across different regions, you need a way to simulate searches from multiple locations. This is where proxies and scraper APIs come in. By routing requests through localized IPs, proxies allow you to see Google results exactly as they appear in specific cities or countries. This ensures:
- Accurate rank tracking – No misleading ranking positions due to personalization or location bias.
- Better keyword research – Understand how search terms perform across various markets.
- Competitive analysis by region – See how competitors rank in different locations and tailor your strategy accordingly.
Without this level of accuracy, your SEO efforts could be based on incomplete or misleading data. Using high-quality proxies and scraper APIs provides the most reliable insights for global search monitoring.
How to view Google Search results in different countries
If you’re monitoring search rankings worldwide, you need reliable ways to simulate searches from different locations. Google’s algorithm tailors results based on location, language, and search history, meaning rankings can look completely different across countries.
Here are several methods—both manual and automated—to view Google search results from different regions.
Manual methods
Here are some manual methods to use:
Using Google settings and advanced search
Google allows you to change your location settings to view country-specific results:
- Change country settings – Go to Google Search settings and adjust Region Settings to see search results from a specific country.
- Use Google’s Advanced Search – After performing a search, click Settings > Advanced Search and filter results by region.
Pros:
✅ Free and doesn’t require additional tools.
✅ Simple for occasional checks.
Cons:
❌ Doesn’t fully replicate a local experience (IPs may still influence results).
❌ Time-consuming if you need to check multiple locations or keywords.
2. Using Google Ads preview tool
The Google Ads Preview and Diagnosis Tool lets you simulate search results from different locations without affecting your personal search history. Primarily for advertisers, it also helps check organic results.
How to use the Google Ads Preview Tool
- Log into your Google Ads account.
- Go to Tools & Settings > Ad Preview and Diagnosis.
- Enter your target keyword.
- Select a location (city, region, or country) to simulate search results.
- Choose the device type (desktop, mobile, or tablet).
Pros:
- Unbiased search results, free from personalization.
- Allows city-level targeting, more precise than broad region settings.
- Free if you have a Google Ads account.
Cons:
- Requires a Google Ads account.
- Still manual, not scalable for many keywords.
- Focused on ad visibility, so may not fully reflect organic rankings.
3. Using Chrome Developer Tools
Google Chrome lets you simulate a location by setting latitude and longitude. This provides precise geolocation control for testing local search results in specific cities or neighborhoods.
How to set a custom location in Chrome Developer Tools
- Open Google Chrome and go to https://www.google.com.
- Press F12 (Windows) or Cmd + Option + I (Mac) to open Developer Tools.
- Click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner of DevTools.
- Choose More tools > Sensors.
- Under Geolocation, select Other… and enter latitude/longitude (e.g. 48.8566, 2.3522 for Paris).
- Refresh and perform a Google search.
Pros:
- Highly precise — any worldwide location.
- Built-in and free.
- Works for organic and Google Maps searches.
Cons:
- Technical setup — manual coordinates.
- No bulk automation.
- Does not change IP address, so Google may still use your actual network location.
If you need quick, one-off location tests, Chrome Developer Tools is convenient. For scalable monitoring, proxies or scraper APIs are more effective.
Automated methods
Here’s how to automate Google SERP tracking using proxies and scraper APIs.
Using proxies to simulate different locations
Proxies mask your real IP and route requests through residential, mobile, or data center IPs from specific locations, ensuring your results match what local users actually see.
import requests
from bs4 import BeautifulSoup
# Define proxy (Replace with actual credentials)
proxies = {
"http": "http://username:password@us.proxyprovider.com:8080",
"https": "http://username:password@us.proxyprovider.com:8080"
}
# Google search query
query = "best SEO tools"
url = f"https://www.google.com/search?q={query}"
# Set headers to mimic a real browser
headers = {
"User-Agent": "Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; Win64; x64)"
" AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko)"
" Chrome/119.0.0.0 Safari/537.36"
}
# Send request through proxy
response = requests.get(url, headers=headers, proxies=proxies)
# Parse results
soup = BeautifulSoup(response.text, "html.parser")
results = soup.find_all("h3")
# Print search result titles
for result in results:
print(result.text)
Pros:
- Accurate local search simulation
- Scalable for multiple locations
- Works with custom scripts
Cons:
- Requires proxy rotation to avoid bans
- Needs careful request handling
Extracting SERP data with scraper APIs
Scraper APIs automate the entire Google search extraction process, including proxy rotation, CAPTCHA bypassing, and structured data parsing.
import requests
# SOAX API endpoint and key (replace with actual credentials)
api_key = "your_api_key"
search_query = "best SEO tools"
location = "New York, United States"
url = f"https://api.soax.com/google?query={search_query}"
url += f"&location={location}&api_key={api_key}"
response = requests.get(url)
if response.status_code == 200:
data = response.json()
for result in data["organic_results"]:
print(result["title"], "-", result["link"])
else:
print("Error:", response.text)
Pros:
- Fully managed proxy and CAPTCHA handling
- Scalable for bulk keyword tracking
- Clean structured JSON output
Cons:
- Paid service (depends on usage)
- Requires API key and setup
Combining proxies and scraper APIs for advanced rank tracking
For large-scale SEO monitoring, combining proxies with a scraper API can ensure high reliability and broad coverage. You can track thousands of keywords across many locations, using automated scripts to analyze ranking trends. Reports can be generated in Google Sheets or any BI tool.
Pros:
- Scalable & automated — no manual intervention
- Historical tracking — compare rankings over time
- Accurate — mimics real search behavior
Cons:
- Initial setup requires API & proxy integration
- Ongoing maintenance if you host your own proxies
No maintenance if you purchase a scraper API from SOAX!
Best practices for monitoring search results with proxies and scraper APIs
Tracking search engine rankings is essential for SEO and competitive analysis, but search engines aggressively block automated scraping. Accurate, consistent results require a strategic approach that combines high-quality proxies, proper request handling, and compliance with data regulations.
Choose high-quality proxies
Proxies act as intermediaries between your scraper and search engines, masking your real IP address. The right proxy type depends on your needs, budget, and anonymity requirements.
- Residential proxies — Real IPs from ISPs, harder to block but more expensive
- Mobile proxies — Carrier IPs, highly trusted but costly and limited
- Datacenter proxies — Cheapest and fastest, but easily flagged; better for short-term large-scale scraping
You can choose a proxy provider - like SOAX - that offers smart, automatic IP rotation to prevent detection. We also offer geo-targeting in 195+ countries, down to the region or city level, so you can target location-specific search results.
Optimize request parameters and error handling
- Set realistic intervals — Avoid rapid requests to prevent rate limits. Use randomized delays.
- Use diverse agents — Rotate user-agent strings to simulate various devices.
- Handle CAPTCHAs — Use CAPTCHA-solving services or proxy solutions that include this feature.
- Implement retry logic — Use exponential backoff to avoid suspicion. Switch IP on blocks.
Ensure compliance with Google’s terms and data privacy laws
- Use official APIs when possible — Google’s Custom Search or Search Console APIs are more compliant.
- Comply with GDPR/CCPA if collecting user data. Store data securely and avoid PII without consent.
- Use ethical scraping — Don’t overload servers or ignore robots.txt (where applicable).
Integrate with SEO tools for better insights
- Compare scraped results with Google Search Console to verify accuracy.
- Merge with SEO platforms like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Moz for deeper analysis.
- Visualize data in dashboards (Google Data Studio, Tableau, Power BI) for actionable reporting.
Conclusion
Understanding local variations in Google search results is crucial for any global SEO strategy. Rankings can differ significantly by location, device type, and search history, making accurate, region-specific data collection essential. Without reliable monitoring methods, businesses risk making misinformed decisions.
Adopting these technologies can dramatically enhance your global SEO efforts. If you're ready to improve your search data extraction, consider SOAX’s proxy and scraper API solutions. Start a three-day trial for just $1.99 and elevate your SEO monitoring.

John Fáwọlé
John Fáwọlé is a technical writer and developer. He currently works as a freelance content marketer and consultant for tech startups.
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