Local Results – How Does Google Do It?

It is simply amazing at how Google provides you with exactly what you are looking for, no matter what. Whether you are looking for a specific part for your car or the meaning of a term like SEO, you are sure to find exactly what you need right on Google. This would definitely support the claims that Google is the #1 search engine, but there are things that Google seems to know that can truly surprise you. Say you are looking for a local Italian restaurant and let’s just say you have never used Google before. You type the term “Italian restaurants” in the Google search and bam, there you have it, a list of Italian restaurants near your exact location. If you are at home, you will get a list of restaurants near your home, if you are at a hotel, you will see a list of restaurants near your hotel. While, this is exactly the results you where hoping for, you really may be wondering how “they” knew exactly where you where, since you didn’t even tell them.

This scenario can cause a bit of anxiety to those of us that may actually think this through. How does a search engine determine the location of a user without requesting one bit of identifying information? Well, you can stop looking over your shoulder for little Google spies, there is a simple explanation. It is Google’s aim to make searching the internet as easy as it can for the people that choose to use their search engine. They want you to not only see the results you are looking for, they also want to make looking as easy as they can. Google constantly analyzes the way in which people search the internet in order to continue developing their search engine and to continue being named the #1 search engine on the internet.

As Google did research they noticed that many people were not putting a location in their searches on their first attempt to find something located near them. This was an area that Google knew they could improve for their customers. They then started utilizing a little clue to guess your location. This clue is called an IP address. An IP address, or Internet Protocol address, is a numerical ID that is assigned to every computer utilizing a network. This address holds the clue that Google uses to determine your approximate location, even if you don’t tell Google where you are. This is how Google returns the Italian restaurants near you when you simply enter the term “Italian restaurants” in the search bar.

Now, Google would not be Google without taking it a step further. Not only do you get a list of Italian restaurants near your location, you get a map showing you the exact spot where they can be found. This is just another example of how Google works to constantly improve their customer experience. Their aim is to remain the #1 search engine, and with innovative solutions like this, that help make searching easier, they are sure moving in the right direction.