Google search results aren’t one-size-fits-all. Depending on where you are in the world, your search results will look completely different from someone else’s, even if you’re both searching for the same thing. For businesses, marketers, and researchers, this creates a challenge when you need to see search results from other countries. Fortunately, it’s possible to get around the localization barrier.
Let’s dive into why it matters, how it affects your business, and most importantly—how you can get accurate search results from any country.

The Significance of Localized Google Search Results

Google’s algorithm customizes search results based on factors like location, language, and your browsing behavior. This means that someone in Paris searching for "best bakery" will see different results than someone in New York. It’s Google’s way of giving searchers what’s most relevant to them.
For businesses targeting multiple countries, understanding how these variations affect results is critical. Otherwise, you risk missing out on valuable traffic, or worse—appearing irrelevant in the eyes of potential customers.
Here’s how location-based search results can impact your business:
Geography: Searching for "best coffee shops" in Tokyo yields different results than in London. Google’s geography-first approach ensures you get results that are relevant to where you are.
Language: A search for "digital marketing agency" in Spain will likely highlight Spanish agencies, even if global agencies have more recognition.
Device Type: Ever notice how your mobile results differ from your desktop search? Google’s mobile-first indexing makes sure the results you see on your phone prioritize mobile-friendly websites.
And here’s the kicker—Google takes regional laws like GDPR into account. These regulations can change which sites show up or how ads are displayed in certain countries.

Why Your Business Needs Global SEO Optimization

You can’t afford to ignore the differences between regions when developing your SEO strategy. Here’s why you should localize your approach:
Use region-specific keywords – What works in one country may not be popular elsewhere. Keep your keywords aligned with local search trends.
Implement hreflang tags – These little codes ensure that Google serves the right language and region’s version of your site to the right audience.
Create localized content – Cultural relevance is key. Understand local preferences and tailor your content to fit.
Build local backlinks – A local backlink can increase your domain authority and help boost rankings in that specific region.
If you don’t optimize for multiple regions, you risk losing visibility to competitors who do.

The Influence of Local SERP Data

The real treasure lies in monitoring local search data. It’s not just about understanding what’s ranking well, but why it’s ranking well. Tracking these details provides insights into:
Market trends – What keywords are hot in different regions?
Competitor strategies – Who dominates search results in certain countries?
Ad performance – How are PPC campaigns performing across various markets?
By using proxies or scraper APIs, you can collect search engine results data at scale. This ensures you're gathering real-time, region-specific data without triggering anti-bot protections.

The Factors that Influence Google Search Results

Several elements come into play when Google personalizes search results:
Location – A search for "best pizza" in New York will yield different results than in Rome.
Language preferences – The language settings on your device influence the search results.
Device type – Mobile and desktop searches often return different rankings.
Search history – Your past behavior will shape the results you see.
Understanding these variables is vital for anyone looking to track rankings globally. If you want accurate results, you need to simulate searches from specific locations without any personalization interference.

How to Check Google Search Results in Other Countries

Now let’s get to the practical side. If you want to see Google’s search results from a different country, you have a few reliable options:

Manually Adjust Google’s Settings
Change Region Settings: You can go to Google Search settings and adjust your region to see results from a specific country.
Advanced Search: After performing a search, you can use the Advanced Search feature to filter results by region.
Pros: Free and easy for occasional checks.
Cons: It’s time-consuming if you need to check multiple keywords or locations, and it may still not fully replicate local search behavior.

Google Ads Preview Tool
Google’s Ads Preview Tool allows you to simulate search results based on different locations and devices.
How to use it:
Log into Google Ads.
Go to Tools & Settings > Ad Preview and Diagnosis.
Enter your keyword and select a location and device type to see localized results.
Pros: Free if you have a Google Ads account.
Cons: It focuses mostly on ads, so it may not fully reflect organic rankings.

Use Chrome Developer Tools
This method involves setting a specific geolocation in your browser’s developer tools.
Steps:
Open Google Chrome.
Press F12 (Windows) or Cmd + Option + I (Mac) to open Developer Tools.
Go to More Tools > Sensors, and enter the latitude and longitude of your target location.
Pros: Precise control over location, free, and works for organic searches.
Cons: Manual setup and limited scalability.

Automate with Proxies and Scraper APIs
For large-scale, automated tracking, proxies and scraper APIs are your best bet. These tools simulate searches from different locations without the risk of getting flagged by Google.
How it works: Proxies mask your IP and route requests through servers in your target country. Combined with scraper APIs, this allows you to track rankings in real-time.
Pros: Scalable, reliable, and allows you to track multiple keywords across regions.
Cons: Requires setup, and some tools are paid.

Best Practices for Using Proxies and Scraper APIs

When using proxies and scraper APIs, here are some key strategies:
Choose high-quality proxies – Residential proxies are harder to block, but mobile and datacenter proxies can work too, depending on your needs.
Optimize request parameters – Use randomized delays and rotate user-agent strings to avoid detection.
Handle CAPTCHAs and errors properly – Use CAPTCHA-solving services or proxies that offer this feature.
Ensure compliance – Be mindful of data privacy regulations like GDPR when collecting data.

Conclusion

Localized Google search results are critical for anyone with a global SEO strategy. Search rankings can vary wildly depending on location, device, and search history. To make informed decisions, businesses need reliable methods to check search results from multiple countries. Whether you’re using Google’s manual tools, proxies, or scraper APIs, the key is to stay ahead of the curve and ensure your SEO efforts are built on solid, location-specific data.
By understanding and simulating searches in different regions, you’ll be equipped to make smarter, data-driven SEO decisions that will propel your global strategy forward.