Locale is Important

In Understanding the Query (Section 2.0), we gave an example of a query that means different things to users in different locations. It is important to think about the locale when thinking about the query.


You must also think about the location of the results you are rating. For some queries, results from other countries may be helpful or desired.

For other queries, results from outside the rating locale may be unhelpful or useless, even if the result is in the right language. For example most users want to make purchases from stores in their own country (unless the item is very unusual).

Do not hesitate to lower the rating to OT if there is a mismatch between the locale and the result which makes the result useless for a user in the locale.

Query and User Intent

LP of the Result Block, Result Block, Utility Rating

Explanation


[white chocolate berry cheesecake recipe], English (US)

Find a specific type of cheesecake recipe.

Landing page link: LP


This result is helpful for users in the US. The ingredients and measurements are familiar to US users.

Landing page link:
LP

Most US users would have difficulty making this recipe. The measurements are in metrics and some of the ingredients and terminology are British.

This result is not helpful for US users.


Query and User Intent

LP of the Result Block, Result Block, Utility Rating

Explanation


[human rights violations], English (US)

Find examples or information about human rights violations.

Landing page link: LP


Most people in the US would be interested in international human rights violations. For this query, results about countries other than the US are just fine. International news sources might be some of the best resources.

All these results are helpful for the query.

Use your common sense to decide what a user in your location would be interested in.

Landing page link:
LP

Landing page link:
LP

[washing machines to buy], English (US)

Buy a washing machine; compare prices on washing machines.

Landing page link: LP

Most users want to purchase common items from stores in their locale.

It would be too expensive to ship a washing machine from the UK to the US. This result is useless for US users.

[house painters], English (US)

Find a company to do house painting.

Landing page link: LP

A painting contractor in the UK is useless for a US user looking for a house painter.

[car insurance], English (US)

Research or purchase car insurance; compare car insurance rates.

Landing page link: LP

An insurance company that operates in Ireland and sells insurance to users in Ireland is useless for US users researching car insurance.

[purchase boys bedding online], English (US)

Purchase bedding for a boys room online.

Landing page link: LP

Cottonbox is a children's linen store in Australia. They ship to Australia and New Zealand, so this result is useless for US users looking to buy linens.



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