Intro
Track region-level searches in GSC so you can separate county or area intent from city-specific local demand.
Use this regex to isolate region-based searches in GSC when users search by broader area rather than a specific town or city.
The Regex
How This Regex Works (Explained Simply)
()
Parentheses group terms together so GSC treats them as one unit. That is what lets one regex cover several query variants in a single filter.
|
The pipe means OR. GSC will match any term on either side of the pipe, which is useful for variants, modifiers, or alternative phrases.
\b
Backslash-b marks a word boundary. It helps stop short terms from matching inside longer words in GSC queries.
GSC regex is case-insensitive by default, so capital letters do not need separate variants. GSC also uses partial matching by default, so the regex can match part of a longer query unless you anchor it with ^ or $.
What This Regex Does
- Matches grouped regional terms as standalone phrases.
- Separates broader location targeting from city and postcode demand.
- Supports regional service-area reporting.
What it does not match
- seo agency south east - South east only matches in the variation.
- seo agency london - This is city-based rather than region-based.
Edge Cases
- Region names can be ambiguous or abbreviated, so keep an eye on query quality.
- Multi-word location phrases can need additional variants if your users shorten them.
Example Matches Table
| Query | Match | Why |
|---|---|---|
| electrician yorkshire | Match | Contains yorkshire, which is part of the grouped regions. |
| seo agency scotland | Match | Scotland appears as a regional modifier. |
| seo agency south east | No | South east only matches in the variation. |
| seo agency london | No | This is city-based rather than region-based. |
How to Use This in Google Search Console
- Open Performance and go to Search results.
- Click Add filter and choose Query.
- Select Custom (regex).
- Paste the regex and click Apply.
When to Use This
- Track regional service-area demand separately from city pages.
- Measure which broader areas drive the most local visibility.
- Spot mismatches between regional landing pages and actual query modifiers.
Pro Tips
- Region names vary a lot by country and market, so treat this as a template recipe.
- Multi-word regions need careful testing because phrasing can differ across users.
- Compare regional demand with city demand to decide where to invest in local landing pages.
- Use page filters to see whether regional traffic is landing on city pages instead.
Variations
Add another region
Extends the grouped regional modifiers with one more area.
Related Regex Recipes
Regex for City-Based Queries
Use this regex to isolate city-based searches in GSC when your reporting needs to focus on explicit city modifiers in the query.
Regex for Location + Service Queries
Use this regex to isolate location-plus-service searches in GSC when users combine a place and a service type in the same query.
CTA
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