1. Set the geographic boundary before reading the numbers
Gustine is recorded as a city in Merced County. A dashboard can be useful only when the geographic scope behind a metric is explicit. A phrase such as “Gustine leads” should not silently include every inquiry from Merced County, California, or another service area. The population estimate for Gustine is context for eligibility and location planning, not evidence that a particular practice area is in demand. Ask how service-and-city targets are named, how a call’s location is determined, and whether city-level and county-level views remain distinguishable.
Recommended approach
Use the consultation to define the locations your firm wants to evaluate: Gustine city, Merced County, California, or another precisely named area. Request a plain-language data dictionary for geographic labels and an example of how a partner would identify the location attached to a ranking, call or lead. Do not approve a report layout until the boundaries match the firm’s business question.
