1. Start with the geography your firm actually serves
The Census record identifies Santa Cruz city and its relationship to Santa Cruz County. The dashboard page describes city data as part of its broader measurement view, including rankings, calls, leads and source attribution. Those are different layers of information. A Santa Cruz city ranking is not automatically a Santa Cruz County ranking, and a county call should not be treated as a city result without a location rule. During evaluation, ask how the dashboard distinguishes a target location, a caller’s location, the page that generated a contact and the geography attached to a matter.
Recommended approach
Bring your intended service-area definitions to the consultation. Decide whether the first review concerns Santa Cruz city, Santa Cruz County, California more broadly or separate combinations. Keep those labels stable in reporting so partners do not compare unlike geographies. The population estimate can establish why Santa Cruz is a relevant place to discuss; it cannot establish that a particular practice area has demand there.
