1. Set the geographic boundary before reading the numbers
Redland is a census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland. A report that says “Redland” should not silently combine the CDP with the county, a metropolitan area or the rest of Maryland. Those are different geographic scopes. Ask to see how location is represented in keyword targets, landing pages, calls, forms and lead records. If a prospective client mentions a nearby community, decide whether that interaction belongs in a Redland view, a Montgomery County view or a broader Maryland view. The answer should be a documented business rule rather than an assumption.
Recommended approach
During evaluation, bring the exact geographic labels your firm uses. Request a walk-through of how city, county and statewide views would be separated, and identify which view partners would use for budget decisions.
