Geo-grid rank tracking
What is a geo-grid rank tracking?
Geo-grid rank tracking is a way of measuring local rankings by checking where a business ranks in Google Maps for a keyword from many points laid out in a grid, such as 7 by 7 points across a city. The results are shown as a map of coloured pins, each with the rank at that spot.
It exists because local results depend on where the searcher is. A single rank check from your office might show you in first place while customers three miles away never see you. A geo-grid turns that hidden variation into something you can see and track over time.
Why geo-grid rank tracking matters for SEO
Distance is one of Google’s three main local ranking factors, so a business’s visibility in the local pack usually fades with distance from its address. A geo-grid shows how far your strong area reaches, where competitors take over, and whether your work on reviews, categories and content is widening your coverage.
It is also a fairer way to report local SEO results. An average rank across a grid, or the share of points where you are in the top three, says far more than one number from one location.
How to read a geo-grid
- Pick the keyword your customers use, such as “emergency dentist”, not your business name.
- Choose a grid size and spacing that covers your real service area.
- Look for the shape of your strong area: green pins where you are top three, red where you are outside the top ten.
- Compare with competitors’ grids to see who dominates which neighbourhoods.
- Re-run the grid monthly and after major changes to your profile to measure progress. The local SEO tutorial walks through a full workflow.
Geo-grid rank tracking FAQ
Why does my local ranking change across town?
Google ranks local results partly by distance from the searcher, so businesses closer to each point often rank higher there. A geo-grid shows this pattern.
What grid size should I use?
Match it to your service area. A café might need a tight grid of a mile or two; a regional service business might need a grid spanning many miles.
Related SEO terms
The local pack is the block of map and business listings Google shows for local searches, usually three businesses from Google Maps.
Local ranking factors decide which businesses Google shows in Maps and the local pack. Google names three: relevance, distance and prominence.
Google Maps SEO is optimising your business so it ranks higher in Google Maps searches, mainly through your Google Business Profile and reviews.
Rank tracking is checking where your pages rank in search results for chosen keywords over time, by device and location, to measure SEO progress.
A service area business visits or delivers to customers rather than serving them at its address, such as a plumber, cleaner or mobile mechanic.
“Near me” searches are queries such as “pharmacy near me”, where Google uses the searcher’s location to show nearby businesses.