By the Seovoro Team · Last updated October 27, 2026
Key takeaways
- Google says local results depend on relevance, distance and prominence. You cannot change distance.
- A rank grid shows your ranking at many points on a map, so you see weak areas instead of one number.
- Compare grids only when the keyword, grid size and radius are the same.
- Improve weak areas with a stronger profile, service pages and genuine reviews, then re-run after a month or two.
If you search for "dentist near me" from your shop, you may see your business first. Ask someone two miles away, and you may not appear at all. A local rank grid shows this clearly, on one map.
In this guide
- What a local rank grid is
- Why rankings change from street to street
- How to read your grid
- What to do with the results
- Mistakes to avoid
- A simple example of reading a 5 by 5 grid
- Choosing grid size and radius
- When a grid can mislead
- Report it to a client or your team
- How Seovoro can help
- FAQ
- Sources
What a local rank grid is
A rank grid places a set of points (for example 5 by 5 or 7 by 7) over a map around your business. At each point, it checks where you rank in Google Maps for one keyword, as if someone searched from that spot. Each point is then colored or numbered by rank. Green or low numbers mean you rank high; red or "20+" means you are hard to find there.
Why rankings change from street to street
Google Maps results depend on three things: relevance (how well your profile matches the search), distance (how close you are to the searcher) and prominence (how well known you are, including reviews and links). Distance is the one you cannot change, which is why a grid usually looks strong near your location and weaker as you move away.
How to read your grid
- Strong center, weak edges: normal. You win near you. To grow the strong area, you need more relevance and prominence.
- Weak center: a bigger issue. Check your category, name, address and reviews first.
- Patches of weak spots in one direction: a competitor is probably stronger there. Look at their profile and reviews.
- Averages: some tools show an average rank or a "share of local voice" number. They are useful to compare over time, as long as you keep the same keyword and grid size.
What to do with the results
- Pick the keyword that earns you customers, not just the one you like. Run a separate grid for each main service.
- Check your profile using our Google Business Profile checklist.
- Add service pages on your website for each main service and area you truly serve.
- Collect reviews that mention the service and the area naturally.
- Re-run the grid after a month or two, on the same settings, and compare.
Mistakes to avoid
- Checking only one point and calling it "my ranking".
- Changing the keyword or grid size between runs and comparing the numbers.
- Reading too much into one daily result. Maps results move around a little from day to day.
A simple example of reading a 5 by 5 grid
Say you run a plumbing business in the middle of a suburb and you run a grid for "emergency plumber". The center point shows rank 1. The four points right around it also show 1 to 3. But the whole east side of the grid shows 15, 18 and "20+". That tells you something clear: a competitor on the east side is closer to those searchers and probably has more reviews or a stronger profile.
Your next steps would be to look at that competitor's profile, check how many reviews they have compared with you, and see whether you have a page on your website for the east-side suburbs you actually serve.
Choosing grid size and radius
- Radius: match how far customers actually travel. A café might need a radius of one or two miles. An emergency plumber might need ten.
- Grid size: 5 by 5 is a good start. A 7 by 7 grid shows more detail but costs more time or credits.
- Keyword: use the words customers use, not your industry's jargon.
When a grid can mislead
- Google personalizes results a little, so your own search at your desk may not match the grid.
- Results shift day to day. Compare grids from the same time of day when you can.
- A strong grid for a keyword with almost no searches is not worth much. Choose keywords people really use.
Report it to a client or your team
A grid works well as a before and after picture. Save the first grid, make your changes, and run the same grid again after a month or two. The map makes progress easy to see for people who do not follow SEO.
How Seovoro can help
Try our local rank grid to see where you appear on the map, then talk to us about fixing the weak areas.
FAQ
How big should my grid be?
Start with a 5 by 5 grid around your business and a radius that matches how far your customers really travel.
How often should I run a grid?
Once a month is enough for most local businesses. Run it more often only while testing a change.
Does a green grid mean I will get more customers?
It means you are easy to find. Customers also need a good profile, good reviews and a clear way to contact you.
Sources
- Google Business Profile Help: Tips to improve your local ranking on Google
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Written by Seovoro SEO Team
SEO, AEO & AI Search specialists at Seovoro. View author profile