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Local SEO grid

From RankGear.wiki

RankGear's Local SEO grid checks where a business appears in Google Maps at every point on a grid of coordinates and maps the result, instead of reporting a single citywide rank[1] . Each point is marked with a rank, NF for not found, or ERR for a failed provider request[1] . The maker says a grid shows observed rank at selected coordinates and a moment in time, "not permanent coverage, and not a reason the rank changed"[1] .

Key facts. RankGear's Local Grid runs a separate Maps search at each coordinate point across an area and marks each point with a rank, NF or ERR on an OpenStreetMap basemap[2][1] .

Overview

RankGear's glossary defines a local grid as "a set of searches run at evenly spaced geographic points across an area," which shows how a tracked business's map rank shifts from one location to the next[2] . The grid runs as its own phase inside an Analysis Run[2] . RankGear's local feature page contrasts two ways to go local: an organic Analysis Run with a Near city or state shows the organic field as seen from a place, while the coordinate Local Grid shows Maps visibility block by block across an area[1] .

How the grid works

The user sets the business keyword and target, an exact latitude and longitude for the center, and the zoom, grid size and spacing, which control how large an area is covered, how many points are checked and how far apart they are[1] . RankGear then queries each grid point and paints the results onto an OpenStreetMap basemap with a complete point audit underneath[1] .

Each grid point is a fixed coordinate at which RankGear performs a Maps search "as if a searcher were standing there"[3] . Because Maps results shift with the searcher's location, sampling many points shows how visibility rises and falls across the map[3] . The glossary advises reading the shape of the grid before any single cell, and confirming the center, provider, spacing, depth and tracked business identity before drawing conclusions[2] .

The glossary's example is a plumbing company whose five-by-five grid at roughly one-mile spacing shows position 2 near the shop and position 12 three miles out, a center-strong, edge-weak pattern tied to proximity[2] .

Point audits and markers

Every point gets one of three outcomes[1] :

RankGear's glossary says a provider error "leaves a gap in the grid, not a rank of zero," so blank cells should be treated as missing data rather than evidence the business does not appear there[2] . Points from grids with different settings are not directly comparable[3] .

Beyond the map, the local workflow includes local-pack results and a Maps factor analysis, Places evidence sheets for attractions, landmarks, map tokens and service areas, and optional HTML reports on nearby places[1] . These appear as Local, Maps, Attractions, Landmarks and Service Areas tabs in the workbook, described in Reports, workbooks and Action Planner.

Data needed

The coordinate Maps analysis and Local Grid run on local business data from a search-results data provider or an API marketplace, using the user's own keys[1] . RankGear's requirements page says requests go directly from the user's computer to providers and usage is billed to the user's own accounts[4] . One provider request is made per grid point, and once the grid phase begins it cannot be canceled, so the maker advises sizing the grid before starting[1] . Maps mode requires exact coordinates, so the Near box is hidden there[1] . Provider setup is covered in Pricing, platforms and requirements.

How Google describes local ranking

Google's help page on local ranking says "Local results are mainly based on relevance, distance, and popularity"[5] . It defines relevance as how well a Business Profile matches a search, distance as how far each business is from the searcher, and prominence as how well-known a business is, partly based on links and reviews[5] . Google states that "There's no way to request or pay for a better local ranking on Google"[5] .

Google's suggestions for improving local ranking include verifying the business, keeping information complete and accurate, responding to reviews and adding photos and videos[5] . RankGear's glossary describes map rankings as "highly proximity-sensitive"[2] . Why grid patterns cannot show causes is covered in Correlation and causation in SEO.

Common questions

How does RankGear measure local Maps visibility?

It runs a separate Maps search at each point of a coordinate grid around a chosen center and records the business's rank at every point[2] . Results are drawn on an OpenStreetMap basemap with a point audit[1] .

What is a local grid?

A local grid is a set of searches run at evenly spaced geographic points, showing how a business's map rank changes across an area[2] . It is also called a grid scan or geo grid[2] .

What do the NF and ERR markers mean?

NF means the business was not found within the chosen top N at that point, and ERR means the provider request for that point failed[1] . An ERR cell is missing data, not a rank of zero[2] .

What decides local rankings on Google?

Google says local results are mainly based on relevance, distance and prominence, which it also refers to as popularity[5] . It says businesses cannot request or pay for a better local ranking[5] .

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w "Local SEO". RankGear (rankgear.com). Retrieved November 2026.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Local grid". RankGear knowledge base. Retrieved November 2026.
  3. ^ a b c "Grid point". RankGear knowledge base. Retrieved November 2026.
  4. ^ "Requirements & supported providers". RankGear knowledge base. Retrieved November 2026.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Tips to improve your local ranking on Google". Google Business Profile Help. Retrieved November 2026.