Key takeaways
- •Geo-grid rank tracking checks your Google Maps position at many points around a business and shows it as a map.
- •Share of local voice (SoLV) is the share of grid points where you are in the top 3. Average rank (ARP) is your average position where you appear.
- •Choose the grid size and radius to match how far your customers travel.
Geo-grid rank tracking checks where a business ranks on Google Maps from a grid of points around it, then shows the result as a map. It is the standard way to see how local visibility changes across a service area.
How a geo-grid scan works
Pick a keyword, a business and a grid. For a 5 by 5 grid there are 25 points laid out evenly around the business, out to a radius you choose. At each point the tool searches Google as if someone were standing there and records where the business appears.
Each point becomes a numbered marker on a map. The number is the business's position at that spot.
Reading a rank heat map
Most maps use colours: green for the top 3, amber for 4 to 10, red for 11 to 20 and grey for not in the top 20. The top 3 is the local pack, the box of three listings at the top of the results.
Look for the shape. A tight green area around the business that fades quickly means customers farther away can't find you. A wide green area with one red patch points to a specific neighborhood to work on or a competitor who owns it.
The key metrics
Three numbers summarise a scan:
- Share of local voice (SoLV): the percentage of grid points where the business is in the top 3. Nine green points out of 25 is 36 percent.
- Average rank (ARP): the average position at the points where the business appears. Flattering, because points outside the top 20 are left out.
- Average total rank (ATRP): the average across every point, counting a miss as a fixed low position. Less flattering, and more honest.
- Found in: the share of points where the business appears in the top 20 at all.
Choosing grid size and radius
A 3 by 3 grid is a quick check with 9 points. A 5 by 5 grid (25 points) is a good default. A 7 by 7 grid (49 points) gives the most detail. The radius should match where your customers come from: about 2 to 3 miles in a city and 10 or more for a rural service area.
Use the same grid and radius each time so your scans are comparable. If you change them, treat the next scan as a new baseline.
What geo-grid tracking can't tell you
A grid shows positions, not calls or revenue. There is no universal benchmark for a good share of local voice: it depends on your market. Compare yourself with competitors and with your own trend. Results also vary from day to day, so judge a change over several scans.
See how this fits with the rest of local SEO in our local rank tracker guide.
See where you rank, block by block
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Frequently asked questions
What is a geo-grid rank tracker?
A geo-grid rank tracker checks a business's Google Maps position from a grid of points around it and displays the results as a map, so you can see where it ranks across an area.
What is share of local voice?
Share of local voice, or SoLV, is the percentage of grid points where a business appears in the top 3 results. It is a measure of how visible the business is across the area.
What grid size should I use?
A 5 by 5 grid is a good default. Use 3 by 3 for a quick check and 7 by 7 when you want the most detail.
Why are my results different from one scan to the next?
Google's local results change from day to day and vary by location, so small differences are normal. Look at the trend over several scans.