What a geo-grid is
A geo-grid measures your Google Maps ranking from many points on the map at once. A grid is laid over your service area and, for a specific search, each point records where you rank.
The result is a map with a number on every point. At a glance you see where you are strong, where you vanish and how far your visibility reaches.
Why a single ranking misleads
Google says it ranks local results on three factors: relevance, distance and prominence. Distance depends on where the search happens, so two people in different parts of the same city can see different results for the same words.
If you check your ranking from your office, you see your best side. You can rank first a few metres from your door and be missing a few streets away, right where your customers live.
The same goes for reports that give a single ranking for a whole city. That number comes from one point, or summarises many, and it does not tell you what happens in each area.
How a measurement works
A tool simulates the search from the coordinates of each point and records where your profile ranks. These are the choices that matter:
- Search term: pick the exact keyword and measure each service separately.
- Centre: usually your business or the middle of the area you want to cover.
- Size: a 7 x 7 grid, for example, gives you 49 measurement points.
- Spacing: this depends on your business. A neighbourhood store needs a tight grid, while a company that travels to customers needs a wider one.
- Record: save the date and settings so you can repeat the same test.
How to read the map
Points are usually colour coded: green where you rank high and red where you rank low or not at all. Then look at four things:
- Coverage: how many points have you in the top three, the results Google tends to highlight in search.
- Average position: a useful summary, though it can hide a strong centre and empty outskirts.
- Shape: if your visibility drops sharply in one direction, check which profiles dominate that area.
- Worthless points: water, empty land or places with no customers. Account for them before drawing conclusions.
Common mistakes
The tool is simple, which makes it easy to reach the wrong conclusion.
- Measuring only your brand name. People searching for your name already know you.
- Comparing measurements with different settings. If size or spacing changes, you are no longer comparing like with like.
- Using a grid out of proportion to your real service area.
- Deciding from a single scan. Local results move, so you need to see the trend.
- Confusing rankings with business. A green map is a good sign, and phone calls are the result.
What we do with this data
We use geo-grids to decide where to work and to check whether the work is having an effect. We find the weak areas and review your profile, your reviews, your local pages and the relevance of each service.
Nobody serious can guarantee you a position on Maps. What we do is show you the map, repeat the measurement under the same conditions and compare it with Search Console and your real leads. The final figure is how many contacts arrive from each area.