Guide
Geo-grid rank tracking, explained
A geo-grid rank tracker checks where a business ranks on Google Maps from many points around it instead of from one spot. Each point is its own search, run as if the searcher stood there, and the results are drawn on a map. The map shows the part of town where the business is in the top 3, and the streets where a competitor is.
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Why one Google Maps rank is not enough
Google says local results are based mainly on three things: relevance, distance and prominence (How Google determines local ranking). Distance is measured from the person searching. Two people who type the same words a kilometre apart can see a different map pack.
A classic rank tracker reports one position for one location. For a local business that number describes a single street. A geo-grid repeats the same search from a set of points around the business, so you see where you are visible and where you disappear.
How a geo-grid scan works
- Pick the business. Its location becomes the centre of the grid.
- Place the points. The tracker lays points around the centre up to a chosen radius.
- Search from every point. For each keyword, the tracker runs a Google Maps search located at each point and records the result list.
- Find the business in each list. Its position at a point is its rank there. If it is not in the list, it is shown as not ranked.
- Draw the map. Every point gets a colour for its rank, so the pattern is visible at a glance.
Many trackers use a square grid, such as 7 × 7. AnswerGround uses a centre point plus concentric rings, from 15 to 90 points and a radius of 0.5 to 25 km. Rings group the points by distance from the business, and distance is what changes most from one point to the next. The details are on how the numbers are made.
How to read a rank heat map
Most geo-grid tools colour each point by rank band. In AnswerGround:
| Band | Meaning | Colour |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 3 | In the map pack a searcher sees before scrolling | Green star |
| 4 to 10 | On the first screen of the full list | Amber |
| 11 to 20 | Found, but far down | Red |
| 20+ | Not in the first 20 results at that point | Grey |
Three numbers summarise the map:
- Share of top-3 points (AnswerGround calls it share of local voice): the percentage of points where you are in the top 3.
- Average rank over all points, with “20+” counted as 21, so being invisible never improves the average.
- Top-10 coverage: the percentage of points where you are in the top 10.
A typical pattern is green around the business that turns amber and red further out. The distance where it turns tells you how far your visibility reaches for that keyword. A red patch close to home usually means a competitor sits right there.
Choosing the number of points and the radius
Set the radius to the area your customers come from: a few hundred metres to a few kilometres in a city, wider in the countryside. More points give a finer map but cost more, because every point is a separate search for every keyword. AnswerGround suggests 40 points and 2.5 km as a starting point.
| Scan | Points | Keywords | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small check | 15 | 1 | 15 |
| Suggested start | 40 | 3 | 120 |
| Wide area | 90 | 5 | 450 |
The free plan includes 250 credits a month. Paid plans add automatic rescans, which is how you see change over time. See pricing.
What a geo-grid cannot tell you
- It is a measurement at the moment of the scan. Results move during the day and between days.
- A real searcher can see something slightly different, because their device, account and search history also play a part.
- It does not show how many people search for a keyword, or how many of them call you.
- It shows who beats you, not a guaranteed way to beat them. Nobody controls what Google shows.
How to choose a geo-grid rank tracker
Most geo-grid rank trackers do the same basic job, so the differences are in cost, grid and follow-up. Five questions separate them:
- What does one scan cost? Credit-based tools charge per point searched; AnswerGround and Local Falcon both count one credit per grid point. Divide the plan price by its credits to compare the price per 1,000 points.
- Which grid shapes and sizes can you run? Square grids and rings both work; check that the largest grid covers your service area.
- Can it rescan on a schedule? One scan is a snapshot. Change only shows when the same grid runs again.
- Does it show who beats you, and why? A rank per point tells you where you lose; competitor data tells you to whom.
- Can you share or brand the report? Agencies need a client-ready report, owners mostly do not.
For a worked example with real prices on both sides, see Local Falcon pricing next to AnswerGround.
Who uses a geo-grid rank tracker
Business owners use it to see how far their visibility reaches and which competitor takes the rest of the map. Local SEO agencies use it to show clients a before and after on the same grid, and to report per street instead of per city. AnswerGround adds competitor maps and a per-point “where you lose” reason on every plan.
Comparing tools? Read AnswerGround vs Local Falcon for prices and credits side by side.