For businesses focusing on local SEO, local search grids have become completely non-negotiable.
While businesses once depended on single rank checks to gauge their local search standing, local search grids now provide a clearer view of how businesses perform across various locations.
In this blog, we will explain what local search grids are, why they matter, their benefits, and how they can transform your approach to local SEO.
What are Local Search Grids?
A local search grid is a visual map. It shows search results for a specific query — keywords — across multiple geographic locations at once. Instead of seeing your local search rank from just one location, you get a grid that displays rankings from many locations around a city or region.
This approach gives you a broader view of how your business performs across an entire city or region, whereas traditional rank checks limit you to results from a single location.
To truly appreciate the rise of local search grids, we first need to examine the shortcomings of single rank checks.
Limitations of Single Rank Checks
1. Lack of Context
Single rank checks provide only a one-point view of an area; a single piece of data that may not be representative of the entire neighbourhood or region.
The results of a single search can shift dramatically from one street to another or between mobile and desktop devices, which makes it unreliable when you need accurate data to understand the real context.
2. Inaccurate Representation
Competition between locations shifts constantly in local SEO, which means a position that looks strong in one spot may not reflect your overall visibility.
Without real-time and multi-location insights, you risk missing key opportunities or threats and end up applying strategies that are ineffective or, unfortunately, even misguided.
3. Missed Seasonal or Time-Based Variations
The nature of search rankings—especially local search rankings—is that they change during the day, week, or season, driven by user behaviour or local activities.
When you rely on single checks alone, you cannot follow these variations, and the limited local data you gather undermines your ability to decide effectively.
With single rank checks, the attention often stays on organic results, while keyword visibility in Google Maps and similar platforms goes unnoticed.
Benefits of Using Local Search Grids
1. Gain Context Across Multiple Locations
Local search grids established context by tracking the performance of keywords across multiple locations simultaneously.
They offer a multi-point view instead of just one, allowing you to see how your business ranks street by street or neighbourhood.
The end result is you won’t be misled by a single data point, and you can capture variations in search results across different devices and locations.
2. See Your True Competitive Position
Local search grids track rankings from many spots in real time, reflecting the true competitive landscape within your entire target area.
This all-encompassing data shows where you are weaker or stronger than your competitors in different locations, enabling you to spot opportunities and threats you would miss using a single rank.
3. Track Changes Over Time
With local search grids, you can track your rankings repeatedly, observing how they evolve over a day, week, or season.
This ongoing information reflects changes in user behaviour and local events, providing a more thorough and dynamic perspective than a snapshot at one moment which comes with single rank checks.
4. Capture Visibility in Maps and Local Packs
In contrast to single rank checks that track only organic performance, local search grids account for rankings in Google Maps and local packs.
This provides a more holistic understanding of your online local presence.
Are You Looking for a Search Rank Grid?
When it comes to selecting a local search software to set up your local search grid, it may seem like a complex and daunting task with so many choices and options available.
SEOModify is considered one of the most reliable SEO software options available to agencies, and its uniqueness comes from the fact that it offers key features dedicated to local SEO without demanding a subscription.
You can track local rankings, monitor keywords, and boost your local visibility through clear insights into Google Maps and local search results.
It’s pay-as-you-go, with no hidden fees, includes white-label reports, live geo grid tracking, and even offers 300 free credits to get started. For businesses of every size aiming to improve their local search, SEOModify’s local search grid is a convenient and low-cost method to improve local search visibility.
Conclusion
The shift from single rank checks to local search grids represents a major change in local SEO management. Keep in mind that businesses that don’t adapt to these location-based insights risk losing their competitive edge.
As local search continues to grow in importance, features like local search grids will continue to shape the future of SEO.
If setting up your first local search grid is on your mind — and it takes less than 90 seconds — you’re exactly where you need to be. Plus, you can do it for free, since SEOModify provides 300 free credits without asking for a credit card.
Set up your free local search grid today and see the full picture of your local visibility across devices.