How to read a map pack grid
The Doily team
Reviewed by the Doily team, Oct 2026 Updated 4 min read
Quick answer
A map pack grid checks your local ranking for one search from many points around your business, instead of one. Because distance is a local ranking factor, your position changes block by block. Read the grid for strong and weak areas, then compare the same grid month to month.
Why it matters
A single rank check tells you how you appear from one spot, usually your office. Customers search from home, work, and the road. Google says distance is one of three local ranking factors, so your position near your own address says little about how you appear across the area you serve.
A grid turns that into a picture. It shows where you are strong, where competitors take over, and whether a change you made helped in the places you care about.
Key takeaways
- Local ranking varies by searcher location because distance is one of Google's three local factors: relevance, distance, and prominence.
- Strength near your address and weakness farther away is the normal shape. Judge it against your actual service area.
- Use the same keywords, grid size, spacing, and device each time so checks can be compared.
- You cannot move your business, so improve relevance and prominence, and set realistic targets for distance.
Step by step
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Choose the searches to check
Pick 3 to 5 searches that bring local customers, such as the main service plus the word near me, or the service plus a town. Choose terms customers use, not your internal service names. Keep this list stable so results can be compared.
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Set the grid to match your service area
Center the grid on your address and set the spacing so the outer points reach the edge of the area you want to serve. A tight grid shows detail near you, and a wide grid shows reach. Use the same setting every time.
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Run the check and record the date
Each point reports your position in the map results as if the search came from there. Save the grid with its date, device, and search term. Run it again on a fixed schedule, such as monthly.
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Read the shape
Look for where you rank in the top 3, where you are listed lower, and where you do not appear. A strong core with a fading edge is expected. A weak core, a missing side, or a sudden drop across the whole grid points to something to investigate.
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Compare with competitors
Note which businesses take the spots you miss, and whether the same one wins in each weak area. Open their profiles and compare categories, review count, review recency, and photos with yours. These show where relevance and prominence differ.
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Fix what you can influence
Check that your primary category matches the search, your services and description are complete, and your website has a clear page for the service and place. Keep earning honest reviews, which Google says feed prominence. Google says there is no way to pay for a better local ranking.
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Repeat and track the trend
Compare grids over months, not days, since local results move around for many reasons. Tie any change to a dated action, such as a category fix or a new service page. Report the trend alongside calls and direction requests from your profile.
How to read the colors
Use a plain reading key when you share the grid with a client or owner.
| Grid shape | What it usually means | First thing to check |
|---|---|---|
| Strong in the center, weaker at the edges | Normal distance effect | Is the weak area inside the territory you want to serve |
| Strong on one side, weak on the other | A competitor is closer or stronger there | Their category, reviews, and photos |
| Weak everywhere, including at your address | Relevance or prominence problem | Primary category, profile completeness, review count |
| Sudden drop across the grid | Something changed | Profile edits, suspensions, hours, or a listing conflict |
How Doily helps
Doily's rank tracking includes a local map pack grid, with Google positions checked daily and available by country, state, or city.
Questions
Why am I not number 1 across the whole grid?
Distance is one of Google's three local ranking factors, so a competitor that sits closer to a point can win it even with a weaker profile. Expect your rank to be strongest near your address.
Does a grid show what every customer sees?
No. Results also depend on the searcher's history, device, and other signals. A grid is a consistent sample taken the same way each time, which is what makes the trend useful.
Can I move up by adding a virtual office?
Google's guidelines say service-area businesses can't list a virtual office unless it is staffed during business hours. Use a real address, or hide it and set a service area.
Sources
Primary sources, checked Oct 11, 2026.
