Local Business: map results, rivals and areas

How Local Business terms work, what each run records and how to read the map by area.

Lesson
3/8
Reading time
6 min
Sections
3
Through the course
38%

A Local Business term is a search term plus your business name as it appears in local results and your town or postcode. Each run searches Google in a real browser, reads the local map results and records your position, the number of listings and the businesses ahead of and behind you.

Reading results

  • Position and total listings show how visible you are for that search.
  • Rivals directly ahead are the ones to study: reviews, categories and how complete their listing is.
  • Not found says whether local results were shown at all, or you just weren't listed.

Map and areas

Each run is a dot at the approximate location of the network it really used. Runs are grouped into areas with your average position. Locations are never faked.

Lesson 3 of 8

Local Business: map results, rivals and areas