How geo-grid scans work
A scan starts from a center point, usually the business address, and lays a grid of points around it. From each point it runs the same search as if the searcher were standing there, finds your business in the results and records its rank.
The result is one rank for each point, drawn on a map: typically green where you are in the top 3, amber lower down, and red where you are missing. One look shows where you win and where you fade.
Why a grid beats a single check
A single rank check tells you where you appear from one spot, usually your own address. For a local search that is only part of the answer: Google names distance, how far each business is from the person searching, as one of the three main factors in local results, so the Pack can change a few streets away.
A grid shows that variation. Where a single check says you are fourth, a grid can show you first around your address, missing three miles east, and behind a competitor near its second location. That is a map you can act on: defend one area, build up another, or plan around a competitor.
Choosing a grid size
The size sets how many points you check; the spacing sets how much ground they cover.
- 3x3 (9 points). A quick check around one address.
- 5x5 (25 points). A neighborhood or a small town.
- 7x7 (49 points). A wider service area, where rank changes from one district to the next.
Spacing matters as much as size. A storefront that draws customers from a few blocks needs tight spacing; a business that drives to customers across a city needs wide spacing. Keep the keyword, grid size and spacing the same from one scan to the next so the results compare.
Reading the results
Look for the pattern. You are usually strongest near your address; the question is how far that reaches and who takes over beyond it. Check which competitor holds the points you miss, and whether the pattern holds for each of your main searches.
The count of points where you appear in the top 3 is a useful summary, often called share of voice. It moves when your coverage changes, which an average rank can hide.
Geo-grid scans in Rank.ai
Rank.ai’s map scan checks a 3x3, 5x5 or 7x7 grid, with spacing presets from about 250 meters to about 5 kilometers between points, across Google Maps, the Local Pack and organic results. Scans run when you start them.
The summary shows your best rank and how many points put you in the results, in the top 3 and in the top 10. Hovering a point shows the top results there, and a scan can be shared by link with someone who has no account.