Local SEO
Local ranking grid
A Local ranking grid is a third-party measurement protocol that samples the same local query from a declared set of geographic coordinates and records a business’s observed result at each point.
What it means
The grid is not a Google feature and does not reveal a ranking algorithm. A comparable run fixes the coordinate system, spacing, query, language, device or client, result surface, timestamp window, search depth and treatment of sponsored, tied and missing results; cells beyond the measured depth remain unknown rather than automatically last.
Why it matters
Spatial sampling can reveal how observed visibility changes with search origin, while explicit provenance keeps a colourful heatmap from becoming false city-wide certainty.
Example
A 5-by-5 grid samples “physiotherapy clinic” every two kilometres around one verified location, stores raw Maps results and marks cells where the clinic is absent from the first twenty as “not observed within depth.”
Common mistakes
Do not call the grid Google data, change spacing between comparisons, hide failed cells, convert absence to rank zero, mix result surfaces, infer causality from colour changes or ignore terms of service and rate limits.
How AYSA handles this
Signals reviewed
grid origin, coordinate system, spacing, query, result surface, search depth, timestamp window, raw observation
Problem AYSA can identify
AYSA can detect incomparable grid runs, hidden failures, absent provenance, mixed surfaces and missing cells converted into misleading ranks.
Recommendation prepared
The measurement plan locks geometry and observation rules before any baseline or comparison is accepted.
Approval preview
The reviewer sees the coordinate extent, query, timing, provider method, rate and privacy constraints, missing-data policy and output.
Execution
AYSA can orchestrate permitted observations through supported providers; platform access, terms and rate limits remain binding.
Verification
The report reconciles every cell to a raw observation or explicit failure and compares only runs with compatible contracts.
Limits
The evidence is location-, query-, surface- and time-bound; recommendations, generated replies, captures and monitoring do not automatically certify AI Act or legal compliance, and applicable Article 50 duties require a separate role-and-use assessment from 2 August 2026.
Sources and further reading
- Google Maps Platform — Place search ranking disclosure — Official Google Maps Platform documentation
- Google Business Profile APIs — Performance reports — Official Google Business Profile API documentation
- W3C — PROV Overview — W3C provenance standard
- Schema.org — Place — Schema.org vocabulary
- European Commission — AI Act Article 50 transparency guidelines — Official European Commission guidance
Written by Marius Dosinescu. Reviewed by AYSA SEO Editorial Team · 2026-07-28 00:00:00.
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
Is a Local ranking grid a Google Business Profile report?
No. It is a third-party sampling method built from repeated local-result observations.
Does an empty grid cell mean rank zero?
No. It means the business was not observed within the declared search depth or the observation failed.
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