Glossary

Local marketing, in plain words.

Every local SEO term you will run into, defined simply. No jargon, no fluff. Just what each one means and why it matters for getting your business found on Google.

Local SEO: Local SEO is how a local business earns visibility in Google's local results, the map with pins near the top of the page and the listings beneath it. Unlike general SEO, it is tied to the searcher's location, so the goal is to look complete, active, and trustworthy for every area you serve.
Google Business Profile (GBP): Your Google Business Profile, once called Google My Business, is the free listing that decides whether you appear on the map at all. It is the single most important thing a local business controls, and filling in every field is the foundation of local SEO.
Map Pack (Local 3-Pack): The Map Pack, also called the Local 3-Pack, is the set of three businesses Google features on a small map near the top of local search results. Landing in it puts you above every regular link, which is why it drives the most calls.
Citation: A citation is a listing of your business details on another site, like Yelp, Angi, or a local chamber of commerce. Consistent citations tell Google your business is real and help it trust your information.
NAP (Name, Address, Phone): NAP stands for Name, Address, and Phone. Keeping these identical across your website, Google profile, and every directory is one of the simplest and most important local ranking signals. Even small mismatches, like 'Rd' versus 'Road,' can cost you.
Service-Area Business (SAB): A service-area business, such as a plumber, roofer, or cleaner, goes to the customer instead of running a shop people visit. On Google you hide the street address and list the towns and zip codes you serve.
Proximity: Proximity is simply how near your business is to the searcher when they type a query. It is one of the three main things Google weighs for local results, which is why you tend to rank strongest closest to home and can extend outward with real signals over time.
Prominence: Prominence is Google's read on how established and reputable your business is. Reviews, consistent citations, fresh photos, and steady activity all build it, which is why active profiles outrank neglected ones.
Relevance: Relevance is how well your profile matches a given search. Choosing the most specific category, listing every service, and describing what you do in plain language all help Google connect you to the right searches.
Primary category: Your primary category is the main way you tell Google what your business does, such as 'Roofing Contractor' or 'House Cleaning Service.' Picking the most accurate one has an outsized effect on which searches you appear in.
Google Posts: Google Posts are brief updates that appear right on your profile. Posting regularly, with offers, seasonal reminders, or photos of recent jobs, keeps your listing active, which Google reads as a healthy, working business.
Review velocity: Review velocity describes the pace of your incoming reviews. A steady trickle of honest reviews, month after month, signals an active and trusted business and helps far more than a one-time flood, which can look suspicious.
Near me search: A 'near me' search, like 'electrician near me,' tells Google the person wants local options right now. Google uses their location to surface nearby businesses, so a complete, active local profile is what puts you in front of that high-intent searcher.
Rank grid (geo grid): A rank grid, or geo grid, plots your Google ranking across a grid of locations around your service area. It reveals that you can rank number one near your base and much lower a few towns away, which is exactly the gap a service-area business works to close.
Duplicate listing: A duplicate listing happens when more than one Google profile exists for the same business. Duplicates confuse Google, split your reviews and ranking signals, and should be found and merged or removed.
Profile suspension: A suspension is when Google takes a Business Profile offline for a guideline violation, such as keyword-stuffing the business name or using a fake address. The listing disappears from Maps until you fix the issue and request reinstatement.
Local SERP: A local SERP, or search engine results page, is what Google shows for a location-based query. It usually stacks ads, the Map Pack, and then the regular organic links, and local SEO works to win space in the map and organic sections.
Backlink: A backlink is a link pointing to your site from somewhere else, such as a trade association, local blog, or partner. Earning links from real, relevant local sources builds authority that supports your rankings over time.

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