HOW LOCAL SEARCHACTUALLY WORKS
Plain-language answers about Google Maps, reviews, AI search, ads, and tracking, written for people who run moving companies.
Local Search & Google Maps
Local search is how Google decides which nearby businesses to show for searches like “movers near me.” Learn how the map pack works, what affects rankings, and how service-area pages should be built.
- What is local SEO?
- What is the Google map pack?
- How does Google rank moving companies in Maps?
- What are local citations?
- What is NAP consistency?
Google Business Profile
A Google Business Profile is the listing that appears in Google Maps and the map pack. Learn how verification, service areas, categories, posts, multiple locations, and suspensions work.
- What is a service area business?
- How Google Business Profile verification works
- Why Google Business Profiles get suspended
- How Google Business Profile categories work
- What are Google Business Profile posts?
Reviews & Reputation
Reviews affect both rankings and whether customers call. Learn what review platforms allow, how to ask for reviews, and how to handle negative ones.
AI Search & Answer Engines
ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google’s AI Overviews answer questions directly and cite a few sources. Learn how these systems pick sources and how businesses become one of them.
- What is answer engine optimization (AEO)?
- How do businesses get recommended by ChatGPT?
- What is llms.txt?
- What is generative engine optimization (GEO)?
- How Google AI Overviews and AI Mode choose sources
Google Ads & Local Services Ads
Paid search puts a business at the top of Google for a price per click or per lead. Learn how Local Services Ads, Performance Max, Quality Score, negative keywords, and location targeting work, and how to judge cost per lead.
- What are Local Services Ads?
- Google Guaranteed vs. Google Screened: what replaced them
- What is Performance Max?
- What is Google Ads Quality Score?
- What are negative keywords?
Leads & Lead Generation
A lead is a potential customer who has asked for a quote. Learn how lead types, pricing models, and response time affect how many leads become booked moves.
Websites & Conversion
A website turns search visits into calls and quote requests. Learn how conversion rates, quote forms, structured data, and redesigns affect results.
Tracking & Attribution
Tracking connects calls, forms, and booked jobs back to the marketing that produced them. Learn how call tracking, UTM parameters, and offline conversions work.
Glossary
Short definitions of the website, search, and advertising terms used across the Learning Center, each linked to the guides that use it.
- What is a 301 redirect?
- What is a canonical tag?
- What is clickthrough rate (CTR)?
- What is a GCLID?
- What is Google Search Console?