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.
- Explainer
What is local SEO?
Local SEO is the work of helping a business appear in search results for people looking for its services in a specific area, including Google's map results, through its Business Profile, reviews, website, and business listings.
- Explainer
What is the Google map pack?
The Google map pack is the group of local business listings and a map that Google shows near the top of the results for searches with local intent, such as "movers near me."
- Explainer
How does Google rank moving companies in Maps?
Google ranks businesses in Maps and local results mainly by relevance, distance, and prominence, using the Google Business Profile, information from the web, links, and reviews, and it doesn't allow anyone to pay for a higher local ranking.
- Explainer
What are local citations?
A local citation is an online mention of a business's name, address, and phone number, such as a listing on a directory, map, or data provider, and consistent citations help search engines confirm the business's details.
- Glossary
What is NAP consistency?
NAP consistency means a business's name, address, and phone number match everywhere they appear online, so customers and search engines get the same details from every source.
- Comparison
Service area pages vs. doorway pages
A service area page gives visitors useful, specific information about how a business serves one place, while a doorway page is one of many near-identical pages made to rank for similar searches, which Google treats as spam.
- How-to
Local SEO checklist for moving companies
A local SEO checklist for a moving company covers the Google Business Profile, reviews, the website, business listings, and tracking, with each step based on what Google says affects local results.
Want this handled for your moving company?
Explore SEO for movers