Local Rank Tracking

How local rank tracking works

A ranking scan checks your position from multiple pins across a selected area.

Each pin represents a search made from that location. When the scan is complete, the pins form a heatmap showing where the business ranks well and where visibility is weaker.

The number of pins depends on the grid size:

• 5 × 5 grid — 25 pins
• 7 × 7 grid — 49 pins
• 9 × 9 grid — 81 pins
• 10 × 10 grid — 100 pins
• 12 × 12 grid — 144 pins

Larger grids cover more search locations and provide a more detailed view of the area.

Each keyword checked from each pin uses one scan credit. See Scan Credits for more information.

Run a ranking scan

1. Open the location you want to check.
2. Go to Rankings and select Run scan.
3. Add the keywords you want to track.
4. Choose the grid size and set the distance between the pins.
5. Review the scan area and remove any pins you do not need.
6. Check the number of scan credits required.
7. Select Start scan.

The business location is placed in the centre of the map automatically, but you can move the scan area when needed.

As you add keywords, Ranksphere may show their search volume, difficulty, and search intent to help you choose suitable terms.

Understand the heatmap

Each pin is coloured according to the business’s ranking from that location:

• Green — Strong visibility near the top of the results
• Yellow or amber — Appearing around the middle of the results
• Orange or red — Ranking lower or not appearing within the first 20 results

A pin showing 20+ means the business ranks below position 20 or does not appear in the local results from that location.

Select or hover over a pin to see the businesses ranking there. You may also see their Google ratings and review counts. Your own listing is marked as You.

Understand the ranking metrics

The results page includes several measurements to help you review performance across the full area.

Average map rank

Average map rank is the business’s average position across all pins in the scan.

A lower number means a stronger overall ranking. Pins where the business does not appear within the first 20 results are counted as position 20 when calculating the average.

Pins in the top three

This shows how many pins place the business within the first three local results.

For example, if the business ranks in the top three at 18 out of 25 pins, the result will show 18 top-three pins.

Share of voice

Share of voice shows how much visibility the business has across the scanned area.

A higher percentage means the business appears prominently across more of the selected pins.

Add and manage keywords

Keywords are added when you create a scan. You can manage tracked keywords from the Rankings section of the location.

Depending on the available data, each keyword may include:

• Monthly search volume
• Keyword difficulty
• Search intent

Use keywords that reflect the services customers are likely to search for in the business’s area.

Compare ranking results

Once a keyword has been scanned more than once, you can compare its results over time.

Open the keyword and select Compare two dates. Choose the scans you want to review.

The comparison shows how the heatmap and key metrics have changed, including:

• Average map rank
• Number of top-three pins
• Share of voice
• Areas where rankings improved or declined

For the most useful comparison, use scans with the same keywords, grid size, pin spacing, and scan area.

View your scan history

Every completed scan is saved under Scan History.

Each record shows:

• Scan name
• Keyword
• Grid size
• Date and time
• Current status

You can search and filter the list to find previous results.

When you delete a scan, it moves to Deleted Scans. You can restore it from there when needed.

Schedule recurring scans

Recurring scans let you track rankings automatically without starting a new scan each time.

When setting up a scan, choose how often it should run:

• Daily
• Weekly
• Every two weeks
• Monthly

You can also choose:

• The first scan date
• The time it should run
• Whether it should continue indefinitely
• A set number of times it should repeat

Scheduled scans use the same number of credits as manual scans.

For example, a weekly scan using a 5 × 5 grid and one keyword will use 25 credits each time it runs.

If the location does not have enough allocated credits, the scheduled scan will be skipped. The schedule will remain active and try again on the next scheduled date.

Manage a scheduled scan

Open the location and go to Rankings. Your scheduled scans appear below the ranking results.

From here, you can:

• Review the schedule
• Pause future scans
• Resume a paused schedule
• Delete the schedule

Pausing or deleting a schedule does not remove scans that have already been completed.

Access to rankings and scans

Workspace Owners and Admins can run scans and view ranking results for all locations.

Members can run scans and view results for the locations shared with them.

Guests cannot run scans. They can only view ranking results when they have been given access to the location and its Rankings section.

Running a scan uses the location’s allocated scan credits. The scan will not start when the location does not have enough credits.

Local Rank Tracking FAQs

How many pins should I use?

A 5 × 5 grid with 25 pins is a good starting point for most single-location businesses.

Use a larger grid when you need to cover a wider area or review rankings in more detail. Keep in mind that larger grids use more scan credits.

Why does a pin show 20+?

The business ranks below position 20 or does not appear in the local results from that pin.

These pins can help you identify areas where visibility needs more attention.

What does average map rank mean?

It is the business’s average ranking across every pin included in the scan.

It provides a wider view of performance across the area instead of relying on the result from one location.

Can I compare two scans?

Yes. Once a keyword has at least two completed scans, open its results and select Compare two dates.

Why won’t my scan start?

Check that:

• The location has enough scan credits
• Credits have been allocated to the location
• The location is active
• Your workspace role allows you to run scans
• The scan settings have been completed

Workspace Owners and Admins can review credit allocations from Settings → Credit Usage → Scan Credits.

How do I stop a recurring scan?

Open the location, go to Rankings, and find the scan under the scheduled scans list.

Select Pause to stop it temporarily or Delete to remove the schedule permanently. Existing scan results will not be affected.

Related: Scan Credits · Competitors · Locations