If you’re a local business owner and you have no idea where you’re showing up on Google, you’re not alone. Most business owners either assume they’re ranking well or have no idea how to check. The good news: you don’t need an expensive SEO tool or an agency to find out. Here’s a free, two-step method you can do right now.
What Is the Google Map Pack?
Before we get into the steps, you need to understand what you’re actually looking at when you search on Google.
When you type a local search query, like “plumber Orlando” or “personal injury attorney Tampa,” Google almost always surfaces a map with three business listings directly below it. That block is called the Google Map Pack (sometimes called the Local Pack or 3-Pack).
These three listings get the most clicks of any result on the page. If you’re not in them, you’re invisible to the majority of local searchers. The goal isn’t just to rank on Google. it’s to rank in the top three of the Map Pack for your category and city.
Step 1: Pull Up Your Google Business Profile
Head to your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) and look up two things:
- Your primary category — this is how Google classifies your business. Examples: “Digital Marketing Agency,” “Personal Injury Attorney,” “HVAC Contractor.”
- Your city — the city listed on your verified business address.
Write those two things down. You’re going to use them in the next step.
If you haven’t claimed and verified your Google Business Profile yet, that’s your actual first step before anything else. You cannot rank in the Map Pack without it.
Step 2: Search Your Category + City on Google
Open a browser, type your primary category followed by your city, and hit search.
For example: digital marketing agency Orlando or roofing contractor Kissimmee.
The Map Pack should appear near the top of the results. Look at the three businesses listed. Is your business one of them?
If yes — great. Note your position and keep reading, because staying in the top three takes ongoing effort.
If no — scroll down past the Map Pack and click “More businesses.” Start counting down the list until you find your name. You might be fourth. You might be fifteenth. Either way, now you have a real number to work with, not a gut feeling.
Why This Matters for Your Business
Ranking in the Google Map Pack for your primary category and city is one of the highest-leverage things a local business can do. Studies consistently show that the top three Map Pack results capture the vast majority of clicks from local searches, with the first result often pulling 30% or more on its own.
If you’re a business in the Orlando area and you’re not showing up in the top three for your category, potential customers are finding your competitors first. Every day you’re not visible is a day someone else is getting that call.
What to Do If You’re Not Ranking
Knowing where you stand is step one. Improving from there involves a combination of factors Google weighs when deciding who makes the Map Pack:
- GBP completeness — photos, hours, services, description, attributes all filled out
- Review volume and recency — consistent new reviews signal an active business
- Citation consistency — your name, address, and phone number matching across the web
- Website relevance — your site should clearly reflect your category and location
- Proximity and engagement — how close searchers are to you and how often people interact with your listing
If you want a personalized look at what’s holding your business back from the Map Pack, reach out. We do free local SEO audits for businesses in the Orlando area and can show you exactly where the gaps are.
DropShadow Agency is a marketing agency based in Orlando, FL helping local businesses get found online.
