How to run a local map scan

A map scan searches Google Maps for your keywords from a grid of points around the business. It shows where the business appears in the local pack at each point. Run one for any business from SEO Tools, or for a client from their SEO → Keywords tab.

How to scan for a client

1. Open the client, go to SEO → Keywords, and switch to Local Search.
2. Optional: under Center scans on, choose A city or address if the Google pin isn't where customers are, type it, and click Save. A client ticked as a service-area business centers on its first service area automatically (Auto: the service area). This setting also moves Zeus's monthly scans.
3. Enter keywords, separated by commas. Leave them blank to use the client's services (the first 5).
4. Choose a Grid Size (3 x 3, 5 x 5 or 7 x 7; default 3 x 3) and a Radius (1 mile, 2 miles, 3 miles, 5 miles or 10 miles; default 3 miles).
5. Click Ask Zeus to Surveil the Region.

The client's city and state are used to find the business on Google Maps.

How to scan any business

1. Go to SEO Tools → Local Map Ranking.
2. Enter the Business Name and Location and click Search Business, then Select This Business. If it's not found, click Click here to use a Google Maps link instead, paste the business's Maps share link and click Find Business.
3. Set the scan options (below).
4. Click Ask Zeus to Surveil the Region.

Scan settings (SEO Tools)

• Manual scan center: off by default, so the grid centers on the business address. Turn it on and type a city, county or address to center there instead. Useful for service-area businesses.
• Keywords to Track: type a keyword and press Enter or click +. Up to 5 keywords; each is scanned at every point.
• Grid Size: 3×3 (9 points), 5×5 (25), 7×7 (49) or 9×9 (81). Bigger grids show more detail and take longer. The price is the same.
• Search Radius: a slider from 0.25 miles to 10 miles (default 1.5 miles). It's the distance from the center to the edge of the grid.
• Scan Details: shows keywords × points, how wide the grid is, and the estimated time.

Reading the results

Pick a keyword to see its heat map. Switch between Rank View and SOV View.

• Ranking Legend: green Ranks 1-3, yellow Ranks 4-6, orange Ranks 7-10, red Not Ranked/11+. Gray Query Failed shows only if a point failed.
• Share of Voice legend: 80-100%, 60-80%, 40-60%, 20-40%, 0-20% — how much of the map pack's attention the business gets at that point.
• Scan Details and Ranking Distribution: counts of points in Top 3, Ranks 4-6, Ranks 7-10 and Not Ranked.
• Share of Voice box: Average SOV, Est. Monthly Clicks and the Strongest Area (the part of the grid it does best in).
• Click a point to see the competitors ranking there. Click Track next to one to add it to a client.
• Click View PDF Report for a client-ready report.

Every grid point gets a real result. If a point fails, it's asked again, up to 3 times. A point that still fails shows as failed on the map and is never counted as "not ranked".

Map rankings over time

On a client's Local Search, Map rankings over time shows one keyword across its scans from the last 12 months:

• Average rank across the grid, where a spot that doesn't show the business counts as #25. Failed points are left out.
• Top 3 area: the share of grid points where the business is in the top 3.
• Tiles show the first scan and the latest, such as "#14.3 → #3".
• Numbered dashed lines mark work done for the client: business listings built, work done items, Zeus Edicts marked done, and Business Profile posts or updates sent to Google.

A keyword needs at least two scans. Scans with a different grid size or radius aren't directly comparable; the tooltip shows each scan's grid. When the client's portal shows Google Map Pack rankings, the portal shows the top 3 area over time too, with only the work done the client can already see.

Past scans

Past scans are on the Past scans tab of Local Map Ranking and in the client's Local Search list. Scans Zeus ran show a Run by Zeus label. See Zeus's automatic map scans.

Examples

• A plumber who only shows near the shop: a 7 x 7 scan, 5 miles, for "emergency plumber". The heat map shows red at the edges, so you plan service-area pages for those towns.
• A mobile detailer with no storefront: turn on Manual scan center and enter the county they serve.
• Before and after: scan the same keywords with the same grid each month and watch Map rankings over time.

Limits and what it can't do

• Up to 5 keywords per scan. Grids from 3×3 to 9×9 in the tool (3 x 3 to 7 x 7 on a client's tab). Radius 0.25 to 10 miles in the tool (1 to 10 miles on a client's tab).
• Business search and Maps link lookups: 30 a minute and 1,000 a day per agency.
• Scans read Google Maps from each point. They can't see personalized results a real searcher might get.

Credits

One map scan credit per keyword, whatever the grid size or radius. The total shows on the button. A keyword that gets no result at any point is returned. Zeus's automatic scans are free.

You can also start a client's map scan from a connected AI assistant, which shows the cost first. See Connect an AI assistant.

Who can use it

Owners and Admins, and Members with the Local Map Ranking tool on. A client's Local Search needs both the Clients tool and Local Map Ranking. A Member limited to some clients sees only their clients' scans, plus scans that match no client. Client people can't run scans.

Troubleshooting

• "Please enter both business name and location": fill both before Search Business.
• "Business not found. Please check the name and location.": use the name exactly as on Google, or paste the Maps link instead.
• "Could not extract business information from the link": copy the link from Google Maps → the business → Share → Copy link.
• "Please add at least one keyword to track": add a keyword and press Enter.
• "Maximum 5 keywords allowed" or "Maximum 5 keywords allowed per scan": split them over two scans.
• "Please enter a scan center location, or turn off manual location": type a center or switch Manual scan center off.
• "Client has no city/state configured": add the city and state on the client's details.
• "No keywords to scan. Add service names or enter keywords above.": type keywords, or add services to the client.
• "Scan failed during processing. Please try again.": run it again. Credits for keywords with no results are returned.
• "Tool access required": Local Map Ranking is switched off for you.
• Lots of red, but the business is popular: check the scan center. A wrong Google pin can put the whole grid in the wrong place.