Is your business in the Google Maps top 3?
The Google Maps top 3, also known as the Google 3 pack, is the short list of local businesses Google shows first when someone searches for what you do. Our free audit shows where you rank, who's in those three spots and what's worth doing next.
Run your free local audit →Free, with no card and no account. Your results come on screen and by email.
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What is the Google 3 pack?
Search for a local service and you'll usually see a map with three businesses underneath it. That's the Google 3 pack, also called the local pack or map pack.
Those three names get seen first, with their ratings, reviews and a quick way to call. If you're further down, customers are seeing someone else before they see you.
The good news is that this is easy to check, and the answer isn't the same everywhere in your area. Knowing where you stand is the first step to more local enquiries.
Why the top 3 matters to a local business
Think about the last time you needed a locksmith, a mechanic or a takeaway. You probably picked from the first few names you saw, and you may not have scrolled any further.
Your customers do the same. The three businesses in the pack show their star rating, their opening hours and a button to call or get directions, all before anyone reaches a website.
The rest of the list is still there, but it's a tap or a scroll away. That's why being in the top 3 for the searches that matter to you is worth knowing about, and worth working towards.
Why the same names keep showing above you
It can feel as if the same few businesses have the top spots sewn up. Google is open about what it looks at, which helps explain why.
How the Google Maps top 3 is decided
Google says local results are based mainly on relevance, distance and prominence.
- Relevance: how well a Business Profile matches what someone is searching for.
- Distance: how far each business is from the customer who's searching.
- Prominence: how well-known a business is, based on things like how many websites link to it and how many reviews it has.
Google also says "There's no way to request or pay for a better local ranking on Google." That makes it all the more useful to see exactly where you stand.
Your rank changes street by street
Google shows different results depending on where the searcher is standing. You might be first on your own street and much lower a mile away.
That's why one search from your own phone doesn't tell you much. Our audit checks 25 points across your area, so you get the whole picture.
What helps a business into the Google Maps top 3
Google shares its own tips for improving local ranking. None of them are tricks, and most are things you can start on this week.
A complete, accurate profile
Google asks businesses to enter complete information, so it can match you to the right searches. Check your category, services, address or service area, phone number and website.
Opening hours you keep up to date
Google recommends keeping your hours accurate, including holidays. Customers notice when a listing says you're open and you're not. Our local SEO tips cover more quick wins like this.
Reviews, and your replies to them
Google suggests asking customers for reviews and replying to them. Our post on the benefits of Google reviews explains why they matter.
Photos and a helpful website
Google says prominence also draws on what it knows about you from across the web, such as links and articles. A website that answers your customers' questions gives it more to go on.
Common reasons you're not in the top 3 yet
If you're not in the pack, it's usually one of a few things. Your free audit helps you work out which.
- The searcher is further away. Distance is part of how Google decides, so you'll often rank well near your base and lower across town.
- Your profile doesn't match the search. If your main category or services don't reflect what people type, Google has less reason to show you.
- Competitors have more reviews. A steady flow of genuine reviews helps a listing stand out.
- Your website says very little. A few thin pages give Google, and your customers, less to go on.
- Few websites link to you. Links from other websites are part of how Google judges prominence.
Our guide to local search ranking factors goes into each of these in more detail.
See your top 3 position, free
Find your business, add up to three keywords and your Google Maps top 3 audit builds on screen. It takes about a minute.
- A heat map of your Google Maps rank at 25 points across your area, for each keyword.
- The businesses taking the top 3 spots most often, with their ratings and reviews.
- Your Google Search position, and who holds the map pack.
- Whether ChatGPT recommends you, and who it names instead.
Free, with no card and no account. Your results come on screen and by email.
What happens after your audit
Your results show where you're already winning and where competitors take the top spots. From there, you can decide what you'd like to do next.
Google says prominence is partly based on how many websites link to your business, and that's where our SEO plans can help. We write and publish articles to your website and build your backlinks for you, from £49 a month.
You can try it for 7 days for just £1, with 3 free articles once your website is connected. Our local SEO services page explains what's included.
Every plan comes with weekly rank tracking, so you can follow your key phrases on a Google ranking graph in your dashboard. You can compare what each plan includes on our pricing page.
No card needed. Then try it for 7 days for just £1, including a FREE website audit worth £49.
Google Business Profile support is a separate service, from £39 a month, and we're opening it up in stages. You can read more on our Google Business Profile page.
Google Maps ranking questions
Our answers to what local businesses ask most.
What is the Google Maps top 3?
It's the three local businesses Google shows first, usually under a map, when someone searches for a local service. It's also known as the Google 3 pack or local pack.
How do I check if I'm in the Google 3 pack?
Run our free local audit. It checks 25 points across your area for each keyword, because your position changes depending on where the searcher is.
Why is a competitor above me on Google Maps?
Google looks mainly at relevance, distance and prominence. Your audit shows who's taking the top spots, with their ratings and reviews.
Can you get me into the top 3?
No one can promise that. Google says there's no way to request or pay for a better local ranking. Your audit shows where you stand, and our SEO plans do the work that supports your visibility.
Can I pay Google to be in the top 3?
Not in the local results. Google says there's no way to request or pay for a better local ranking.
How much does the audit cost?
Nothing. It's free, with no card and no account, and your results come on screen and by email.
Is the Google 3 pack the same as Google Maps?
They're closely linked. The 3 pack is the map and three listings shown in Google Search, and it draws on the same Business Profiles you see in Google Maps.
Does my website affect my Google Maps ranking?
It can help. Google says prominence draws on information from across the web, such as links and articles, and your website is a big part of that.
Do reviews help me get into the top 3?
Google suggests asking for reviews and replying to them, and says review count is part of prominence. Genuine reviews from real customers are the way to go.
Find out where you stand
It takes about a minute to see where you rank and who's showing above you. Run your free audit, and you'll know exactly where you stand.
Run your free local audit →Free, with no card and no account. Your results come on screen and by email.