Why a grid#
On Google Maps, where the searcher stands changes the results. A plumber can be first for people two streets away and invisible two kilometres further. One check from one spot tells you almost nothing.
A map grid scan searches your keyword from many points laid out around your business and records your position in the local results at each point. The result is a heat map of where you are visible and where you are not.
Map features need a Google Business Profile matched to the project (Projects and settings). They live under Google My Business in the left menu: Overview, Rankings, Map and Comparison, plus Map competitors under Competition.
Grid settings#
Set these in Settings › Project › Advanced settings › Grid:
- Grid — 3×3, 5×5 or 7×7 points (the largest grid is 7x7). New projects start at 5×5. More points give more detail and cost more.
- Shape — Square, Circle, Diamond, Cross or Ring. Circle skips the corners, which are usually outside your service area, so it costs less for the same radius.
- Point spacing / Cover a radius of — how far apart the points are. Fit the grid works out the spacing for the radius you type.
- Map scan — Full grid or Smart scan (cheaper).
The price of one scan is "points × keywords", shown under the grid with a Make it cheaper suggestion when one exists.
Smart scan#
Smart scan checks the likeliest points first and stops early where you are not found. The price on the button is the maximum; you pay only for points actually scanned. Skipped points are grey on the map and are not counted in the averages.
Running a scan#
Nothing scans the map on its own. A scan starts only when you:
- Click Scan now (all keywords) or Scan on one keyword in Map.
- Click Scan on the map · N credits on a keyword card in Overview.
- Click Scan them now in Rankings for keywords that have no map data yet.
- Turn on a schedule in Re-check.
Each button shows the price. A large scan asks once more: "This scans X keywords × Y points = Z credits."
While a scan runs you see "Scanning… N/M points". Results appear keyword by keyword.
Stop#
Click Stop next to "Scanning…". The keyword being scanned finishes; nothing after it is scanned or charged. You can stop the whole scan, one keyword, or a keyword and everything after it. A stopped scan does not restart by itself.
Reading the map#
Each point is a pin with your position at that spot:
| Pin | Position |
|---|---|
| Green star | 1–3 |
| Yellow drop | 4–10 |
| Red drop | 11–20 |
| Grey | 21+ or not found |
| Light grey "Skipped" | Not scanned by Smart scan |
Click a pin to see the full local results at that point: who ranks above you, with ratings and reviews. The Pin legend explains the symbols; pins stay the same size at every zoom level.
ARP — average rank position#
The headline number on every map card is ARP ("avg #N"). It is your average position over all scanned points; lower is better. A failed point (a technical error) is left out; skipped Smart scan points are left out too.
ARP is honest about gaps. If you rank #1 at the centre and are missing everywhere else, ARP stays high — which is the truth about your visibility in the area.
Next to ARP you see Coverage (share of points where you were found) and Top 3 (share of points where you are in the top 3, the zone that captures most calls).
Scan this area#
Pan or zoom the map to a different area and click Scan this area. It scans a full grid centred where you are looking, for one keyword. The price ("N points for M credits") is asked before it starts.
Re-check: scheduling#
Open Map › Re-check (also in project settings as Re-scan the map):
- Frequency — Off, Weekly, Every 2 weeks, Monthly.
- Day and Time — when the scan runs, in your time zone.
- Scheduled scans use — Smart scan (cheaper) or Full grid.
The panel shows "Next scan: Wed, Sep 30 · 09:00" and "Up to N credits per scan · up to M a month". If your balance is too low on the day, the scan is skipped until the next scheduled day.
Overview, Rankings, Comparison#
- Overview — one card per keyword: ARP, coverage, a mini grid and the last scan date.
- Rankings — every keyword with ARP and the change since the previous scan. Click a row to open it on the map. "—" means no scan yet.
- Comparison — two scans of the same keyword side by side, point by point. Needs at least two scans.
- History — in Map you can open any past scan of a keyword; a mini trend shows ARP over time.
Map competitors#
Map competitors lists the businesses that appear next to you across the grid, ranked by how often they appear, with their average position. Sort them, or use Manual order to arrange them yourself. The list is built from your last saved scan, so it is free to open.
Common questions#
Why is my ARP so high when I am first on my own street? Because ARP covers every point in the area, not only the one at your door. It measures visibility across the whole area, not at your door.
Why did my grid change to 7x7? 7x7 is the largest grid. Older projects with larger grids are read as 7x7; older scans stay as they were.
Does adding a keyword scan the map? No. Adding keywords is free and never starts a scan.
What are grey "skipped" pins? Points Smart scan did not check because nearby rings showed you outside the top 20. They are not charged.
I stopped a scan. Is the data I got kept? Yes. Keywords finished before the stop are saved and paid; the rest is returned.