Local Search Grid

What you need before starting

The Local Search Grid relies on two separate services. Google Maps powers the visual map and place lookup. DataForSEO powers the actual ranking scans.

• A Google Maps API key
• A DataForSEO account with credits

What the Google Maps API key is used for

Google Maps is used for the interactive map, address and business autocomplete, and place ID resolution. It is not used to run the ranking scans themselves.

That distinction matters because direct ranking scans through Google Maps APIs are not the point here and create the wrong mental model for how the tool works.

• Maps JavaScript API for the map display
• Geocoding API for location resolution
• Places API for business lookup and place IDs

What DataForSEO is used for

DataForSEO is the scan engine. It handles the ranking tasks across the grid and returns the results so the platform can render them visually.

Each scan point has a very low cost, which is what makes dense grid tracking practical at scale.

Complete the setup wizard

When you first open Local Search Grid, the platform walks you through a setup wizard. You add the Google Maps API key first, then the DataForSEO credentials, test both, and save.

DataForSEO setup can also use sandbox mode for testing if you want to verify the flow without consuming real credits.

• Step 1: welcome and requirements
• Step 2: connect the Google Maps API key
• Step 3: connect DataForSEO credentials
• Step 4: review the summary and launch

Run your first scan

After setup, search for the business, choose whether the scan is for a normal establishment or a service area business, then configure the grid and keywords before launching the scan.

A smaller grid gives a quicker snapshot. A larger grid gives more geographic detail and costs a bit more because it uses more scan points.

• Choose the business from autocomplete
• Pick Establishment or Service Area Business mode
• Set the grid size and distance between pins
• Add one or more keywords
• Start the scan and let the results populate

How grid settings change the scan

Grid size controls how many hexagonal rings are placed around the business, which sets the total scan-point count. Point spacing controls how far the outermost ring sits from the centre, which sets the geographic spread of the scan.

The platform uses a hexagonal ring layout rather than a literal square grid. A "5x5" setting means five rings, which works out to 91 scan points. See the scan point calculation guide for the full math.

This is the trade-off between detail and cost. More pins and more keywords mean richer data but more scan tasks.

How to read the map

Once the scan completes, each grid point shows how visible the business is at that location. The colors make it easy to see where the business dominates and where it fades.

• Green usually means strong visibility in the top few positions
• Yellow usually means weaker first-page presence
• Red means poor visibility
• Gray or the lowest placeholder rank means the business was not found in the scanned depth

What the detailed report tells you

The report is more than a map. It turns the grid into usable decision support. You can look at visibility score, average rank, top-3 coverage, historical snapshots, competitor overlap, and directional strengths or weaknesses.

That makes the tool useful in sales, onboarding, and reporting, not just for curiosity.

• Visibility score for a weighted view of practical presence
• Average rank and top-3 or top-10 coverage
• Keyword switching when multiple keywords were scanned
• Historical snapshots and comparison mode
• Competitor analysis across the scanned area
• Geographic strength by direction or quadrant

Schedule recurring scans

If you want trend data rather than one-off snapshots, schedule the scan to run automatically. Weekly is the most common pattern for active local SEO work.

Scheduling lets you control frequency, allowed days, time windows, and timezone.

Manage multiple scans cleanly

The scans area is designed for ongoing use, not just one report. Search, filter, sort, and compare scans so you can keep multiple businesses and keywords organised.

This matters when the tool shifts from a one-off sales asset into a recurring reporting system.

Use sandbox mode and understand costs

Sandbox mode is useful for testing the full flow without consuming real DataForSEO credits. Once you are ready, turn sandbox off and run live scans.

Cost is driven by the number of scan points and keywords. The platform runs one DataForSEO Google Maps SERP task per point per keyword. On the standard queue, DataForSEO charges $0.0006 per task, so the total cost of a scan is pins multiplied by keywords multiplied by $0.0006.

The pin count comes from the hexagonal ring layout, not a literal NxN square. Every supported grid size is listed below with its true pin count and the resulting single-keyword and three-keyword cost.

How agencies normally use it

Local Search Grid is especially useful in sales, onboarding, and reporting. In sales it helps create urgency. In onboarding it gives you a baseline. In reporting it shows whether local visibility is actually improving across an area instead of only at one point.

Common questions