Local pack
The map view with three results. Your profile, reviews and proximity count most here.
Local SEO
Regional rankings: appear higher in local searches
Improve your regional rankings on Google: local search terms, service and location pages, links and measurement. Across Germany. Der-H Medien.
Local SEO
Regional rankings: what exactly are they?
Regional rankings describe how high a business appears in location-based searches: searches that name a place (“tax adviser Waiblingen”) and searches with a local intent that does not name one (“tax adviser near me”). Google often shows a map view with three businesses at the top, the local pack, and the regular results below it.
Whether you appear depends mainly on three things: how well your offer matches the search (relevance), how close your location is (distance), and how well known and trustworthy you are (prominence, reviews, links). You cannot influence distance, but you can very much influence relevance and prominence.
Background
Regional rankings: why they matter.
Google names relevance, distance and prominence as the most important factors for local results. You cannot influence distance, but you can influence the other two.
If you are well positioned for the right terms and places, you appear in front of the people who are looking for a provider right now.
Overview
Regional rankings: building blocks and variants.
Organic results
The regular search results. The content, structure and links of your website count here.
Service pages
A dedicated page for each service, using the terms your customers use.
Local relevance
Clear signals about where you work, without artificially multiplying pages.
Local links
Listings and mentions in directories, associations, chambers and media from your region.
Measurement
Rankings for each search term and place over time.
Our work
Regional rankings: what we do for you.
Researching search terms
What do your customers search for, in which words and in which places?
Pages for services and places
Separate pages with distinct content, wherever it genuinely makes a difference to customers.
Internal linking
A clear structure that shows visitors and search engines what is important.
Local links
Listings and mentions that strengthen your prominence in the region.
Measurement
Rankings for each search term and place, so that you can see progress.
Quality
Regional rankings: how to recognise good work.
- Every important service has its own page with distinct content
- Location and service area are clearly stated
- Name, address and telephone number are the same everywhere
- The Google profile is complete
- There are regional links to your website
- The page loads quickly and works well on mobile
- You measure rankings for your main terms
Costs
Regional rankings: what they cost.
Regional optimisation is an ongoing task, not a one-off intervention. The effort depends on the number of services and places and on how competitive the market is.
The calculation behind this: How we calculate our prices.
What determines the price
- Number of services and target regions
- Strength of local competition
- State of the existing website
- Amount of content and links
- Measurement and reports
What you can prepare
- A list of your services and regions
- Competitors you see in your area
- Access to your website, analytics tool and Google profile
- Your enquiries so far and where they come from
Pitfalls
Regional rankings: common mistakes.
- dozens of location pages with almost identical text
- inconsistent details for name, address and telephone number
- the goal of “first place everywhere”
- looking only at the website and forgetting the profile
Frequently asked questions
Questions about regional rankings.
Can I be found nationwide if I have only one location?
For services without a local dimension, yes, through good content. For clearly location-based searches, distance plays a big part.
How do you measure rankings?
With reports for each search term and place. You can see what is moving and what is not.
Can I reach the whole of Germany with one location?
For services that are not tied to a place, yes, through good content. For clearly location-based searches, proximity has a strong influence.
Do I need a separate page for each place?
Only if there is a genuine difference there. Many pages with almost the same text do more harm than good.
How long does it take to get better rankings?
First movements are often visible after a few weeks; reliable results take months. We cannot promise any particular position.
Guides
Further reading.
Local SEO Step by Step: How to Be Found LocallyLocal SEO explained: Google Business Profile, regional content, consistent listings and reviews, in a clear order of steps.Read more →Optimising Your Google Business Profile: A ChecklistA checklist for a complete Google Business Profile: category, services, photos, opening hours, posts and reviews.Read more →NAP Consistency: Name, Address, Phone the Same EverywhereNAP consistency explained: why uniform details for name, address and telephone number matter for local SEO, and how to check and clean up your listings.Read more →Local Pack: How Google Chooses Local ResultsThe local pack explained: the three factors of relevance, distance and prominence, and what you can do to appear in the map results.Read more →Replying to reviews properly: examples and rulesReplying to Google reviews: rules and sample wording for positive and negative reviews, so that your business comes across as professional.Read more →
More topics in Local SEO
Want to sort out your regional rankings?
Send us the address of your site and your most important question about regional rankings. You will receive a personal assessment.