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Glossary / Local Visibility

Local Visibility

Local visibility is how easily someone nearby can find you when they search for what you sell. For most local businesses it is decided by the map results, not by the website.

Work out yours

Visibility ≈ proximity × relevance × prominence (reviews, completeness, activity)

29 behind

You need about 29 more reviews to be comparable at a glance.

Why it matters

For local service searches most people never reach a website at all. They tap the map, read three reviews, and call whoever is close with the best rating, which means a business can have an excellent site and still lose every time.

Where people get it wrong

"Near me" is not a phrase you rank for by putting it on a page. Those searches resolve by the searcher location and your profile, so the work is on the listing rather than the copy.

If this number is not where you want it

Claiming and actively working the map listing is the fastest route to inbound calls in a local market, and it is the cheapest line on our price list.

Local Search and Map Presence, $300 a month

See what it would take, free →About Local Search and Map Presence

Related terms

Common questions

+ Do I need a website if I have a Google Business Profile?

Yes, but they do different jobs. The profile gets you found and called. The site is the one asset you own, and it is where anyone comparing options makes the decision.

Part of the small business glossary. All six free calculators are here.