Straight answers about local search.
What customers and owners ask us most, in plain language and without made-up numbers.
What is the Google Map Pack?
The Map Pack is the box of three local businesses with a map that Google shows when someone searches for a service nearby, such as “plumber near me”. It sits above the regular website results.
What is Answer Engine Optimization (AEO)?
Answer Engine Optimization is making your business easy for AI assistants to understand and recommend, so that when someone asks ChatGPT, Gemini or Copilot who to hire, your name is in the answer.
How long does Map Pack ranking take?
There is no fixed number of days. How fast you move depends on your starting point, your competitors and what is holding you back. Be cautious of anyone who promises a date.
Why isn’t my business in the Map Pack?
Usually one of a few things: your profile is incomplete or unverified, your categories are wrong, you are far from the searcher, or competitors have stronger reviews and listings.
How do I get my business named by ChatGPT?
You cannot force an AI to recommend you. You can make your business clear, consistent and well mentioned online, then check the answers regularly to see whether you are named.
What is the difference between local SEO and national SEO?
Local SEO helps customers near you find your business, mainly through Google Maps and local results. National SEO competes for searches across a whole country, mainly through your website’s authority.