What Is the Google Map Pack (Local 3-Pack)?
The Google map pack is the box of three local businesses, shown with a map, that appears at the top of results for local searches. It is also called the local pack or the 3-pack.
The Google map pack is the box of three local businesses, shown with a small map, that appears at the very top of the results for a local search. You will also hear it called the local pack or the 3-pack. Search "coffee shop near me" and the three places above the regular results are the map pack.
Why is the map pack so important?
It sits above the blue-link results and pulls the lion's share of the clicks and calls. For a "near me" search or a service-plus-town search, most people never scroll past those three businesses. Winning a spot there is often the difference between a phone that rings and one that does not, which is why it is the first thing our local SEO work targets.
How does Google choose the three businesses?
The same three factors that drive all of local SEO: relevance (how well you match the search), distance (how close you are), and prominence (how known and trusted you are). For the map pack specifically, your Google Business Profile and your reviews carry a lot of the weight.
How do you get into the map pack?
- Claim and fully complete your Google Business Profile.
- Choose the most accurate primary category, which is one of the most underrated levers there is.
- Earn steady, recent reviews and reply to them.
- Keep your name, address, and phone identical everywhere online.
- Back the profile with a real website and local pages, not a thin placeholder.
How long does it take to rank in the map pack?
Often a few weeks to a few months, depending on your category and how competitive your town is. We guarantee it: top three in the map pack for your core service queries within 90 days, or you stop paying the monthly fee until we get you there.
What if my business is not showing on the map at all?
Usually it is one of a few fixable things: an unverified profile, the wrong category, missing information, duplicate listings, or a suspension. We walk through the most common causes in why your business is not showing up on Google Maps. If you want us to just look, the free visibility scan covers it. Reach us at andrew@padigitalstudio.com or 724-638-7754.