Local search ranking factors are the signals Google uses to order local results, grouped as relevance, distance and prominence.
Local search ranking factors are the signals Google uses to order results in the local pack and Maps. Google's own documentation groups them into three: relevance (does the listing match the query), distance (how close is it to the searcher) and prominence (how well-known and well-reviewed is the business).
Definition
Relevance covers whether the listing's categories and content match the query. Distance covers the physical gap between searcher and business — the factor that makes local rankings location-dependent and geo-grids necessary. Prominence covers the business's broader footprint: reviews, links, citations and brand recognition. No single factor dominates; the three interact per query and per coordinate.
Practical implication
Because distance is fixed and relevance is bounded by honest categorization, most ongoing local SEO work targets prominence — reviews, content, citations — while local rank tracking software such as LocalRank measures the resulting movement across the grid. See how measurement works for the pipeline.
For the parent category, see what is local SEO software.
Tool positions are mapped on the comparison page.
FAQ
What are the three local search ranking factors?
Relevance, distance and prominence — the three signal groups Google names in its documentation for ordering local results.
Cite this entry
LocalRank. "Local search ranking factors." LocalRank Reference Hub Glossary, https://localrank.so/ (accessed 2026).