SEO

Local Pack

The local pack is the map-based SERP feature showing local businesses.

Quick Answer

  • What it is: The local pack is the map-based SERP feature showing local businesses.
  • Why it matters: Clarifies the levers that improve visibility and rankings for high-intent queries.
  • How to check or improve: Audit on-page signals, internal links, and topical relevance.

When you'd use this

Clarifies the levers that improve visibility and rankings for high-intent queries.

Example scenario

Hypothetical scenario (not a real company)

A team might use Local Pack when Audit on-page signals, internal links, and topical relevance.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing Local Pack with Search Intent: The underlying goal or purpose behind a user's search query, categorized as informational, navigational, commercial, or transactional.
  • Confusing Local Pack with SERP: Search Engine Results Page - the page displayed by search engines in response to a query. Learn about SERP features, analysis techniques, and how to optimize for modern search results including AI Overviews.

How to measure or implement

  • Audit on-page signals, internal links, and topical relevance

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Updated Jan 17, 2026·3 min read

Why this matters

Improving local pack makes it easier to align intent, relevance, and technical signals. When local pack is handled correctly, it reduces friction for crawlers and users. Strong local pack decisions compound because they reduce ambiguity and improve consistency across templates.

Common reasons issues show up

  • Local Pack is implemented differently across sections of the site
  • Signals related to local pack conflict with canonical or index directives
  • Updates are made without validating local pack in Search Console

Common mistakes

  • Relying on assumptions instead of verifying local pack behavior in tools
  • Treating local pack as a one-time task instead of ongoing maintenance
  • Applying local pack inconsistently across templates
  • Ignoring how local pack impacts crawl efficiency
  • Failing to validate local pack after site changes

How to check or improve Local Pack (quick checklist)

  1. Document how local pack should be implemented for future updates.
  2. Review your current local pack setup for accuracy and consistency.
  3. Validate local pack in your most important templates and pages.
  4. Monitor changes in Search Console or analytics after updates.

Examples

Example 1: A site fixes local pack issues and sees more stable indexing within a few weeks. Example 2: A team audits local pack and uncovers conflicts that were suppressing rankings.

FAQs

How often should I review local pack?

Review it after major releases and at least quarterly for critical pages. This keeps local pack aligned with intent and technical signals.

Is local pack different for large sites?

Large sites need stricter governance because small inconsistencies scale quickly. This keeps local pack aligned with intent and technical signals.

What is Local Pack?

Local Pack focuses on aligning signals so search engines and users interpret your page correctly. This keeps local pack aligned with intent and technical signals.

How do I validate local pack?

Use Search Console, site crawlers, and template checks to confirm local pack is implemented correctly. This keeps local pack aligned with intent and technical signals.

  • Guide: /resources/guides/keyword-research-ai-search
  • Template: /templates/definitive-guide
  • Use case: /use-cases/marketing-agencies
  • Glossary:
    • /glossary/search-intent
    • /glossary/serp

Local Pack improvements compound over time because they clarify signals and reduce ambiguity for crawlers and users. Use the checklist to prioritize fixes and document changes so the team can maintain consistency across releases.

Local Pack improvements compound when teams document standards and validate changes consistently.

Local Pack improvements compound when teams document standards and validate changes consistently.

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