Organic blue links are shrinking. AI overviews sit at the top. Ads dominate the first screen. And beneath them? The Map Pack.
For local service businesses, the Map Pack is now the most valuable real estate in search.
Why the Map Pack Matters More Than #1
When someone searches for a service with local intent, Google often shows the three business listings tied to the map before traditional organic results. For high-intent queries like "plumber near me" or "carpet cleaning Christchurch," most actionable clicks happen inside that map section.
In simple terms: ranking #1 organically but missing the Map Pack often means you are invisible to buyers.
The Map Pack captures users who are ready to call, book, or get directions. These are not casual browsers. They are decision-makers.
What Is the Map Pack and How Do You Win It?
The Google Map Pack is the block of three local business listings shown alongside a map in local search results. It pulls data primarily from your Google Business Profile (GBP), not just your website.
To increase your chances of appearing there, you must align three systems:
- A fully optimized Google Business Profile
- A technically aligned website
- A steady flow of authentic reviews
When these systems reinforce each other, Google gains confidence that your business is real, active, and trusted.
1. Your Google Business Profile Is the Engine
Your Google Business Profile is your digital storefront.
Ensure your Name, Address, and Phone number (NAP) are consistent everywhere online. Choose the most specific primary category possible. Upload real, high-quality photos of your team, vehicles, and work.
Google's AI increasingly recognizes logos, signage, and branded uniforms in photos. Authentic images build both algorithmic trust and human trust.
2. The Three Kings of On-Page SEO
Your website must support your GBP, not contradict it.
Every key service page should optimize:
- The title tag
- The H1 tag
- The first paragraph
Each should clearly include the service and the location. Dedicated service area pages act as mini homepages for suburbs, allowing you to rank beyond your physical office location.
If your website structure mirrors your Google Business Profile categories and services, you strengthen local relevance signals.
3. Reviews and E-E-A-T Signals
Google prioritizes Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness.
That means:
- Fresh reviews (recency matters)
- Steady review velocity
- Real case studies with specific outcomes
- Authentic photos attached to reviews when possible
Two hundred reviews mean little if your last one was six months ago. Consistency beats volume.
How to Optimize for the Map Pack (Quick Answer)
To rank in the Google Map Pack, you must optimize your Google Business Profile with consistent NAP details, choose precise business categories, upload authentic photos, generate fresh customer reviews, and align your website's title tags, headings, and local service pages with your GBP data. Businesses that combine strong profile optimization, localized website structure, and steady review growth are more likely to appear in the top three map listings.
This structured, direct answer format also increases your chances of being referenced in AI-generated search summaries.
The takeaway is clear: local SEO in 2025 is not about chasing position #1 alone. It is about owning the Map Pack.
When your Google Business Profile, website structure, and review strategy work together, your business becomes the obvious local choice - not just another blue link.
If you are not visible in the Map Pack, you are competing for scraps.