Local Pack Ranking: How to Get in the Top 3
The Local Pack — the 3 businesses with the map at the top of Google — captures 44% of all clicks. Getting from position #4 to the top 3 is the single highest-ROI local SEO goal. Here's how to get there.
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The Local Pack (also called the "Map Pack" or "3-Pack") is the section of Google search results that shows a map with 3 business listings below it. It appears for queries with local intent — "restaurant near me," "plumber in Austin," "best dentist."
In 2026, the Local Pack appears for approximately 93% of searches with local intent. Being in the Pack vs. not being in it has a massive impact on visibility — businesses in the 3-Pack receive approximately 5× more visibility than those in position #4 and below (which require clicking "More businesses").
Local Pack vs. Organic Results
| Aspect | Local Pack (Top 3) | Organic Results |
|---|---|---|
| Position on page | Above organic results | Below Local Pack and ads |
| Click share | ~44% of page clicks | ~29% of page clicks |
| Info shown | Name, rating, reviews, address, hours, phone | Title, description, URL |
| Primary ranking signals | GBP signals, reviews, proximity | Content, backlinks, domain authority |
| Click actions | Call, directions, website — all from SERP | Website visit only |
What Separates the Top 3 from Everyone Else
After analyzing thousands of Local Pack results, here's what consistently differentiates the top 3:
- More precise primary category: Top 3 businesses almost always have a more specific primary category than competitors below them.
- More reviews with higher velocity: They don't just have more reviews — they get new ones more consistently. The review velocity matters.
- Higher profile completeness: Every field is filled. Description, attributes, products, services, photos — nothing is left blank.
- Stronger website: Their linked website has more authority, better on-page SEO, and proper LocalBusiness schema.
- Better NAP consistency: Their NAP is consistent across 30+ citation sources.
- More engagement: They get more clicks, calls, and direction requests — behavioral signals that reinforce ranking.
The Local Pack Action Plan
If you're currently in position #4-10 and want to break into the top 3, here's the priority order:
Week 1: Profile Foundation
- • Fix primary + secondary categories
- • Complete every profile field
- • Upload 15+ quality photos
- • Write optimized description
Week 2-4: Reviews & Citations
- • Launch review generation system
- • Respond to all existing reviews
- • Fix top 20 citation NAP inconsistencies
- • Start weekly Google Posts
Month 2-3: Authority Building
- • Add LocalBusiness schema to website
- • Build 5+ local backlinks
- • Create location-specific website pages
- • Maintain 4+ new reviews/month
Start by running our free GBP optimizer to see exactly where you stand and what to fix first. Then work through the complete local SEO checklist.
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