Local SEO Score Calculator
Produces a 0–100 local SEO health score by combining Google review volume, star rating, citation count, NAP consistency, and business type. Use it when auditing a Google Business Profile or diagnosing why a local listing ranks poorly in map pack results.
About this calculator
Local search rankings depend on three pillars: relevance, distance, and prominence. This calculator focuses on prominence signals that you can directly influence. The formula is: Score = min(100, round((min(googleReviews / 2, 50) + averageRating × 10 + citationCount × 0.3 + napConsistency × 0.2) / 10 × businessType)). Google Reviews contribute up to 50 points (capped to prevent gaming), rewarding businesses that actively collect feedback. Star rating (×10) captures review quality, not just quantity — a 4.8-star rating outweighs a 3.2-star rating with more reviews. Citations (×0.3) represent mentions of your business on directories like Yelp and Yellow Pages, signalling trustworthiness. NAP (Name, Address, Phone) consistency (×0.2) ensures Google can confidently match directory mentions to your listing. The business type multiplier adjusts for industries where local SEO competition is inherently higher or lower.
How to use
A restaurant has 80 Google reviews, a 4.5-star rating, 150 local citations, 90% NAP consistency, and a business-type multiplier of 1.1. Step 1 — reviews component: min(80 / 2, 50) = min(40, 50) = 40. Step 2 — rating: 4.5 × 10 = 45. Step 3 — citations: 150 × 0.3 = 45. Step 4 — NAP: 90 × 0.2 = 18. Step 5 — sum: 40 + 45 + 45 + 18 = 148. Step 6 — divide and apply multiplier: (148 / 10) × 1.1 = 16.28. Step 7 — min(100, round(16.28)) = 16. The score of 16 out of 100 suggests major gaps — prioritize acquiring more reviews and building citations.
Frequently asked questions
How do Google reviews affect local SEO rankings in the map pack?
Google reviews influence local rankings through two mechanisms: review quantity signals that a business is active and trusted, while average rating signals quality of service. Google's own documentation lists 'prominence' as a key local ranking factor, and review volume is one of its primary components. Businesses with consistently high ratings and a steady stream of recent reviews tend to rank higher in the local 3-pack than competitors with stale or sparse review profiles. Responding to reviews — both positive and negative — also signals engagement to Google and can further boost prominence scores.
What is NAP consistency and why does it matter for local SEO?
NAP stands for Name, Address, and Phone number — the core identifying information for a local business. NAP consistency means this information is identical across every directory listing, social profile, and website mention. When Google crawls the web and finds conflicting NAP data (e.g., different phone numbers on Yelp vs. your website), it loses confidence in which information is correct and may suppress or lower-rank your listing. Achieving 90%+ NAP consistency across major citation sources like Google Business Profile, Yelp, Bing Places, and industry directories is a foundational step in any local SEO strategy.
How many local citations do I need to rank in Google's local 3-pack?
There is no universal minimum, but most competitive local markets require at least 50–100 consistent citations on authoritative directories to be competitive in the 3-pack. The exact number varies by industry and location — a plumber in a large city may need 150+ citations to compete, while a niche B2B service in a small town might rank with 30. Quality matters as much as quantity: citations on high-authority sites like Google, Yelp, Facebook, and industry-specific directories carry more weight than dozens of obscure or low-quality directory entries. Auditing existing citations for accuracy and removing duplicate listings should come before building new ones.