Local SEO glossary: geographic ranking terms for Wix businesses

Local SEO has its own specialised vocabulary that is essential for any Wix site serving customers in a specific geographic area. Understanding these terms allows you to communicate effectively about local ranking strategies, evaluate your local search performance, and implement the tactics covered in Module 9 with precision.

Local Pack (Map Pack / 3-Pack)

The prominent Google SERP feature displaying three local business listings with map, ratings, address, and contact information in response to queries with local search intent. The Local Pack typically appears above organic results and receives a substantial share of clicks. Ranking in the Local Pack is primarily determined by proximity to the searcher, relevance of the business category, and prominence signals from your Google Business Profile and citations.

Google Business Profile (GBP)

Google's free business listing platform (formerly Google My Business) that allows businesses to manage their presence in Google Search and Google Maps. An optimised GBP is the single most important factor for ranking in local search results. Key optimisation areas for Wix local businesses include accurate NAP data, primary and secondary business categories, compelling business description with local keywords, high-quality photos, regular posts, and consistent responses to customer reviews.

NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number)

The core business contact information that must be accurate, consistent, and identical across all online citations, directories, and mentions. Google uses NAP consistency as a key trust signal when determining local search rankings. Inconsistencies in business name formatting, address variations, and phone number formats across directories can confuse search engines and suppress local rankings. Add LocalBusiness schema to your Wix homepage with complete NAP data.

Citation

Any online mention of your business's NAP information on a website other than your own. Citations in directories like Yelp, Yell, Thomson Local, and industry-specific directories are important local ranking signals. The quantity, quality, and consistency of citations across the web signals to Google that your business is established, legitimate, and prominent in your service area. New Wix local business sites should prioritise building citations in the first three months.

Local Search Intent

The implicit or explicit geographic component of a search query, indicating the user wants results near their location or in a specific area. Queries with local intent include "near me" searches, city-name searches ("plumber Manchester"), and category searches where Google infers local intent ("best Italian restaurant"). Your Wix site's local SEO pages must explicitly target location modifiers to rank for these queries.

Service Area Business (SAB)

A business that serves customers at their locations rather than a fixed address (e.g., plumbers, mobile cleaners, IT support providers). Service Area Businesses on Google Business Profile should select "I deliver goods and services to my customers" and define their service area rather than displaying a specific address. Wix sites for SABs should create location-specific service pages for each area served.

Multi-Location SEO

An SEO strategy for businesses with multiple physical locations, designed to help each location rank independently in local search results. Multi-location Wix sites need unique, locally optimised landing pages for each location with distinct NAP information, locally relevant content, and location-specific schema markup. Each location should also have its own Google Business Profile listing.

LocalBusiness Schema

Structured data markup that provides search engines with detailed information about a local business including its name, address, phone number, business hours, price range, and service area. Implementing LocalBusiness schema on your Wix homepage and location pages strengthens local SEO signals and can enable rich results like business hours and ratings in search results.

Review Signals

Customer reviews on Google Business Profile and other platforms that contribute to local search rankings through their quantity, quality, recency, and the business's response patterns. Review signals are a significant local ranking factor. Encourage satisfied customers to leave Google reviews, respond to all reviews professionally, and embed review widgets on your Wix site to build social proof.

Proximity

The physical distance between a searcher's location and your business, one of the three primary factors (alongside relevance and prominence) that Google uses for local ranking. While you cannot control proximity, you can ensure that your GBP service area, your Wix location pages, and your LocalBusiness schema accurately reflect the areas you serve, maximising visibility for searches originating within your target geography.

Prominence

One of Google's three core local ranking factors (alongside relevance and proximity) that measures how well-known and established a business is online. Prominence is built through backlinks from local websites, volume and quality of Google reviews, consistent NAP citations across directories, engagement with your GBP (photos, posts, Q&A), and brand mentions across the web. Building prominence for your Wix local business takes time but compounds significantly.

Geo-Targeting

The practice of targeting specific geographic locations with SEO content, ads, or search engine settings to attract searchers in those areas. For Wix site owners, geo-targeting involves creating location-specific pages, using geo-modified keywords in title tags and content, setting service areas in GBP, and targeting geographic locations in Google Search Console's International Targeting settings.