A normal scan
One-pass phone view at zoom 14 averaged a 0.58-rank gap on 92 held-out pin-and-keyword readings.
Local rankings · Measured
Local rank tracking, pin by pin.
Your salon does not have one Google Maps ranking. It can have a different one on every block. We measure those differences, so you can see where nearby clients can find you and where the gaps are.
| 5 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 4 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 3 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 5 |
| 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 10 |
| 8 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 7 | 11 | 17 | 20 |
| 14 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 19 | 20 | 20+ |
1–34–1011–2020+
37/81pins in the top three
5.0average rank
9×9 grid · 0.5-mile spacing · Phone view, zoom 14. Search ranks, not appointments.
The difference a mile makes
One ranking cannot tell the whole story.
Search for the same service from two nearby streets and Google Maps can list different salons in a different order. A single ‘we rank #3’ number hides that. In the 16th Street scan shown here, the nine centre pins averaged rank 1.0; the 32 outer-edge pins averaged 6.9. The salon was in the top three at 37 of 81 pins.
1.0Average rank at the
nine centre pins
nine centre pins
6.9Average rank at the
32 outer-edge pins
32 outer-edge pins
Same salon. Same keyword. A different search location.
How it works
From a search location to a useful next step.
Every scan uses a defined keyword, grid and device setting. Repeating the same settings makes the snapshots easier to compare.
- 01
Set the grid
Place search pins around the salon, spaced to fit the service area.
- 02
Search from each pin
Run a Google Maps search using that pin’s coordinates and phone view.
- 03
Keep the evidence
Record the top 20 businesses at each pin, so a rank can be traced to its search.
- 04
Read the two scores
Pinmeter Score is the share of pins in the top three. Pin Rank is the average rank; a result outside the top 20 counts as 21.
- 05
Compare and prioritise
Compare like-for-like scans, keywords and competitors to decide where to work next.
Working with EDGE
A map is the start of the conversation.
A rank-tracking review can include the map, a plain-language summary of changes, recommended next steps and a report you can share with your team. Keywords, scan frequency and deliverables are agreed in your scope before work starts. You do not need to buy Local Pinmeter to work with EDGE.
Measure, then act
Find the weak area.
Choose the next move.
Rankings help frame the work. Enquiries, confirmed bookings and revenue need their own evidence.
Explore EDGE’s Local SEO support →Element Nail Bar · Phoenix, Arizona
One brand. Different search visibility.
The same keyword, ‘nail salon near me’, on the same day: October 16, 2026. Each salon used a 9×9 grid, 0.5 miles between pins, Google Maps phone view at zoom 14. These are ranking snapshots, not evidence of booking growth or revenue. Element Nail Bar is owned by EDGE’s founder.
| Location | Pins in the top three | Average rank |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Phoenix | 69% | 4.0 |
| Avondale | 59% | 3.7 |
| 16th Street | 46% | 5.0 |
| Arcadia | 32% | 5.4 |
| 99th Avenue | 20% | 6.2 |
Pinmeter Score is rounded to a whole percentage. Pin Rank counts a result outside the top 20 as 21. This first scan does not show change over time.
Method and limits
How close is phone view?
Local Pinmeter compared scan settings with a virtual Android phone searching Google Maps at the same pins. Across the tested zoom settings, phone view was 0.53–0.62 ranks from what the virtual phone showed; computer view was 1.43–2.70 ranks away. These ranges describe the settings comparison, not a guarantee of accuracy in every market.
The limits
One business, one area, two keywords and two rounds. The reference was a virtual phone, not validated against a physical phone. Readings were not fully independent.
What this means
A repeatable snapshot helps compare areas. It does not reproduce every customer’s personalised results or guarantee a ranking.
For agencies and consultants
Want to run the reports yourself?
Local Pinmeter offers unlimited clients and team members, reports under your own brand, and a 1,000-credit trial with no card required. Trial credits are valid for 30 days. Its published site currently says paid plans open soon; check its current terms before choosing a plan.
Explore Local Pinmeter and its free trial (opens in a new tab)Read Local Pinmeter’s geo-grid guides (opens in a new tab)
Product terms checked October 28, 2026. EDGE services and Local Pinmeter subscriptions are separate.
Questions
Before you compare the pins.
Is Local Pinmeter part of EDGE?+
No. It is a separate company with the same founder. EDGE was its first user.
Do I need to buy it to work with EDGE?+
No. You do not need a separate Local Pinmeter subscription to work with EDGE. Rank-report scope is agreed before work starts.
What does ‘as a phone sees it’ mean?+
Each pin is a mobile Google Maps search with the pin’s coordinates as the location. It does not mean a physical phone stood at the pin, or that every customer sees the same list.
How often are rankings checked?+
Scan frequency is agreed in your scope. Rankings move during the day, so each scan is a snapshot taken with defined settings.
What does Local Pinmeter do with my data?+
Its privacy policy explains what it collects, why, and how long it keeps it. Review it before providing information to the separate service.
Rankings change throughout the day; every scan is a snapshot. Local Pinmeter and Pinmeter Score are trademarks of Local Pinmeter LLC. Neither company is affiliated with Google.
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