Local SEO
Setup & Google Business Profile
Start with your business name, see where you rank, then connect Google Business Profile.
Start by telling Grandranker what your business is called and where it is. We find your listing on Google Maps and start tracking where you rank - no Google login needed. Connecting your Google Business Profile (GBP) comes next, and it unlocks reviews, posts, photos and profile editing.
Start with your business name
The first onboarding screen asks two things:
- What is your business called? - the name as it appears on Google Maps, for example "Memphis Plumbing Co".
- Where are you? - the town or city, for example "Memphis, TN".
Click Find my business. Grandranker searches Google Maps around that town and shows up to five matching listings, closest name first. Each card shows the category, address and rating so you can tell similar businesses apart.
Pick yours and click That's my business. Nothing is selected for you, even when only one result comes back - you always confirm.
From there Grandranker sets up your keywords and starts your first ranking scan on its own. Your Rankings map fills in shortly after.
You don't need to be the owner of the Google listing to do this. The search reads public Google Maps data, the same as any customer searching for you.
If we can't find your business
- None of the results is yours? Click None of these is my business.
- Nothing came back at all? You'll see "We couldn't find [name] in [town] on Google Maps."
- Town not recognised? You'll see "We couldn't place that town or city. Try the search again with a nearby one, or carry on with just your website."
- Search unavailable? You'll see "We couldn't reach Google Maps just now." That one is on our side, not yours - try again in a moment.
In every case you can click Search again to retry with a different spelling or a nearby town, or enter your website under Your website and click Continue without Google to finish setup with just your site. You can connect GBP at any time afterwards.
One business at a time
You can add one business this way. If you try to add a second you'll see "You have already added a business. Connect Google Business Profile to add more." Connecting GBP is how you bring in additional locations - see Adding more locations.
Connect your Google Business Profile
Ranking data works without it. Reviews, posts, photos, profile editing and profile protection do not - those need the connection.
- Click Connect Google Business Profile - on the onboarding screen, as the first task on your weekly list, in the "Finish setting up" checklist, or on the Profile page under Local SEO.
- Sign in with the Google account that manages the profile and grant access.
- Grandranker fetches your locations, usually within seconds. Nothing showing? Use Try again or Reconnect Google.
Use an account with owner or manager access. An account that doesn't manage any listings shows no locations.
If you already started with a business name, connecting Google upgrades the listing you already have. It is not added twice, your ranking history is kept, and you are not charged for a second location.
Connect Google is your first task
Until you connect, your weekly task list shows a single task: Connect your Google Business Profile. Every other task edits your profile, lists your services, publishes a post, uploads a photo or replies to a review, and all of those need the connection - so Grandranker shows you nothing it can't help you finish.
This one task can't be dismissed, because everything else waits behind it.
Once you're connected, the weekly list fills in - see Your weekly tasks.
Choose your locations
- Select one or more locations from the list. Each card shows the business name, category, address and city so you can tell similar listings apart.
- One selected location is marked primary. The primary location is the default for keyword tracking and scans.
- Your plan includes one location. Selecting more shows what they cost before anything is charged - see Adding more locations below.
Grandranker pre-fills business name, industry, city and region from GBP - only fields you haven't set.
No website on your listing? You'll be prompted to add one — a Domain needs a URL.
Adding more locations
Local SEO includes one Google Business Profile. Each additional profile you switch on is $19 per month.
Only the profiles you switch on are billed. You can see every business on your Google account in the list without paying for them; a profile costs nothing until you activate it for tracking, scoring and tasks.
A business you added by name, before connecting Google, is never billed as an extra location.
As you tick profiles, the picker shows a running total, for example "3 selected - 2 extra, $38/month added to your plan." Nothing is charged until you confirm, and the confirmation names the plan the charge lands on. Switch a profile back off and the charge comes off your next invoice, prorated. Your profile and its history are kept, so you can switch it on again later.
If you were already using Local SEO before 2 September 2026, every profile you had switched on at that point stays included at no extra cost, however many that is. You are only charged for profiles you add after that date.
Extra locations appear as their own line on your billing page, with the count and monthly total, so your invoice stays readable.
If your listing has no website
A Domain in Grandranker needs a website URL. If your Google listing doesn't have one, you'll be asked to add it: "This listing has no website - add yours." Enter your site's URL to finish setup.
The setup checklist
The Local SEO home shows a Finish setting up card until these are done:
- Connect Google Business Profile
- Select your location
- Run your first ranking scan
The card disappears once all three are done. If you started by searching for your business, Select your location is already ticked and your first scan starts on its own, so Connect Google Business Profile is the only one left.
Syncing and editing
GBP data (locations, reviews) syncs once a day automatically, or trigger a manual sync from the Profile page.
Edit business name, phone, website, description, hours, primary category and up to 9 additional categories from the Profile page — changes push to Google. Rapid edits may hit Google's rate limit: "Too many profile edits. Wait a minute and try again."
FAQ
Do I need a Google login to start?
No. Enter your business name and town, pick your listing, and rank tracking starts. Connecting Google Business Profile adds reviews, posts, photos, profile editing and protection.
I don't have the Google login for my business. What now?
Start with your business name and use Rankings and Keywords straight away. When you get access to the Google account - or your agency hands it over - connect it then, and the listing you're already tracking is upgraded in place.
Will connecting Google create a duplicate of my business?
No. Grandranker matches the listing you already added and upgrades it, keeping its ranking history. You are not charged for a second location.
Can I track more than one location?
Yes. Your plan includes one profile, and each additional one is $19 per month - see Adding more locations. Switch between profiles across the Local SEO pages.
Why "This website is already registered on another account"?
Each website belongs to one Grandranker account. Contact support if it's registered elsewhere.
Can I disconnect Google later?
Yes, from the Profile page. Keyword rank tracking keeps working; reviews, posts, editing and protection need the connection.
Still stuck? [email protected]