What Happened
A growing number of local SEO practitioners are using Claude, Anthropic’s AI assistant, to review on-page content and identify gaps that may be limiting visibility in AI-powered search results. GeoGrid scanning data adds context to this: a sample of 50 GeoGrid scans found that 82% of businesses ranked outside the top three positions, with 46% sitting between positions 11 and 19, well beyond where most customers look. These findings indicate that on-page optimisation, combined with local tracking tools, is increasingly important for small and medium-sized businesses.
Why This Matters
Most local businesses are not visible where it counts. With nearly half of businesses in that sample ranked between positions 11 and 19, they are unlikely to appear in the map pack that customers see by default. Sitting outside the top three often means no clicks, no calls, and no footfall.
AI search is also changing what “optimised” means in practice. Search engines are increasingly returning AI-generated overviews and summaries, which draw on structured, clearly written on-page content. Businesses that have not reviewed their content with this in mind may lose ground even if their traditional rankings have remained stable.
GeoGrid tools show the shape of the problem, not just the scale. GeoGrid heatmaps reveal street-level ranking gaps within a single business area, whilst portfolio maps highlight which tracked locations need attention first. This level of detail matters because a business that appears to rank well on average may still have significant blind spots in the specific streets or postcodes where its customers are searching.
What to Do Now
Run a GeoGrid scan on your primary service area. If you have not done this recently, now is the time. Look at where your ranking gaps sit geographically, not just numerically. A heatmap will show you precisely where your visibility falls away.
Use Map View to compare performance across locations. If you manage more than one site or service area, Map View’s colour-coded markers let you see average rankings across multiple locations at a glance, so you can direct your efforts where they are most needed rather than spreading them evenly.
Give Claude your existing on-page content and ask it to assess relevance and clarity. Ask it to review your service pages, FAQ sections, and Google Business Profile description for how clearly they answer common customer questions. Ask specifically whether the content is structured in a way that an AI system could easily extract and summarise.
Identify the questions your customers are actually asking. Use your GBP insights, customer messages, and reviews to gather the language real customers use, then ask Claude to identify where your current content fails to address those questions directly.
Update your Google Business Profile alongside your website. On-page changes and GBP updates work together. If your website content improves but your GBP remains sparse or out of date, you are likely to miss ranking opportunities.
Common Mistake to Avoid
Many business owners focus attention on the locations or pages that seem most visible, assuming that those performing reasonably well can be left alone. Portfolio maps exist precisely to surface the locations that are underperforming relative to the rest, which are easy to overlook when reviewing performance site by site. Prioritising effort based on comparative visual data rather than instinct tends to produce faster, more measurable results.
How Kraken Dev Co Can Help
At Kraken Dev Co, we work with local businesses to interpret their GeoGrid data, identify on-page gaps, and put practical improvements in place. Whether you manage one location or several, we can help you understand what your rankings are telling you and where a focused effort is likely to make the most difference. If you would like a clearer picture of where your business stands locally, we are happy to talk it through.
