Dominating the Map Pack: A Local Competitor Citation & Link Analysis
Client: A personal injury law firm in a competitive city.
Challenges We Faced
The client was stuck at #5 in the Map Pack, unable to break into the top 3:
Stuck in Maps
They had good reviews but couldn’t outrank the top 3 firms.
Unknown Gap
They didn’t know why the competitors were ranking higher.
Local Competitor Analysis Services
They lacked data on their competitors’ local citations and niche directory links
Weak Anchor Text Strategy Analysis
Their anchor text was over-optimized with “money” keywords, which looked spammy.
Inconsistent NAP Signals
Minor inconsistencies in name, address, and phone details across directories were weakening Google’s trust and hurting Map Pack rankings.
Win Your Local Market
“Stuck outside the 3-Pack? Our Local Competitor Analysis Services find the citations and links your rivals are using to win.”
Our Approach – How We Solved These Challenges
Comprehensive Competitor Audit (Local)
We used BrightLocal to compare the client’s citation profile against the top 3 map leaders. We found the leaders were listed in 15 specific local legal directories that our client was missing.
Competitor Link Replication
We manually built profiles on those 15 high-authority local directories (e.g., local Bar Association, Chamber of Commerce).
Anchor Text Strategy Analysis
We analyzed the competitors’ anchor text and found they used more “Branded” anchors. We adjusted our client’s future link building to be more brand-focused to look natural.
Content Gap Link Building
We saw competitors getting links to “Local Accident Statistics” pages. We created a superior, interactive map of local accident hotspots to attract similar links.
Results
| Metric | Before | After | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local Citation/Link Gap | Missing 15 Top Sources | 100% Parity | N/A |
| Map Pack Ranking | Position #5 | Position #2 | +3 spots |
| Local “Click-to-Call” Leads | 20/mo | 65/mo | +225% |
Free Local Competition Audit
“Not sure why your competitors are outranking you? Request a Free Local Link Analysis from our competitor backlink analysis company!”
Advice for Marketers & Brand Owners
- Local SEO is a game of parity. You must match your competitors’ citations before you can beat them.
- Local Competitor Analysis is different. It focuses on directories, local news, and sponsorships, not just blog posts.
- Watch your Anchor Text. If your competitors are winning with “Branded” anchors, don’t spam “Money” keywords. Copy their ratio.
- Create local resources. An “Accident Map” or “Local Guide” attracts links from local news sites, which boosts Map Pack rankings.
Extra Factors That Made It Work
- Closing the “Citation Gap” was the primary signal that moved them into the Map Pack.
- The “Accident Map” earned 3 high-value links from local news stations, providing massive local authority.
- BrightLocal was the essential tool for side-by-side comparison.
