Last updated: January 8, 2026
Case Study Overview
- Business: 6×6 Design, LLC – Web Design & SEO (Yep! My own business!)
- Location: Penfield / East Rochester, NY
- Primary Service: SEO Consulting & Local SEO
- Tracking Tool: LocalFalcon
- Timeframe: 20 days
The Challenge
My business has been so busy for the past 18 years that I haven’t had time to work on my own SEO! It’s like the story of the busy shoemaker who walks around with holes in his shoes.
In mid-2025, it was time to tackle my own website with a new design and logo. I noticed my rankings in both organic search results and Google Business Profile have slipped considerably, and rightfully so. Plus, I have way more competition than I did the last time I looked. Finally, I got around to finishing my own website in November. Now, it’s time to claw my way back up the rankings.
So here’s what I am up against:
- Highly competitive local keywords
- Huge competitor list
- Limited Google Maps visibility outside a small radius (my service area)
- Inconsistent top-10 placement across the service area
- No use of fake locations, category spam, or shortcuts
The Strategy
Google Business Profile Optimization
- Refinement of primary and secondary categories
- Cleanup of duplicate and auto-generated services
- Alignment of services with high-intent local search terms
- Careful handling of service descriptions to avoid auto-edits
Local Relevance & Authority Signals
- Alignment between GBP services and website content
- Clear confirmation of core services in the business description
- Service-focused GBP posts
- Consistent review velocity
Tracking & Validation
- Neutral LocalFalcon grid scans
- Same keyword, same grid size, same center point
- Before-and-after comparison over 20 days
The Results
- Expanded visibility across East Side Rochester
- Multiple grid points moved into the top-3 and top-5 positions
- Improved average and true rank positions
- More consistent map coverage across nearby communities
Before & After Map Grid Comparison:
Why This Worked
With a fresh new website, faster load times, and updated, high-quality content, Google Maps rankings improve when relevance, consistency, and prominence align. By clearly defining services on both my GBP page and my website content, and reinforcing trust signals with reviews and citations, visibility expanded naturally without triggering spam filters or ranking reversals.
Ongoing Google Maps Performance Updates
Unlike traditional case studies that capture a single moment in time, Google Maps visibility is dynamic.
Rankings fluctuate as competitors change categories, add services, earn reviews, or deploy spam tactics.
Because of this, I’ve continued tracking this keyword using consistent, neutral grid scans to document
how sustained optimization impacts real-world visibility.
Below are continued performance snapshots using the same keyword, grid size, and scan locations—
allowing for clean, apples-to-apples comparisons over time.
Update: December 26, 2025 — Local Pack & Maps Baseline
This snapshot establishes a new baseline shortly after the initial optimization phase.
While early gains were visible, coverage across the service area was still uneven,
particularly outside the immediate radius surrounding East Rochester.
- Top-3 visibility limited to a tight geographic cluster
- Frequent drops into positions 7–10 across outer grid points
- Local Pack results more volatile than Maps results
Local Pack Heatmap — December 26, 2025
Google Maps Heatmap — December 26, 2025
Update: January 8, 2026 — Expanded Coverage & Stability
By early January, continued GBP refinement, service alignment, and on-site reinforcement
produced noticeably stronger and more stable coverage across the grid.
Improvements were no longer limited to isolated points but began forming consistent clusters.
- Increased number of top-3 and top-5 grid points
- Stronger Local Pack visibility matching Maps performance
- Reduced volatility across the service area
- Improved average position and true rank metrics
Local Pack Heatmap — January 8, 2026
Google Maps Heatmap — January 8, 2026
What Changed Between Scans
No shortcuts were used during this period. There were no fake locations, no category stuffing,
and no manipulative tactics that risk suspension. Instead, improvements came from tightening
relevance and consistency signals across the entire local ecosystem.
- Further refinement of GBP services to match search intent
- Expanded internal linking supporting Local SEO service pages
- Improved clarity between primary services and supporting offerings
- Continued review acquisition without spikes or unnatural velocity
Why Sustained Google Maps Growth Matters
One-time ranking wins don’t last in competitive local markets.
Google Maps rewards businesses that demonstrate ongoing relevance,
operational consistency, and real-world prominence.
This page documents exactly that process—how steady, policy-compliant optimization
produces measurable improvements over time instead of short-lived spikes.
Want These Results in Your Market?
If your business depends on Google Maps visibility for leads, the same structured approach can be applied to your service area, without risking suspensions or penalties.