Troubleshooting Local SERP Results
Common issues when checking local results and how to fix them.
When using a local SERP checker, you might run into a few recurring issues. Here’s how to handle them.
Pack vs. organic mismatch Commercial queries often trigger the Map Pack; informational queries may not. If you expect a local pack but don’t see one, check whether the query intent is more “near me” / service-based. Try variants like “plumber + city” or “best plumber near me” to see when the pack appears.
Language or country looks wrong Re-select the country and language in the tool. The checker sets the “gl” (country) and “hl” (language) parameters; wrong values can change the SERP locale. Use the dropdown to pick the correct region (e.g. Canada – English) and run the search again.
No results or wrong place Re-enter the address with city and country included. Click outside the location field so the tool can normalize the string (e.g. “City, Region, Country”). Then hit “geocode” again so the UULE is built from the updated location. More precise addresses usually give more accurate localized results.
Results still vary a bit Personalization, data centers, and micro-location differences can cause small variations. This is normal. Run the same search a couple of times or from slightly different locations (e.g. nearby zip codes) to get a consistent picture.