## **🔍 What Is the Search Atlas Heatmap?**

The Search Atlas heatmap is a visual tool inside the **Local** section of the platform that shows how your Google Business Profile (GBP) ranks across a grid of geographic points around a target location. Each point on the grid represents a simulated search performed from that specific latitude and longitude, giving you a clear picture of your local search visibility across a service area.

To access your heatmaps, navigate to **Local > Local SEO Heatmaps** in the left sidebar.

## **📡 How Does Search Atlas Collect Heatmap Data?**

Search Atlas collects ranking data by sending localised search queries to Google from the exact coordinates represented by each grid point. This is done using coordinate-level targeting — not a VPN.

Here is what that means in practice:

- **Each grid point has its own coordinates.** Search Atlas passes those coordinates directly in the search request so Google returns results as if a user were physically located at that position.
- **No VPN is involved.** A VPN masks a single IP address to appear as though traffic originates from a different city or country. That approach is imprecise and cannot replicate a search performed at a specific street-level coordinate. Search Atlas uses coordinate-level targeting instead, which is more accurate for local SEO purposes.
- **Data is pulled at the time of the scan.** Rankings reflect the moment the heatmap was generated. Results can shift between scans as Google updates its local index.

## **🧭 Why Search Atlas Does Not Use a VPN**

VPNs route all traffic through a single exit node in a general region — for example, "Chicago" — but cannot pinpoint a search to a specific neighbourhood or postal code. For local SEO, ranking at the postcode or street level is what matters most. Coordinate-based targeting gives Search Atlas the precision needed to show you exactly where your business ranks and where it does not, down to a fraction of a mile.

Using a VPN would also introduce inconsistency: the exit node's IP could change between scans, making it impossible to compare results reliably over time. Search Atlas's method is repeatable and consistent across every scan.

## **✅ How to Manually Verify Heatmap Rankings**

Because Search Atlas does not use a VPN, you cannot replicate a heatmap result simply by turning on a VPN and searching Google. If you want to manually verify results for a specific grid point, we recommend opening a private or incognito browser window to avoid personalised results and searching for your target keyword while keeping in mind that browser-based results may differ from coordinate-level data collected by the platform.

If you have questions about a specific heatmap result or need clarification on how a particular ranking was recorded, our support team can investigate on your behalf. If you need further assistance, open the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the platform and type **human teammate** to be connected with a member of our team.