Keywords & Local Rankings

Keywords are the searches you want your business to show up for - things like "emergency plumber phoenix" or "best coffee near me". theStacc tracks a set of local keywords for each business location and shows where you rank for them, so you can see your local search visibility at a glance.

You'll find your keywords under Local SEO > Settings > Keywords.

Your starter keywords#

When you first add a business, theStacc syncs your Google Business Profile and automatically generates an initial set of 10 keywords for that location. These are built from your business name, category, and location, so you have a working keyword list from day one - no setup required.

These starter keywords are marked as system keywords (generated by theStacc) and start out active. You can keep them, edit them, or remove any that don't fit your business.

For more on what happens when a business is first connected, see Data Sync.

Adding more keywords#

You can grow your keyword list in two ways.

Add a keyword manually#

1. Go to Local SEO > Settings > Keywords.
2. Click Add Keyword.
3. Type the keyword you want to track and confirm.

Manually added keywords are saved as manual keywords and become active right away. You can't add the same keyword twice for one location - if it already exists, theStacc will let you know.

You'll need an editor or admin role on the project to add, edit, or remove keywords. If you're a viewer, the keyword list is read-only.

Generate more with AI#

theStacc can also generate a fresh batch of local keywords for you using AI. By default it generates 10 at a time, and you can optionally point it at specific services so the keywords stay tied to what you actually offer. Newly generated keywords are added as system keywords, and any that duplicate an existing keyword are skipped automatically.

Generating keywords needs your business category and location to be set, and it requires an active paid plan (it's an AI-powered feature).

Keyword types#

Every keyword is tagged with a type so you can tell at a glance what kind of search it targets:

• Service + Location - a service paired with a place, like "solar installation phoenix" or "solar panels in scottsdale". These are the backbone of local SEO.
• Near Me - "near me" and "close by" searches, like "plumber near me". High intent, often from people ready to call.
• Best / Top - comparison searches, like "best solar company phoenix" or "top rated electrician". Searchers are shopping around.
• Emergency - urgent searches, like "emergency plumber" or "24 hour locksmith". Most relevant for businesses that handle urgent jobs.
• Other - anything that doesn't fit the categories above, including long-tail and question searches like "how much does solar cost".

When you add a keyword manually without choosing a type, it's saved as Other.

What ranking data we track#

For each keyword, theStacc tracks three different ways your business can show up in Google:

• Maps rank - your position in Google Maps results for that search.
• Local pack rank - your position in the local "3-pack" that appears at the top of regular Google search results.
• Organic rank - your position in the standard (blue-link) Google search results.

Alongside the rankings, each keyword can also show:

• Search volume - roughly how many people search this term.
• Difficulty - an estimate of how hard it is to rank for the keyword.
• Last rank check - when the ranking data was last updated.
• Status - whether the keyword is active (being tracked) or paused.
• Source - whether the keyword was created by theStacc (system) or added by you (manual).

Keywords ranking in the top 10 for either maps or the local pack feed into the headline numbers on your dashboard, including your average map rank and your "keywords in top 10" count. See Dashboard for how these roll up.

How and when rankings update#

Ranking data is populated when theStacc syncs your location - it's part of the same sync that pulls in your business details and reviews. There isn't a separate "refresh rankings" button that re-checks positions on demand outside of sync.

Ranking tracking is part of the paid Local SEO plans. On a trial, ranking coverage may be limited, so don't be surprised if some keywords show no rank yet - the keyword list and types are still fully available so you can shape your strategy from the start.

Filtering, editing, and removing keywords#

Your keyword list can be filtered by status (for example, only active keywords) or by type (for example, only Near Me keywords), so you can focus on the slice you care about.

For any keyword you can:

• Edit the keyword text inline.
• Pause it to stop tracking without deleting it, or set it back to active.
• Delete it entirely.

The 30-keyword limit#

Each location can have up to 30 active keywords at a time. The Keywords page shows a live count (for example, "Active 12/30") so you always know how much room you have left.

This 30-keyword cap is the same convention used across theStacc, including Content SEO, so your keyword strategy stays focused on the terms that matter most rather than spreading thin across hundreds of low-value searches. If you hit the limit, pause or delete a keyword to make room for a new one.

Related#

• Data Sync - how your business details, reviews, and ranking data get pulled in.
• Dashboard - where your ranking and keyword metrics roll up into an overview.
• Local SEO Overview - the full picture of the Local SEO module.