Ensure service area boundaries align with about 2 hours driving distance.
- Ensure service area boundaries align with about 2 hours driving distance1 cited source1 category
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Why this matters
Google recommends service areas not exceed about 2 hours driving time to maintain local relevance in search results.
Hypothetical standard operating procedure
Adapt this example to your site, access, tools, and change process. It is our suggested procedure, informed by the sources below.
- Map current service area locations including cities and postal codes.
- Estimate driving times from your business base to boundaries.
- Adjust service areas to not exceed recommended driving time.
- Avoid listing overly large or distant areas unrelated to your actual service capacity.
- Verify changes in Google Business Profile display.
Watch for
Specifying overly broad service areas may reduce targeting precision and search relevance.
Definition of done
Service area polygons or areas conform within approximately 2 hours driving radius from base location.
Sources & attribution
Original checklist wording and example SOP by Best SEO Checklist, using source-grounded AI assistance. Editorial contact: Ted Kubaitis, @tedkubaitis on Teams. Check current source guidance before implementation.