Measuring a business’s rank within a territory

Measure a business against an explicit comparison set inside a defined territory. This is an observed measurement, not a score predicting where the business could grow.

Define what rank means

Specify the business identity, territory revision, metric, eligible peer set, source, observation time and treatment of missing observations. Search position, local visibility, sales share and a general business rank are not interchangeable.

The existing local SEO/grid-scan foundation is relevant evidence, but it does not by itself define one universal ranking of every business in every territory.

Retain an explainable result

The intended result contains the metric definition, observation context, rank/position when supported, peer coverage and freshness. Preserve stale, seeded, partial and unavailable states. “No supported observation” must not become rank zero.

For example, observed position for a query at a specific grid location should retain that query, device and location; it is not automatically the business's position across the whole territory.

Compare like with like

Compare revisions only when cohort, metric, scope and method are compatible. A refresh is separately authorized acquisition, not a side effect of reading saved rank.

Availability and related outcomes

This business API is planned; the general territory-rank contract still needs completion. Market opportunity models possible demand and revenue. It must not be presented as observed business rank or realized performance.