Google ranks local search results based on three key factors: relevance, distance, and prominence. Relevance refers to how well a local listing matches what someone is searching for. Distance considers how far each potential search result is from the location term used in a search. Prominence refers to how well-known a business is, with information sourced from across the web including links, articles, and directories. Google’s aim is to provide the best possible local search results to users, which is why these factors are crucial in determining the ranking.