How to choose a grid size and radius in LeadMapper
Use the map preview, grid points and credit estimate to set up a LeadMapper grid search for your target area.
2 min read4 sectionsBy LeadMapperPublished
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Grid size is the number of search points. Radius controls how far the grid spreads from its centre. The right settings depend on the area you need to cover, how dense it is and how many credits you are willing to use.
Start with the right centre
Open New search, choose Grid, enter a business type and locate your target area. Look at the centre on the map before changing the grid. A well-sized grid around the wrong centre will still cover the wrong streets. For a precise centre, open Custom coordinates and enter latitude and longitude.
Choose how many points to search
The Grid size controls offer presets and smaller/larger controls from 2×2 to 10×10. A 3×3 grid has 9 search points; a 5×5 grid has 25. Each point runs a search, so increasing the size changes the credit estimate as well as the coverage pattern.
- Start small for a suburb or a quick coverage check.
- Increase the grid when a busy area needs more search points to reach different neighbourhoods.
- Use the map preview to see where the points fall. More points do not guarantee a fixed number of extra businesses.
Adjust the radius to fit the territory
Use Radius from centre while watching the map. Increase it until the outer search points reach the part of the area you care about. If points spread far outside your territory, reduce it. Avoid assuming that a large radius alone adds coverage: it spreads the same number of points farther apart.
The map preview can show cells and scan order. Use cells to inspect the footprint and scan order to understand how the run will move through it. If your territory is a collection of named postcodes rather than one continuous area, Bulk search may fit better.
Check cost and run a small test
- 1Read Grid points and Est. credits in Mission plan. The typical figure and maximum are different: plan for the maximum your search could use.
- 2Check Balance. If it is below the maximum, the run may stop early and keep the results already found.
- 3Start the smallest grid that reaches the territory, then inspect where its results were found.
- 4If useful parts of the area still look thin, increase the grid size or adjust the centre and radius for the next run.