For local searches, proximity of the company’s address to the user is the top ranking factor.
It may seem obvious then, but the first step toward success in local SEO is to have a Google My Business (GMB) listing near the searcher.
Yet in practice, many only focus on their HQ. Perhaps they have other listings but fail to take them seriously. They lack reviews and other features, like high-quality images, that improve their profiles.
For most queries, the local pack showcasing the top 3 GMBs exists at the top, right below the paid ads. You must scroll well below the fold to view organic rankings. These pages in turn are typically dominated by review sites like Yelp.
Therefore, GMBs and profiles on major directories are often more important than your own webpages for local SEO!