GTrack Draw Mode Tutorial | How to Create Custom Scan Areas on the Map

The Draw Mode feature in GTrack allows you to manually define your scan area instead of using the default preset grid.

Draw Mode is available for both single (manual) scans and scheduled scans, so you can automate custom-shaped scan areas over time.

This gives you full control over where your rankings are checked, helping you target specific neighborhoods, service zones, or irregular geographic areas.

Step 1: Activate Draw Mode

1. Start a New Scan
2. Select your business.
3. Add your keywords.
4. In the Scan Area section, click Draw Mode.

In the example below:

• Pin 1 shows the Draw Mode button activated.
• Pin 2 shows the drawing tools that appear on the map.
• The Red pin indicates the business location.

Once Draw Mode is enabled:

• The grid size selector (for example 9x9) will be hidden.
• You can now define your scan area manually on the map.

Step 2: Understanding the Drawing Tools

When Draw Mode is activated, a small toolbar appears on the map. It includes four tools:

✋ Hand Tool – Move the Map: Use this tool to drag and reposition the map before drawing.

▭ Rectangle Tool – Draw a Square or Rectangular Area: Click and drag on the map to create a rectangular scan area.

✏️ Polygon Tool – Draw a Custom Shape: Click multiple points on the map to create a fully customized shape that matches your service area.

⭕ Circle Tool – Draw a Radius Area: Click on the map and drag outward to create a circular scan area.

Step 3: Examples of Each Drawing Tool

Below you can see how each drawing tool looks once applied on the map.

You can choose any one of these shapes to define your scan area before initiating the scan.

After drawing your preferred shape, GTrack will automatically generate scan points inside the selected area based on your chosen distance setting.

▭ Rectangle Example

This example shows a rectangular scan area created using the Rectangle Tool.

To create a rectangle:

1. Click on the map to set the starting corner.
2. Hold and drag the mouse to define the size of the rectangle.
3. Release the mouse button to finalize the shape.

The selected rectangular area will then be defined, and scan points will be generated automatically inside it.

✏️ Polygon (Custom Shape) Example

This example shows a fully customized scan area created using the Polygon Tool.

To draw a custom shape:

1. Click to set the starting point.
2. Click on additional locations to create lines and define the area.
3. Click back on the starting point to close the shape.

⭕ Circle Example

This example shows a circular scan area created using the Circle Tool.

To create a circle:

1. Click on the map to set the center point.
2. Hold and drag the mouse outward to define the radius.
3. Release the mouse button to finalize the circle.

The circular area will then be selected, and scan points will be generated automatically inside it.

⚠️ Area Size Limit

If your selected area would generate more scan points than allowed, you will receive an "Area too large" message.

Scan limits depend on the selected scan type:

• Maps (Google Maps) → maximum 1000 pins per scan
• Local (Local Pack) → maximum 200 pins per scan

The number of pins is calculated based on:

• The size of the drawn area
• The selected distance between scan points

To fix this: Draw a smaller area or Increase the distance between scan points

Step 4: Configure Distance and Initiate the Scan

After choosing your preferred drawing tool and creating the scan area on the map:

1. Select your preferred unit of distance: Kilometers or Miles.
2. Choose the distance setting (for example from 500 m up to 2 km).
3. Click Initiate Scan

Step 5: View the Results

Once the scan is completed, GTrack will display the results inside your custom-drawn area.

You will see:

• The generated scan grid inside the exact shape you created
• Ranking positions displayed on each pin
• Your business location marked at the center

The results interface works the same way as a standard scan.

👉 For a detailed explanation of Map View, Comparison View, Scan Analysis, and Top Competitors, please refer to the full guide:

🔗 GTrack New Scan & View Scan Results Tutorial

Scan Credit Consumption in Draw Mode

Scan credit usage in Draw Mode depends entirely on the number of generated scan points (pins) inside your selected area.

Credits are calculated based on the total number of pins displayed on the map after you define your custom area.

Credit Calculation

• Maps (Google Maps) → 1 scan credit per pin
• Local (Local Pack) → 2 scan credits per pin

Using Draw Mode in Scheduled Scans

Draw Mode is also available when setting up a Scheduled Scan

To create a scheduled scan, please follow the full guide here:

🔗 How to Create a Scheduled Scan in GTrack

Once inside the Scheduled Scan setup:

The setup process works exactly the same way:

1. Select your business.
2. Choose Draw Mode.
3. Define your custom scan area using a rectangle, polygon, or circle.

Your custom-shaped scan area will now run automatically based on the selected frequency (Daily, Weekly, or Monthly).

This allows you to continuously monitor rankings inside a precisely defined territory.

Final Notes

Draw Mode gives you full flexibility when defining your scan area in GTrack.

Instead of being limited to a fixed square grid, you can:

• Target specific neighborhoods
• Exclude unwanted areas
• Match irregular service zones
• Use circular radius-based scans

Whether you are running a manual scan or setting up a Scheduled Scan, Draw Mode allows you to monitor rankings exactly where your customers are searching.

By combining custom scan areas with precise distance settings, you can control both coverage detail and scan credit usage, ensuring efficient and accurate tracking.

You are now ready to create fully customized Google Maps and Local Pack scans using Draw Mode.

Updated on: 24/02/2026