The podcast where local SEO meets expert insight! Join host Joy Hawkins, CEO and owner of Sterling Sky, renowned local SEO specialist and a member of the Google Product Experts Program, as she dives deep with guests into the world of local search engine optimization, digital marketing, and SEO.
In each episode, Joy will interview experts and share her wealth of knowledge, backed by rigorous testing and research conducted at Sterling Sky. Whether you’re a seasoned marketer or just starting out, this podcast offers invaluable tips, strategies, and the latest industry updates to help you navigate the ever-changing landscape of local SEO. Tune in and get ready to elevate your local SEO game!
#LocalSEO #JoyHawkins #LocalSEOExpertGuide
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In this deep dive, Joy Hawkins is joined by SEO veteran David Quaid to tackle the most heated debates in the industry today. From the reality of "scaled content" penalties to the truth about how Google actually evaluates authority, David shares the forensic approach he’s used to help multiple startups scale past $100 million.
What you’ll learn in this video:
🔹 Communicating SEO Value: Why your clients aren't reading your PDF reports and how to tell a better story with data.
🔹 The "Position 17" Rule: David’s specific strategy for identifying new content opportunities without cannibalizing your existing rankings.
🔹 Indexing Deep Dive: The difference between "Discovered – currently not indexed" and "Crawled – currently not indexed," and the specific URL tweaks that can fix them.
🔹 Internal Linking & Authority: Why you should limit your homepage to 10 key links and how to manage the "85% authority tax."
🔹 The Truth About LLMs: How AI search engines like Gemini and Perplexity are changing referral traffic and how to track it using Looker Studio.
Chapters
0:00 Is SEO Broken?
1:44 David’s Background: Scaling Startups to $250M
4:07 Why Clients Don’t See SEO Value
7:22 What Will Replace Rankings?
12:17 The Truth About AI Reporting (Search Console vs. Reality)
22:11 The Process for Finding New Content
30:10 When to Start a New Domain (EMDs)
33:41 The Danger of Service Area Pages
45:16 Fix: Discovered vs. Crawled Not Indexed
54:02 Internal Linking & Authority Shaping
57:05 Content Pruning vs. Managing Authority
1:06:45 URL Slugs: Short vs. Long
About Sterling Sky Inc:
We specialize in helping local businesses grow through data-driven SEO strategies. If you’re seeing traffic drops or need a professional audit of your local search presence, reach out to us at: https://www.sterlingsky.ca/
Connect with David Quaid:
Follow David on X or LinkedIn for more deep-technical SEO insights.
There’s more content than ever… and somehow, less of it actually sticks.
AI can pump out posts in seconds. Feeds are crowded. Attention spans are brutal.
So the real question is: why should anyone care about what you make?
In this conversation, I sat down with Ross Simmonds, founder of Foundation Marketing and one of the sharpest thinkers in content right now, to get into what’s actually working.
We talk about:
🔹Why most content gets ignored (even when it’s “good”)
🔹What makes something memorable in a sea of sameness
🔹Why you should bother creating content when AI is stealing it
If you’re building a brand, growing an audience, or you feel like your content is disappearing into thin air: This one’s worth your time.
Why Your Google Reviews Disappear (Ex-Googlers Explain)
Saison 2026 · Épisode 7
vendredi 10 juillet 2026 • Durée 54:12
👉 https://www.sterlingsky.ca/local-seo/
Fake reviews that won’t get removed. Listings suspended without warning. No clear answers from Google.
In Part 2 of this exclusive episode, ex-Googlers explain what actually triggers suspensions, what qualifies a review for removal, and how to recover your profile fast.
If your business depends on Google visibility, this is the side of the system you can’t afford to ignore.
00:00 - Introduction: Understanding Google Business Profile issues
01:03 - The truth about flagging negative reviews for removal
04:01 - Brute forcing support vs. algorithmic approaches
05:22 - 3-step process for dealing with negative reviews
06:33 - The "Trust Score" concept for users and businesses
08:31 - Why authority matters when flagging content
11:41 - Can factually correct edits hurt your trust score?
12:42 - Local Guide levels: What it takes to get edits processed
14:11 - Is the Google Product Expert forum still effective?
Ex-Googlers Reveal 3 Google Business Profile Secrets | Brad Wetherall & Joel Headley
Saison 2026 · Épisode 6
mercredi 24 juin 2026 • Durée 01:00:05
https://www.sterlingsky.ca/local-seo/
In Part 1 of this exclusive Episode, I sit down with former Google employees Joel Headley and Brad Wetherall to uncover what really happens behind the scenes of Google Business Profiles, and what business owners often get completely wrong.
Why reviews disappear, why edits don’t stick, and why support often feels like a dead end.
We break down how Google actually evaluates trust, filters reviews, and decides what gets published or ignored.
If you rely on Google Maps to drive calls, leads, or foot traffic, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.
00:00 Introduction : Why your Google reviews disappear and profiles get suspended
00:47 Meet the Former Googlers : Intro of Brad Weatherall and Joel Headley
01:41 The Mystery of Missing Reviews : Understanding the cyclical nature of review removals
03:46 The Balancing Act : How Google experiments with algorithms and causes collateral damage
05:51 Why Seasonality Matters : Why Google avoids major algorithm tweaks in Q4
07:22 Behind the Scenes : How Google targets spam and uses automated scripts
12:18 Review Parties and Proximity Signals : The risks of getting too many reviews at one location
2026 SEO Secrets That Ranked 1,000+ Sites (James Dooley)
Saison 2026 · Épisode 5
mercredi 27 mai 2026 • Durée 01:29:46
In this episode, we sit down with SEO legend James Dooley, who has built and ranked over 1,000 domains and generated more than 2 million enquiries online. If you’re wondering how to rank a website on Google in 2026, this is the conversation you need to hear.
We break down:
🔹The exact SEO strategies working right now
🔹When duplicate content becomes a real problem
🔹Whether brand matters more than backlinks
🔹Plus: how AI traffic compares to Google traffic today.
If you’re a business owner, agency, or SEO trying to stay ahead of Google’s algorithm, this episode will give you clarity. James Dooley started his career in digital marketing in 2009, when he built his first website. James Dooley quickly became fascinated by SEO and began to learn everything he could about the subject. In the years since, James Dooley has built and ranked over 1,000 domains online as a UK-based Digital Landlord, generating over 2 million enquiries.
Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction: James Dooley's SEO Journey
01:36 - The Key to Winning in 2026: Holistic Marketing
02:07 - Finding Profit in Narrow Niches
04:11 - Social Media for Local Businesses: Ranking Your Posts
06:22 - Optimizing Facebook Posts for Search
08:27 - Explaining Semantic Triples
09:44 - Strategies for Forcing Google to Index Content
12:28 - Leveraging Facebook Groups for Visibility
16:21 - The Power of Self-Promoting Listicles
19:14 - Facebook Pages vs. Profiles for SEO
21:11 - LinkedIn vs. Other Platforms: Hashtags and Links
22:42 - Cracking the Code on Reddit Ranking
26:22 - AI Overviews: Impact on Lead Volume and Quality
30:52 - The Future of LLMs: ChatGPT vs. Claude and Gemini
36:06 - Crafting the Perfect URL Structure
The 2026 Google Business Profile Review Trends You Can’t Ignore | Claudia Tomina
Saison 2026 · Épisode 4
mercredi 22 avril 2026 • Durée 01:37:39
Ever had a customer swear they left a 5-star review, but it never appears or vanishes without a trace? With sophisticated artificial intelligence and advanced pattern recognition capabilities, algorithms are getting better at identifying unusual activity.
This video explains how 'missing reviews' and spikes in customer review volume can flag your online reputation, especially on platforms like Google Reviews. It's not just random; ai models are becoming incredibly adept at detecting fake reviews and other anomalies.
🔗 Show Links & Resources
📈 Local SEO Research & Reports
◼Google Map Pack Study: How Call Buttons Affect Rankings
Is SEO Screwed? Lily Ray on Google’s CRACKDOWN For 2026
Saison 2026 · Épisode 3
mercredi 25 mars 2026 • Durée 57:41
Google's increasingly aggressive crackdowns and harsher core updates are significantly impacting Local SEO and AI search professionals. Medium to Small Businesses are experiencing major traffic losses due to these changes, often without understanding the cause. This situation necessitates a strategic adaptation to the new landscape, focusing on content adjustments and off-site brand mentions to mitigate the effects of Google algorithm shifts and stay ahead of AI updates in search.
Lily Ray @amsive joins us to break down why small to medium businesses are being hit the hardest by Google and provides a strategic roadmap for content adjustments, brand mentions, and surviving the shift to AI-driven search.
#localseo #seo #localsearch
🕒 Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction: The SEO Landscape in 2026
01:03 Who is Lily Ray?
02:02 Is AI Content Inherently Dangerous?
04:03 The Risks of "Scaling" Content & City Pages
06:15 Service Area Pages vs. Physical Locations
09:23 Why YMYL Topics Face Higher Scrutiny
10:41 How AI Overviews are Killing Organic Traffic
12:48 Action Items: Diversification & Digital PR
15:47 The New Role of SEOs: LLM Discoverability
17:41 Why Reddit & Forums are Dominating Search
18:55 Small Business Strategy: Video & Authenticity
21:14 Analyzing the Most Recent Core Updates
24:10 Google’s Preference for .gov & Authority Sites
27:28 How to Diagnose & Recover from a Hit
Google Business Profile Violations Google ACTUALLY Punishes
Saison 2026 · Épisode 2
mercredi 11 février 2026 • Durée 01:56:55
Google Business Profile suspensions, disappearing reviews, and sudden listing removals are happening more often than ever, and most business owners have no idea why.
In this webinar, we sit down with a seasoned Google Business Profile product expert, Ben Fisher, Co-Founder at @SteadyDemand who works inside the mess every day, dealing with real suspensions, failed verifications, spam networks, and review wipeouts.
Video: 7 Local SEO Mistakes Costing Your Business THOUSANDS (Fix These NOW!)
Ranking in Google’s AI Results in 2026 with Mike King
Saison 2026 · Épisode 1
mercredi 7 janvier 2026 • Durée 01:02:07
In this exclusive session, we’re joined by Mike King, one of the sharpest minds in search, to unpack the wildest shifts happening in Google’s AI-powered results right now. You’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at real tactics Mike is using for clients today to gain visibility across AI platforms like Google and ChatGPT and how you can apply them immediately.
LIVE TOOL DEMO: Mike will walk through a powerful fan-out query tool that uncovers how Google is interpreting and ranking entire topics. We’ll even use real audience examples in the demo so you can see it in action.
What you’ll learn:
✅ The “fan-out query” method explained in plain English
✅ How to pull Google’s full query list for your niche
✅ Tactics to help small businesses stand out in an AI-dominated search landscape
✅ Why certain blackhat strategies still work (and Mike’s take on them)
Whether you’re a business owner, SEO strategist, or just trying to stay ahead of AI’s impact on search, this webinar will leave you with actionable insights you won’t find anywhere else.
Surviving Local SEO in 2026: 3 Major Threats You Must Prepare For
Saison 2025 · Épisode 1
mercredi 17 décembre 2025 • Durée 02:01:26
Local SEO is changing fast! For more 👉🏻 https://www.sterlingsky.ca/the-state-of-local-seo-in-2026/ Learn about the 3 major threats facing businesses in 2026: disappearing organic visibility, AI's impact on search, and aggressive review attacks. Experts Joy Hawkins @SterlingSkyInc Luc Durand @rankingacademy & Darren Shaw @WhitesparkCa reveal how to prepare, understand mobile search shifts, deal with fake reviews, and apply effective strategies to stay competitive. Don't fall behind – watch LIVE to secure your local rankings!
13:00 The Rise of Local Pack Ads and Local Services Ads (LSAs)
16:00 Maximizing Value from Local Services Ads: Agency Perspective
20:00 Diversifying Lead Generation Beyond Organic SEO
23:00 Analyzing Traffic from AI Platforms like ChatGPT & Gemini
29:00 Why Video Marketing is Essential for Local Businesses
36:00 Debunking Local SEO Myths: Geotagging & AI-Generated Video
40:00 Whitespark Local Ranking Grid: Advanced Tracking & LLM Visibility
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15:34 Tactics for Getting Filtered Reviews to Stick : Discussion on editing reviews and profile links
17:48 The "Recaptcha" Logic in Reviews : How mouse movement impacts Google's trust
21:44 New Google Guidelines : Speculation on why Google discourages mentioning employee names
27:10 Do Reviews Ever Truly Get Deleted? : Understanding the hidden database where content is stored
31:04 One Google, Many Teams : Why advice contradicts enforcement across Policy, Product, and Support
33:36 Is Reaching Out to Support Worth It? : The reality of modern automated machine decision-making
39:13 Pro-Tips for Navigating Support Levels : Understanding Levels 1, 2, and 3 and the language trick
53:48 The "Escape Hatch" : How to trigger the manual verification process
59:49 Coming Up on Part 2 : Teaser for the next episode on negative reviews and suspensions
Ep 26102 pt1
#localseo #seo #localsearch
__________________________________________
Grow Your Business With Local SEO
At Sterling Sky, we're passionate about helping businesses like yours achieve their local SEO goals. We know that the digital landscape can be confusing and ever-changing, so we've made it our mission to provide you with the expert guidance and support your need to succeed.
We've helped countless businesses achieve their local SEO goals, and we're confident that we can help you do the same.
39:05 - When to Create Specific Service Area Pages
41:46 - Essential Elements of a Service Area Page
45:54 - The Truth About Duplicate Content on Local Sites
52:24 - Algorithm Update Trends: Brand and Social Signals
55:36 - Why Traditional Link Building is Diminishing
58:56 - Avoiding Toxic Links and PBN Scams
1:02:44 - Proactive Reputation Management
1:04:50 - James's Recommendations for Learning SEO
1:06:22 - How Long Does It Take to Rank a New Site?
1:12:18 - How Paid Traffic Indirectly Boosts Organic Rankings
1:15:06 - The Mistake of Using Separate Domains for PPC
1:19:37 - Social Media Ad Strategies for Lead Generation
1:23:13 - Local Pack vs. Organic Leads: Quality Comparisons
1:25:01 - Speed to Lead: The Importance of Rapid Response
1:27:28 - Utilizing WhatsApp and SMS for Lead Nurturing
#localseo #seo #localsearch
EP 26088
__________________________________________
Grow Your Business With Local SEO
At Sterling Sky, we're passionate about helping businesses like yours achieve their local SEO goals. We know that the digital landscape can be confusing and ever-changing, so we've made it our mission to provide you with the expert guidance and support your need to succeed.
We've helped countless businesses achieve their local SEO goals, and we're confident that we can help you do the same.
At Sterling Sky, we're passionate about helping businesses like yours achieve their local SEO goals. We know that the digital landscape can be confusing and ever-changing, so we've made it our mission to provide you with the expert guidance and support your need to succeed.
We've helped countless businesses achieve their local SEO goals, and we're confident that we can help you do the same.
At Sterling Sky, we're passionate about helping businesses like yours achieve their local SEO goals. We know that the digital landscape can be confusing and ever-changing, so we've made it our mission to provide you with the expert guidance and support your need to succeed.
We've helped countless businesses achieve their local SEO goals, and we're confident that we can help you do the same.
