Looking to up your local marketing game? Welcome to Local Marketing Secrets, where we interview the top experts in local marketing every week and learn their secrets to marketing for local businesses. Hosted by Danny Leibrandt, Local Marketing Secrets is part of his mission to help local businesses with marketing. So, if you're a local business owner or marketer, this podcast is for you! We've had some of the biggest names in digital marketing, like Neil Patel, and the show will only get better! Tune in every Monday at 9am CST. All follows, reviews, and comments are much appreciated!
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#1 HVAC Influencer: I've Grown To 200k+ Followers, You Can Too! - Tony Mormino
Season 6 · Episode 5
Monday, July 7, 2025 • Duration 47:36
In this episode of Local Marketing Secrets, Danny Leibrandt sits down with Tony Mormino—25-year HVAC veteran, VP of Tactical Media at Air Control Concepts, and the creator of HVAC TV. He’s built a massive personal brand with over 50,000 followers on both LinkedIn and Instagram, and he’s living proof that you can grow a real audience—even in industries like HVAC, pest control, or painting.
We dive into how Tony took his field experience and turned it into trust-building content that actually brings in business. He shares what it takes to start from zero, why most people give up too soon, and how content works as a long-term magnet for leads, speaking gigs, and brand deals. He also explains why your personal brand matters more than your company’s, how to get seen locally, and what most home service pros are still missing out on.
If you're a local business owner and you’re serious about growth, this episode shows you exactly how to turn your expertise into attention—and that attention into opportunity.
Tony Mormino, VP of Tactical Media at Air Control Concepts:
Google Business Profile Expert: Everything You’re Doing Wrong in Local SEO! - Jason Brown
Season 6 · Episode 3
Wednesday, July 2, 2025 • Duration 52:29
In this episode of Local Marketing Secrets, Danny Leibrandt sits down with Jason Brown — the no-BS spam-fighter behind ReviewFraud and a former Platinum Google Business Profile Product Expert. Jason has been featured by CNBC, BrightLocal, and NBC’s Today Show for exposing shady local SEO practices, from fake listings to review manipulation. He even helped the FTC craft its policy on fake reviews.
Jason shares the raw truth about the current state of Google Maps spam, how to remove fake reviews (step-by-step), and why more businesses are getting suspended — even when they play by the rules. You’ll hear about review farms in Indonesia, lead gen scammers abusing LSA responsiveness, and the exact documentation needed to reinstate your profile if it gets suspended. Plus: why responding to reviews boosts conversions, how to use citations correctly, and why black hat SEOs are still getting it wrong.
If you care about ethical local SEO and protecting your business online, this is a must-listen.
Facebook Ads Expert: Stop Wasting Money on This Rookie Mistake! - Ben Heath
Season 5 · Episode 3
Monday, April 14, 2025 • Duration 37:26
In this episode, Danny Leibrandt interviews Ben Heath, founder of Heath Media, a top-tier Facebook Ads expert with over 1M followers and $150M in managed ad spend. Ben breaks down how local businesses can effectively use Facebook (Meta) ads to generate leads and grow revenue.
Key Takeaways:
Meta Ads Philosophy: Ben views Facebook (Meta) ads as powerful interruption-based advertising on platforms where people already spend time. It's not about search intent but grabbing attention during the scroll.
Lead Campaigns for Local Businesses: Always tell Meta what you want—if you're after leads, optimize for leads. Meta’s algorithm has become increasingly smart, doing much of the targeting and timing work for you, especially with newer campaign types like Advantage+.
Manual vs. Automated Campaigns: While Advantage+ is evolving, Ben recommends local businesses still maintain more control using manual settings within these new structures, especially when lead quality matters.
Testing Is Essential: Treat ad spend like tuition—testing different creatives, offers, and strategies is crucial to finding what resonates. One winning ad could massively scale your business.
Offers Matter Most: For local businesses, a great offer (urgency, scarcity, guarantees) is often more important than the creative. He recommends Alex Hormozi’s $100M Offers for inspiration.
Instant Forms vs. Website Leads: Instant forms on Facebook usually deliver more leads at a lower cost, but often lower quality. Website forms offer better-qualified leads, so test both.
Instagram vs. Facebook Ads: Meta determines which platform to show your ads on. Ben advises to advertise on both and let the algorithm optimize.
Metrics to Watch: The primary metric is cost per lead. Secondary metrics like CTR, CPM, and hook rate help diagnose issues but shouldn't be the focus.
Lead Magnet or Direct Offer? For low-ticket services ($50-100), go straight to an offer. Mid-ticket ($100–$1K) may benefit from a lead magnet. High-ticket ($1K+) should use a lead magnet or nurture strategy like omnipresent content.
Top SEO Expert: Black Hat SEO is Dead, Do White Hat Instead! - Craig Campbell
Season 5 · Episode 2
Monday, April 7, 2025 • Duration 56:31
Welcome back to Local Marketing Secrets! In this episode, I’m joined by the one and only Craig Campbell—an SEO veteran with 22+ years in the industry. Named the #1 Most Influential SEO of 2020, Craig has spoken at major conferences around the globe (Brighton SEO, Chiang Mai SEO, Affiliate World, and more) and has built a massive social following (including over 1 million YouTube subscribers).
In this candid conversation, we dive deep into:
- Black Hat vs. White Hat: Understanding the real difference and why it’s not always about spam
- Local SEO Tactics: How bending the rules in Google Business Profile can help you dominate your service area (but also the risks involved)
- AI Content: Can you just mass-produce it? What happens when Google catches up?
- Link Building: Craig’s take on buying links, avoiding “spammy” sources, and how to reverse-engineer your competition’s backlink profile
- Social Media: Why not every business needs it—and how to decide which platforms actually matter for your niche
Craig also shares his thoughts on Google’s constant updates, the importance of diversifying traffic sources, and a peek behind the scenes of his private mastermind community.
Local SEO Expert: You Won’t Believe The Local Search Data We’ve Found! - Andrew Shotland
Season 5 · Episode 1
Monday, March 31, 2025 • Duration 50:56
In this episode, I’m Danny Leibrandt is joined by Andrew Shotland—CEO of Local SEO Guide—as we dive into newly uncovered local SEO insights specifically for home services. Andrew’s agency has been around for over 18 years, helping multi-location businesses and working with some of the biggest names in the industry, including Angie’s List, HomeAdvisor, Local.com, Bing Maps, Thumbtack, and more.
Andrew also serves on the board of Bay Area Search (an SEO community in San Francisco) and is regularly quoted by major publications such as the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and TechCrunch. Recently, he launched a powerful new tool called SERP Summary, which reveals fascinating trends in local search—especially for home services. In this interview, we get an inside look at how SERP Summary works, what surprising data it’s uncovered, and how local businesses can use it to stay ahead of competitors.
We also chat about:
- Why sites like Reddit and Quora are dominating search results right now
- The latest trends in local SEO for pest control, roofing, and other home services
- Actionable tips to improve your Google Business Profile rankings
- Andrew’s creative tactics for boosting local visibility (and the surprising effect of hosting local events and job postings!)
This is Andrew’s second time on the show—so if you missed our first conversation, be sure to check that out after this one. Enjoy the episode, and don’t forget to subscribe for more local marketing strategies!
Top Marketing Expert: We Filmed a Podcast in Egypt... on Podcasting! - Dennis Yu
Season 4 · Episode 12
Monday, March 24, 2025 • Duration 01:08:08
In this interview, Danny Leibrandt sits down with Dennis Yu to discuss how to start a podcast. Dennis is the CEO and founder of a BlitzMetrics, a company that helps home service business grow through digital marketing.With over 30 years over experience in digital marketing, Dennis has helped major brands like Nike, Red Bull, Starbucks, Adidas, and the Golden State Warriors shine online. In total, he's managed over $1B of ad spend on Facebook and Google Ads.
In this episode, we break down the power of podcasting for local businesses—how to turn one conversation into a goldmine of content, network with top experts, and stay authentic in a world saturated with AI. If you want to elevate your local marketing, build genuine authority, and unlock endless content ideas, don’t miss this candid chat from one of the most iconic places on Earth!
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
- Why Podcasting Is a Must for local service providers looking to stand out
- How to Repurpose a Single Interview into dozens of social posts, blogs, and emails
- The power of Authentic Storytelling in building trust and credibility
- Dennis Yu’s Dollar-a-Day Strategy for boosting your best content to thousands more people
- How to Leverage AI without losing the personal touch that makes local businesses special
Dennis Yu, Founder of BlitzMetrics:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dennisyu/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dennisyu
Twitter: https://x.com/dennisyu
BlitzMetrics: https://blitzmetrics.com/
Danny Leibrandt, Founder of Pest Control SEO:
Facebook: https://facebook.com/DannyLeibrandt
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/dannyleibrandt/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DannyLeibrandt
$1.5B Co-Founder: We Grew GoHighLevel To 1,600 Employees, Here’s How! - Robin Alex
Season 4 · Episode 11
Monday, March 17, 2025 • Duration 43:25
In this episode of Local Marketing Secrets, host Danny Leibrandt interviews Robin Alex, one of the three co-founders of HighLevel—a powerful sales and marketing platform now valued at over a billion dollars. Robin’s story begins in the trenches of local marketing, where he grew his own agency to over 200 clients before realizing the critical need for a more unified, automated approach to managing leads and communicating with customers.
Robin dives into how he teamed up with his co-founders, their early struggles duct-taping multiple tools together, and the “lightbulb moment” that sparked HighLevel’s creation. Learn why they decided to emphasize a product-led growth strategy from day one, and how this approach—combined with a game-changing affiliate program—catapulted HighLevel into a global phenomenon.
Robin also explores the practical applications of AI in business, including real-world examples of AI-powered phone support that drive better customer experiences—without sacrificing the personal touch small businesses are known for. Plus, he opens up about the challenges of scaling a remote team to more than 1,600 employees worldwide while maintaining a “bias to action” culture, where problems get solved quickly rather than buried under bureaucracy.
Whether you’re an agency owner looking to elevate your service offerings, an entrepreneur seeking to solve real client problems, or simply curious how three founders went from concept to a billion-dollar valuation, this episode is packed with actionable insights on building a thriving SaaS, finding (and compensating) the right talent, and staying laser-focused on customer needs.
Top Agency Expert: I've Helped Grow 137+ Million Dollar Agencies! - Josh Nelson
Season 4 · Episode 10
Monday, March 10, 2025 • Duration 54:22
In this conversation, Danny Leibrandt interviews Josh Nelson, founder of Seven Figure Agency and Plumbing and HVAC SEO. They discuss Josh's journey from starting a web design company to building a successful digital marketing agency focused on plumbing and HVAC. Josh shares insights on scaling his agency to seven figures in just two years, the importance of client retention, and the evolution of his mentorship program for agency owners. They also explore the future of digital marketing, the role of AI, and the significance of video content in marketing strategies.
Local SEO Veteran: Consumers Don't Do What They Say They Do! - Greg Sterling
Season 4 · Episode 9
Monday, March 3, 2025 • Duration 01:05:54
In this episode, Danny Leibrandt interviews Greg Sterling, a local marketing expert with over 25 years of experience. They discuss Greg's journey into local marketing, the importance of user testing and research, and how consumer behavior varies across different industries. The conversation also explores the role of AI in local business, emerging trends in local marketing, and the future of local search. Greg shares insights from his research, highlighting the significance of reviews and the challenges small businesses face in claiming their Google profiles. The episode concludes with a discussion on the importance of prioritizing tasks and managing time effectively in the fast-paced world of digital marketing.
Key Takeaways:
- User testing reveals that consumer behavior varies significantly by industry.
- AI is becoming increasingly important for local businesses.
- Many small businesses have not claimed their Google Business Profiles.
- Reviews are critical, but many consumers do not read them in detail.
- Local marketing is evolving with new technologies and consumer behaviors.
- The importance of responding quickly to leads in home services.
- Emerging trends include simplified website creation and marketing automation.
- Brand recognition plays a significant role in consumer decision-making.
- Small businesses are increasingly adopting AI tools for efficiency.
Near Memo Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@UCQb7CMIgNQz38U6RVcE8rug
Dialog: https://www.localdialog.com/
AI Expert: Every Employee in Your Company Will Get Replaced! - Sean Akyildiz
Season 4 · Episode 8
Monday, February 24, 2025 • Duration 01:18:15
In this episode, Danny Leibrandt interviews Sean Akyildiz, also known as Zoro The Wiz, a personal branding and AI expert. The two reminisce about their shared history, including starting a software company, Pegasus UGC, in 2023. They discuss Sean’s entrepreneurial journey from launching NFT projects to pivoting into AI development and personal branding, where Sean scaled his Instagram following to 100,000+.
Sean shares insights on:
AI in Business: He highlights the rapid evolution of AI, especially in automating administrative tasks, sales, and content creation, while expressing concerns about AI's dystopian potential. Sean emphasizes using AI as a tool to amplify business operations and creativity.
Building a Personal Brand: Sean details his journey of consistently improving content quality, learning from failures, and automating processes to sustain growth. He underscores the importance of creating content tailored to potential clients and leveraging platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
AI Tools and Techniques: Sean breaks down tools like Heygen, Eleven Labs, AirTable, and Make.com for content automation, fine-tuning AI models, and enhancing productivity. He explains fine-tuning as a way to make AI outputs hyper-specific to business needs.
Future of AI: Sean shares his excitement about AI video advancements while warning about the societal impact of AI-driven automation. He advises staying ahead by learning AI, implementing it in daily life, and keeping up with advancements.
Video vs. Image Ads: Video ads usually win (about 60% of the time), but only if they’re done well. Poor video can hurt performance more than a strong image ad.
Underrated Strategy: Use local influencers to create ad content—even micro-influencers in your area can massively boost credibility and performance.
Minimum Budget: Start with at least $10/day. It’s enough to learn and start testing, though serious results require scaling up.
Are you a pest control company owner looking to grow? Book a discovery call with us to see if you’re a good fit! Link here: https://calendly.com/dannyleibrandt/discovery
Are you a pest control company owner looking to grow? Book a discovery call with us to see if you’re a good fit! Link here: https://calendly.com/dannyleibrandt/discovery
21:08 The Role of AI in Local Business Communication
25:57 Emerging Trends in Local Business Marketing
30:31 The Future of Local Marketing with AI
34:55 Optimizing for AI and Local SEO
38:42 Industry Variations in Consumer Behavior
45:14 Comparing US and European Search Dynamics
48:43 Near Media's Research Process
52:50 Surprising Insights from User Behavior Studies
55:28 The Emergence of Local Dialogue
01:00:52 The Importance of Google Business Profiles
Are you a pest control company owner looking to grow? Book a discovery call with us to see if you’re a good fit! Link here: https://calendly.com/dannyleibrandt/discovery
19:30 - How AI Agents are Transforming Business Tasks
26:05 - The Importance of Mastering AI Tools
33:40 - Fine-Tuning AI for Custom Business Applications
41:20 - Essential Tools for AI-Powered Productivity
50:00 - Challenges of Building a Personal Brand
57:45 - How to Start Posting Content Effectively
1:04:30 - The Scary and Exciting Future of AI
1:10:15 - Tips for Staying Ahead with AI Advancements
1:15:00 - Closing Thoughts and Where to Find Sean
Are you a pest control company owner looking to grow? Book a discovery call with us to see if you’re a good fit! Link here: https://calendly.com/dannyleibrandt/discovery
